KickStart Fund Round 3 Now Open in Ireland
Deadline: 12-Jan-22
The Department of Justice launched its Working to Change: Social Enterprise and Employment Strategy 2021 – 2023. The Probation Service, in collaboration with the Irish Prison Service, are inviting applications from social enterprises in Ireland for Round 3 of the KickStart Fund to support implementation of the Working to Change Strategy under the Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan 2021.
The objective of KickStart Round 3 is to “Support and encourage new and existing social enterprises to create meaningful jobs for people with criminal convictions, as a stepping stone to mainstream employment” (Working to Change Strategic Area 1: Social Enterprise employment options).
Categories
Social enterprises can apply for a grant under:
Category A: Feasibility/ Market Research for €5,000 up to €15,000 to carry out a feasibility study or market research to develop or expand their social enterprise to create employment opportunities for people with a criminal conviction. Projects funded under Category A must be completed within a 12 month timeframe between 2nd May 2022 and 30th April 2023.
Category B: Jobs Creation Fund for €20,000 up to €50,000 to implement actions that will create or sustain employment opportunities for people with a criminal conviction. Projects funded under Category B must be completed within a 15 month timeframe, between 2nd May 2022 and 31st July 2023.
Note: Due to the limited amount of funding available, organisations are only able to submit one application form; that is, apply for one grant only.
Eligibility Criteria
Category A: Feasibility Study/ Market Research
Applicants must:
Meet the definition of social enterprise as per the definition used in the National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland 2019 – 2022, or alternatively use this fund to explore the potential of becoming a Social Enterprise that will have employment opportunities for people with a criminal conviction.
Have proof of legal status and operate in the Republic of Ireland.
Have written approval to hire person(s) with a criminal conviction.
Category B: Jobs Creation Fund
Social Enterprises, as described by the National Social Enterprise Policy, must:
Provide Match Funding of at least 10%.
Have proof of legal status and operate in the Republic of Ireland.
Be operating as a social enterprise for more than 2 years.
Have written approval to hire person(s) with a criminal conviction.
Organisations who received funding for a Feasibility Study under the Kickstart Round 1 or 2 Funds will be eligible to apply under Jobs Creation Fund of Round 3 of the KickStart Fund.
Organisations that were funded previously and successfully progressed KickStart Round 2 Strand 2 projects may also apply for funding under KickStart Round 3:
to ensure employment of a new person(s) with a criminal conviction to the SE.
to maintain employment of a person with a criminal conviction currently employed but in a new or advanced role with demonstrably greater responsibility. Please note that KickStart Round 3 is not a continuation fund of the previous KickStart Round. In addition, funding to maintain employment for the same person under future rounds is not guaranteed, following the end of KickStart Round 3.
For more information, visit https://www.pobal.ie/programmes/daf-kickstart/