The Bluestack Special Needs Foundation has been awarded funding of almost €200,000.
The grant will go towards Bluestack’s Progression Programme which will help participants actively engage in employment and training support.
Based in Donegal town, it carries out trojan work in assisting young people with disabilities in the south and west of Donegal.
The organisation has been run totally on voluntary contributions from the general public, organised by a group of volunteers.
Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, made the announcement as part of a €7.5 nationwide package.
The funding is for 45 projects nationwide, designed to support people with disabilities to improve their employment skills, advance their education or start their own business.
The package is a key part of Pathways to Work commitments in relation to supporting employment opportunities for people with disabilities – the Government’s national employment services strategy.
The successful projects will receive grants of up to €200,000 from the Department of Social Protection.
Funding will be provided to the successful projects from 1st September 2021 to 30th December 2022.
Over this period, the various projects aim to work directly with approximately 2,284 participants.
The primary purpose of the funding is to provide people with disabilities the opportunity to gain and sustain employment/self-employment or access education and training to improve their employment prospects.
On approving the recommended 45 projects, Minister Humphreys commented:
“I am delighted to announce this new package of funding which is designed to support people with disabilities into employment or self-employment.
“The past 17 months have been very challenging for so many of our citizens, no more than people with disabilities.
“As Minister, I am determined to support people with disabilities in every way I can – whether it’s helping them upskill or arming them with the supports necessary to achieve their ambition to set up their own business or social enterprise.
“I know that this funding will be very important in supporting people with disabilities right across the country to avail of employment opportunities that they have always aspired to reach.”
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