Following a review in March 2014, the Trustees of the St Stephens Green Trust agreed to support activities for families in Direct Provision Centres. The Trust recognised the severe disadvantages and poverty of opportunity experienced by families in Direct Provision Centres in the Republic of Ireland. They are seeking applications from organisations local to the Centres that will support residents to participate in community and sporting activities that will improve their quality of life, assist integration and build bridges with the community in which they are living. The Trust will only pay the direct costs of the activities.
The SSGT Small Grants Programme - Direct Provision Centres (SGP-DPC) aims to give an opportunity to parents/carers of children in accommodation centres to decide what activities will benefit their children and to apply for funding for them. It is envisaged these activities will avail of sporting, community and arts facilities in the areas in which they live.
Information will be sent about the grant programme to all Family Centres and other relevant statutory and voluntary organisations. The application has to be made through a local voluntary organisation as the Trust cannot fund individuals. The local organisation will take responsibility for managing the grant, paying for the activities and writing a report on how the money was spent. The decision on applications will be made by end of November 2014, so activities should aim to start in December.
The deadline for receipt of applications is Friday 26 September.
Click here to visit their website for more information and for application forms.