AONTAS Offers Support to Members Applying to the Mitigating Against Educational Disadvantage Fund

While AONTAS is not an expert on the MAEDF, our weekly membership webinar - which has been in place since the move to remote working in March 2020 - offered optimal space for members to come together for peer learning, support and the exchange of ideas.

AONTAS CEO Niamh O’Reilly introduced the webinar by taking members through the application process, advising that local ETBs can confirm requirements including submission dates. Niamh described the four categories for funding consideration:

1. Digital technologies
2. Learner assistance fund
3. Reach-out and/or mentoring
4. COVID-19 exceptional circumstances

Additional points to remember around the MAED fund are as follows:

• ETB deadlines vary so groups are encouraged to see Monday, 16^th November as a guide
• All money should be invoiced/spent by the close of 2020

AONTAS Chairperson Tara Farrell then moved to describe how Longford Women’s Link, of which Tara is Deputy CEO, intended to approach the application, providing details on items they intend to use the fund for. This stimulated discussion amongst members in breakout rooms as they considered how they each could maximize the potential of the fund to respond to individual learner needs.

Members recognised the huge potential offered by the fund and enthusiastically exchanged ideas, indicating that items such as zoom licenses, tutor equipment, phone credit, data plans to enable 1:1 phone support for learners, website development and equipment eg PPE to ensure facilities and services are in line with COVID-19 health and safety guidelines are among those that will help to engage the most marginalised learners.

Many attendees were previously unaware of the fund or unaware of its specific requirements. Noting the tight deadline and the challenges presented, the high level of attendance by members and their enthusiasm to submit the application highlighted the significant need for additional financial support in the sector.

As a national organization dedicated to the rights of all adults to high quality learning throughout their lives, with a specific focus on learner voice and community education, AONTAS is delighted to see this funding opportunity made available to members. The fund of €8million follows months of advocacy through the DES COVID-19 Tertiary Education and Steering Group from which AONTAS CEO Niamh O’Reilly was made chair of a Mitigating Educational Disadvantage Working Group (MED Group). AONTAS members have diligently advocated for their learners including through their support of AONTAS’ advocacy activities eg October’s “Community Education in a Time of COVID-19: responding and building back better together for community education” event which welcomed Minister Simon Harris. The fund certainly represents an output of this advocacy. Additional resources documenting this advocacy may be found here. AONTAS will continue to make every effort to support members to reach those learners, and prospective learners, most in need.

AONTAS continues to support members who are working hard to complete the fund applications. Documenting the financial needs of community education groups under the four categories previously listed is vital to ensure the education system can tackle systemic issues of disadvantage, and create a fairer, more inclusive Ireland. Members are reminded to contact AONTAS Head of Advocacy, Dearbháil Lawless at: dlawless@aontas.com for additional support and to continue collaborating with one another.

Education and Training Board (ETB) deadlines vary, some may have already passed. Please contact your local ETB for confirmation. Some deadlines are available below. 

City of Dublin ETB
16^th November, 12pm
23^rd November
http://cityofdublin.etb.ie/latest-news/mitigating-against-educational-disadvantage-fund-maedf/

Cork ETB
18^th November
https://twitter.com/corkfet/status/1326628389638299650?s=21

Donegal ETB
20^th November
4^th December
https://twitter.com/DonegalETB/status/1328337023263002630?s=20

Dublin & Dun Laoghaire ETB
27^th November
http://www.ddletb.ie/mitigating-against-educational-disadvantage-fund-call-for-funding/

Galway & Roscommon ETB
17^th November
https://gretb.ie/mitigating-against-educational-disadvantage-fund/

Kildare & Wicklow ETB
27^th November, 5pm 
https://communityeducationkwetb.ie/2020/11/12/mitigating-against-educational-disadvantage-fund-maedf/?fbclid=IwAR0o69VHQ56Cd8BTf-rYFSNh8rKYhbWpKE7Qv1TRgRpxG2GFD4e079CVzGo

Kilkenny & Carlow ETB
26^th November at 3pm
https://www.facebook.com/CarlowPPN/posts/1613802882124226
 
Limerick & Clare ETB
16^th November
https://twitter.com/LimClareETB/status/1326187444564353026?s=20
 
Laois & Offaly ETB
27^th November
https://twitter.com/laoisoffalyetb/status/1327294362464751620?s=20
 
Mayo, Sligo & Leitrim ETB
19^th November, 2pm
3^rd December, 10am
https://msletb.ie/news/maedf/
 
Tipperary ETB
18^th November COB
http://tipperary.etb.ie/latest-news/mitigating-against-educational-disadvantage-fund/

Waterford & Wexford ETB
18^th November 12pm
2^nd December 12pm
http://waterfordwexford.etb.ie/latest-news/14763/