Local Authority Integration Team Small Grants Funding
This new small grant fund, is for local groups that are supporting initiatives that prioritise the integration of Asylum Seekers, Beneficiaries of Temporary Accommodation and Refugees in Co. Wexford.
A range of actions and supports can be applied for under the grant that promote mutual understanding, shared experiences, and social cohesion between refugees, asylum seekers, and local communities by creating opportunities for cultural exchange, dialogue, and participation in social activities in Wexford.
Groups are invited to apply with up to a maximum grant of €500 available – costs can go to a range of actions including, but not limited to, running events, refreshments, small project costs, etc.
All expenditure must be vouched and short reports on the actions are required. The process is straight-forward with a brief application form and guidance provided.
The Local Authority Integration Team at Wexford County Council are available to answer any questions groups may have regarding this grant.
The closing date for applications is 15th November 2024. For further information please contact integration@wexfordcoco.ie
Download the Application form HERE
Guidance Notes for Applicants
Enclosed/attached please find the application form for funding under the Local Authority Integration Team Small Grants Funding.
To help you decide if your group can avail of funding from the Local Authority Integration Team Small Grants Funding please see the Grant descriptor below.
Aim: To create inclusive communities across Wexford
Objective: To promote mutual understanding, shared experiences, and social cohesion between refugees /asylum seekers /Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and their local communities by creating opportunities for cultural exchange, dialogue, and participation in social activities.
Please take a few minutes to read these short guidance notes and pay particular attention to the goals set out below. If you are unsure of the meaning of anything in this document, please contact a member of our Community Development Team (contact details are on Page 3).
Overview of LAITs
The Cornerstone of the Local Authority Integration Team is the guiding principle of ‘integration from day one’. The overarching aim is to empower individuals within the target groups to live independently in the community.
Integration is defined as the ability to participate to the extent that a person needs and wishes, in all the major components of society without having to relinquish his or her own cultural identity.
Integration encompasses participation in the economic, social, cultural and political life of the State. Integration recognises the right of migrants to give expression to their own culture in a manner that does not conflict with the basic values of Irish society as reflected in Ireland’s Constitution and Irish law.
As a two-way process, integration involves change of Irish society and institutions so that the benefits of greater diversity can be fully realised.
Outcomes of the Project/Numbers who benefit
It will strengthen an application if there are identified target numbers and tangible results expected, and that the group is clear on who will benefit and how.
Completing the Application Form
It is important to answer all questions as fully as possible giving all relevant information. This helps the Local Authority Integration Team to assess your application.
Assistance to Application Groups
Every effort has been made to present this application form in clear English so that it is easy to complete by the applicant. Nevertheless, we appreciate that there can be difficulty with the application form. We will be happy to provide clarification and answer any questions that may arise and can also speak with applicant groups experiencing any difficulty in filling out the form. This does not guarantee funding. All applications are reviewed by a panel.
Assessment of applications for funding
The Local Authority Integration Team will assess applications based on information supplied within the application form. As stated above, questions on the form are designed to gain a good understanding of your submission and relevant details needed to decide the merits of the application. The assessment process is seeking to determine if the project is realistic, can be delivered on time and is budgeted properly. It is very important to complete all sections of the form.
Please note that there is a small budget in place for these grants, and a large number of applications is expected, so funding is not guaranteed.
Under Local Authority Integration Team Small Grants Funding, given the local high level of demand, successful applicants can usually expect amounts of up to a maximum of €500. All decisions about funding applications are made by the Local Authority Integration Team/TBC (appointed committee). Applicants will be informed of the status of their application in November 2025.
For further information contact the Wexford Local Authority Integration Team on integration@wexfordvcoco.ie or at 053 9196000
Administrator:
Aine Roche
Deadline for Application Submission: Friday 15th November at 5.00pm
Submissions to be made by email and marked:
“Local Authority Integration Team One Off Small Grants Funding Application”
Download the Application form HERE
Grant descriptor:
Grants will be provided under 4 headings.
- Community Events and Cultural Festivals
- Sports and Recreation Activities
- Cultural Education Workshops
- Arts & Media projects
1. Community Events and Cultural Festivals
Support for events that bring together refugees /asylum seekers / BOTPs and local community members to celebrate cultural diversity. These can include festivals featuring food, music, dance, storytelling, and other cultural expressions.
Grant activities may include:
- Cultural Showcases: Funding for food festivals, concerts, and cultural performances where refugees share traditions from their home countries.
- Cultural Awareness Days: Special days where local schools, community centres, or public spaces host refugee-led activities, offering locals insight into their cultures.
- Shared Holidays: Funding for joint celebrations of local and refugee holidays, fostering cross-cultural experiences (e.g., Christmas, Eid, or Lunar New Year).
Expected Outcomes: Increased awareness of cultural diversity, reduced prejudice, strengthened social ties, and celebration of the contributions of refugees to the community.
2. Sports and Recreation Activities
Sports and physical activities are universal languages that can break down cultural barriers. These grants would fund sports leagues, recreational activities, and fitness programs that encourage participation by refugees / asylum seekers / BOTPS and locals alike.
Grant activities may include:
- Mixed Teams: Funding for local soccer, basketball, or volleyball leagues where refugees and locals form mixed teams, promoting teamwork and integration.
- Sports Days: Organise community sports events that include everyone, from youth to adults, with different types of physical activities (e.g., running races, football matches, and relay events).
- Outdoor Recreation: Grants for hiking trips, nature walks, and outdoor excursions that bring together diverse groups to explore the local environment and create shared experiences.
Expected Outcomes: Strengthened bonds between refugees and locals, improved mental and physical health, and a sense of belonging among participants.
3. Cultural Education Workshops
Programs that offer both refugees and locals opportunities to learn about each other's cultural practices, traditions, and values, helping to create empathy and reduce cultural misunderstandings.
Grant activities may include:
- Refugee-Led Workshops: Refugees can lead workshops or seminars on topics such as art, music, language, and cultural traditions from their countries of origin.
- History and Culture Seminar: Sessions where refugees and locals discuss their respective cultural histories, social norms, and values.
- Film and Documentary Screenings: Screen films or documentaries about the refugee experience, followed by group discussions to promote awareness and empathy.
Expected Outcomes: Increased cultural competency, reduced social isolation, and more harmonious coexistence.
4. Arts & Media projects
These grants would support a range of artistic projects, such as visual arts, crafts, music, theatre, and dance, that give refugees an opportunity to connect with their local community with a shared experience of self-expression / storytelling.
Grant activities may include:
- Creative Arts Programs: Funding for projects that use the arts to facilitate expression, healing, and storytelling among refugee & local communities (e.g., painting, photography, theatre).
- Media and Storytelling Projects: Support for community media projects (e.g., podcasts, video series) that give refugees & local communities a platform to share their stories and experiences.
- Public Art Installations: Grants for art installations or mural projects that reflect the experiences of refugees and celebrate diversity within the community.
Expected Outcomes: Help to break down barriers, foster empathy, and celebrate the unique contributions of refugees through the use of Arts & Media.
Terms & Conditions
Applications are welcome from:
Local Community Groups, Community Organisations, Voluntary Organisations and Sports Clubs
Applicants must show how these activities are part of an overall strategy to improve the quality of life for community members.
Grants cannot be used to fund the following types of activities:
- Travel and subsistence for employees of other service providers that are a member of boards of management of Local Community Groups/Community Organisations
- Grants to statutory service providers operating breakfast clubs and homework support programmes.
- Funding for on-going running costs for example rent, insurance, electricity, phone costs and office maintenance.
Reporting
On completion of the project, The LAIT will require a short report and evidence of the project to be submitted for reimbursement.
Reporting must be completed for draw down of funds by end of Q1 2025.