Fórsa launched its 2018 small grants fund for the Dublin north-east inner city area last month. The fund, established to support projects in the community around the union’s Nerney’s Court office, has an annual budget of €50,000.

The funds are allocated to projects in the areas of education and intercultural development, with a maximum of €1,000 granted to successful organisations. The figure was set after local groups said they needed small grants with minimum red tape.

Over the year, the scheme has supported educational workshops and seminars, equipment for homework clubs, computer training programmes, community weeks, festivals involving foreign national young people and their families, and social events encouraging intercultural mixing. Priority is given to groups working with marginalised and disadvantaged people.

The scheme previously ran under IMPACT, one of the three unions that amalgamated to create Fórsa. Speaking at the launch, Paddy Quinn of the small grants fund committee said: “We’re hoping the amalgamation might facilitate an expansion of the fund into the regions.”

Fórsa member Fergus McCabe, who works with Young People at Risk North Inner City, said the format of the small grants fund lends itself to easy applications that people find very effective.

“The idea of the fund is that it’s non-bureaucratic. Many people who look for funding elsewhere find it’s a nightmare with forms but the great thing with this is that it’s based locally, the forms are simple, and you get a quick decision,” he said.

Local groups and organisations from within Dublin’s north east inner city are invited to apply by filling in a form and returning it to Fórsa before Monday 21st May.

Get the form HERE.