Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, has today announced funding of €2 million to support and improve the employment opportunities for family carers.
The new initiative, under the Dormant Accounts Fund, will place a special focus on enhancing carer wellbeing, reducing isolation, building work readiness and supporting young carers.
Former carers will also be supported under the initiative, which is being rolled out by the Department of Social Protection in conjunction with Pobal.
Announcing the new €2 million fund today, Minister Humphreys said:
“Supporting our family carers has always been a key priority of mine as Minister for Social Protection.
“This funding will be used to support our family carers to embark on educational and training courses and improving their employment opportunities.
“It will provide the opportunity to family carers to recognise, value, and build on the unique skills they have.
“So, for example, we will be funding the likes of mentoring and coaching courses that will equip carers with a pathway to employment, empowering them to rebuild the confidence that can sometimes be lost during a caring role.
“We will also be helping our carers in terms of improving their IT skills, which will greatly assist in securing employment.”
Some of the activities that will be funded under the initiative include:
- online family carer support groups
- provision of mentoring from a qualified career coach/employment specialist
- upskilling through education grants and training
- IT skills training
- webinars
- workshops
- information sessions
- resources that include practical information designed to help in particular teachers and staff in educational settings to identify and support young carers
- creation of digital resources for disseminating information to educators and young carers
- activities which focus on work with schools to support students with caring responsibilities
- initiatives that raise awareness among employers on the benefits of retaining working family carers in paid employment
Care Alliance Ireland says it will provide great opportunities for family carers and encourage organisations to apply for funding.
This new initiative, under the Dormant Accounts Fund, is intended to improve employment opportunities, focusing on enhancing carer wellbeing, reducing isolation, building work readiness, and supporting young carers.
Pobal is managing the process on behalf of the Department of Social Protection. Guidelines and the application form will be available for download from Monday, 19 September on the Pobal website. The closing date for receipt of applications is 12 October.
The successful initiatives are due to commence in January 2023 and will run until June 2024.