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Mason Hayes & Curran-backed education fund announces 2018 awardees

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Mason Hayes & Curran-backed education fund announces 2018 awardees

An education fund set up by Mason Hayes & Curran and Social Innovation Fund Ireland has announced its backing for five projects.

The €450,000 Engage & Educate Fund was set up in 2017 as a partnership between the law firm and funding body, supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development.

The 2018 awardees are:

  • Blue Diamond Drama Academy, a project that addresses the lack of 3rd level education and employment opportunities available to adults with intellectual disabilities;

  • Deaf Education Online, a project that looks at the barriers that deaf adults face when it comes to accessing education;

  • Suas Ireland Education Programme, a project that looks at tackling the educational disadvantage for children aged 8-14 years in DEIS schools;

  • Teen Turn, a programme that provides role models and hands-on experience to teenage girls from disadvantaged communities; and

  • Intercultural Language Service, a flexible language learning experience that promotes social inclusion amongst migrants within their communities and a previous awardee of this particular fund in 2017.

    • They will share €150,000 to develop their projects as well as access to an Accelerator programme which provides supports similar to those provided by venture capital companies to commercial enterprises.

    Richard Woulfe, partner at Mason Hayes & Curran, said: “We passionately believe that education opens a world of opportunity for citizens and by providing access through many routes to education, we are creating a more just and fair society.

    “The ability of each of these projects to expand and grow to benefit more people who have difficulty accessing education was an important consideration in selecting our Awardees. We look forward to seeing the outcomes that will be achieved as a result of this funding.

    “We share Social Innovation Fund Ireland’s belief that, just as business entrepreneurship is critical to innovating in our economy, social entrepreneurs are critical to innovating in our society and we are delighted to support the fantastic Engage & Educate Fund awardees announced today. Our aim is to ensure that everyone can have an education and reach their potential and contribute fully to society.”

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