Reach Fund
(Formerly Mitigating against Educational Disadvantage Fund (MAEDF))

The Mitigating against Educational Disadvantage Fund (MAEDF) was announced on the 13th October 2020 by Minister Simon Harris with a budget of €8 million. 

This was reviewed and renamed the Reach Fund in 2022 and is designed to increase the capacity of ETBs and community education providers to address the decline in participation of disadvantaged learners particularly those on literacy and basic skills programmes at levels 1-3.

This fund places a strong focus on community education and support as a tool to continue to help and engage with these learners.

There is also a continued focus on enabling the investment in building the digital infrastructure of providers and their capability to ensure that online learning and continued engagement can be delivered in a way that meets the complex needs of all learners.

LOETB has administered this initiative very successfully over the last three years, providing funding to more than 20 Community Groups and over 300 learners each year through the following two strands:

• Individual Learner Fund (I.T. Assistance Fund) which supports LOETB learners to purchase I.T. equipment to help them with their studies.
  Download the LOETB Reach Individual Learner Fund application form. - Currently under review.
   
• Reach Fund: Community Group whereby Community Groups can apply for funding to support their local community and service users that are experiencing educational disadvantage. 
  Download the LOETB Reach Fund Community Group application form.

Community Group Information Sessions

LOETB will host one information session in Laois and one in Offaly for Community Groups to provide further clarifications regarding the new guidelines,  application form, answer questions and enjoy a networking opportunity.

Offaly: 10.00 a.m. to 11.00a.m. followed by tea and coffee on 20th April 2023 at the LOETB Midlands Skills Centre, Unit 25/26 Axis Business Park, Tullamore, Co. Offaly R35TF80

Laois: 10.00a.m. to 11.00a.m. followed by tea and coffee on 21st April 2023 at the LOETB Information Hub, Lyster Square, Portlaoise, Co. Laois R32D268.

Please register for the Information Sessions here.