Sponsors

Our work has helped us identify seven important features – we call them building blocks – that we believe all children and young people need in order to be safe, happy and secure and able to reach their potential

Each building block looks and feels different for every child and is influenced by their age, ability and experience. These building blocks are:

• Being physically safe
• Being physically well
• Being emotionally well
• Having strong self-belief
• Having positive relationships
• Having essential skills
• Being positively empowered

For many children in the UK, these building blocks are threatened or weakened by the disadvantages they experience, such as living in poverty, being disabled or experiencing abuse, trauma or loss.

The projects we fund make differences in children’s lives that help prevent or overcome the effects of the disadvantages they face and, in turn, strengthen their building blocks.

Projects achieve these differences by either working directly with children or seeking to improve their social and physical environments.

Colmcille is a partnership programme between Foras na Gaeilge and Bòrd na Gàidhlig, promoting the use of Irish Gaelic and Scottish Gaelic in Ireland and Scotland and between the two countries. Colmcille aims through its work to foster understanding of the diverse experience and culture of the Irish and Scottish Gaelic communities, and to encourage debate on common concerns in social, cultural and economic issues with a view to building self-confidence within the Gaelic language communities.

Foras na Gaeilge has a role in advising administrations, North and South, as well as public bodies and other groups in the private and voluntary sectors in all matters relating to the Irish language. They will also be undertaking supportive projects and grant-aiding bodies and groups throughout the island of Ireland.

Awards for All offers grants of between £300 and £10,000 for grassroots and community activity that aims to improve life for local people and neighbourhoods. It doesn’t have a deadline and you can apply at any time.

It is our most popular grants programme so we will prioritise groups with smaller incomes. Due to high demand on the programme, organisations that have a large annual income may not be able to get funding through Awards for All.

We recommend you send us your application at least four months before you want your project to start.

The Education Authority provides a more cost effective model for the delivery of education services. As the education sector deals with the challenges of the current budget situation, it is important that plans are in place to streamline administration of education and protect teaching and learning in the classroom.

The word Líofa means ‘fluent’ and this is precisely what Líofa strives to achieve – a greater number of fluent Irish speakers.  Líofa encourages people to make a personal pledge to improve their level of Irish and, in doing so, join a community of people focused on using and learning Irish.

The Líofa campaign was launched by the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Carál Ní Chuilín, in September 2011 to get 1000 people to sign up to Líofa and commit to improving and using Irish. In light of the huge interest and momentum in the campaign, the target has recently been revised to 20,000.

The Council will support the diverse and colourful cultural heritage of the area: the buildings and architecture; its customs, stories, songs, poetry, music and sport; the traditions of the countryside and towns; the food and entertainment.