Press release
Minister O’Gorman approves funding for Youth Climate Justice Projects
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, T.D., today approved funding to support 14 youth-led projects in the area of climate justice. In line with the recommendations of a specially convened Selection Committee, funding of almost €400,000 is being allocated to projects involving 23 youth organisations.
The Youth Climate Justice Fund supports youth-led action on climate justice. The aim of the fund is to raise climate justice awareness amongst young people and to empower young people to influence and sustain local, regional and national climate justice change.
Launching this year’s Youth Climate Justice Fund allocations, Minister O’Gorman commented:
”The Youth Climate Justice Fund already has a strong track record supporting young people to work for climate justice in positive and meaningful ways. This year my Department has received applications for funding for a range of youth-centred, innovative, participatory and impactful projects, which I am delighted to be able to support.
”Young people and youth organisations are leading the way when it comes to climate action and climate justice. They understand that, since the impacts of climate change are not evenly felt, we have to place human rights and social justice at the core of tackling climate change. I look forward to seeing the results of the 14 exciting projects that have been awarded funding.”
All projects funded under the Youth Climate Justice Fund in 2021 and 2020 will be invited to participate in an Outcomes Conference to be convened by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth later this year, in order to reflect on the achievements of funded projects and the future of the Youth Climate Justice Fund and to facilitate collaboration and network-building.
ENDS
All projects funded under the Youth Climate Justice Fund 2021 are being led by a national youth organisation funded under the Youth Services Grant Scheme of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
Fourteen applications received by the Department were reviewed by a Selection Committee made up of representatives from the Youth Affairs and Youth Participation Units of the Department, a representative of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and a young person from the Comhairle na nÓg network.
Grants are being awarded to three ‘consortium’ applications including bids led by ECO-UNESCO (with Irish Girl Guides, Gaisce, NoName Club, Young Irish Film Makers as partner organisations); Church of Ireland Youth Department (with the Girls Friendly Society as a partner organisation); and National Youth Council of Ireland (including Macra na Feirme, Concern Worldwide, Sphere 17 and Young Men's Christian Association as partner organisations.)
Other grants are being been made to Feachtas Óg-Ghluaisteacht Gaeilge, Foróige, Junior Chamber International (Ireland), Voluntary Service International, Involve, SpunOut, Localise Youth Volunteering, Ógras, Scouting Ireland, Youth Theatre Ireland and Youth Work Ireland.
The Youth Climate Justice Fund was announced in March 2021 with a closing date of 4th May 2021. In 2021 the Fund total was just under €500,000 and was open to applications from all national youth organisations funded under the Youth Service Grant Scheme and from Gaisce – The President’s Award.
Applications to the Fund were asked to propose projects which would achieve one, or more, of the following key goals or actions:
| Organisation | Allocation |
| Youth Work Ireland | €71,809.50 |
| Ogras | €8,556.92 |
| Voluntary Service International | €3,700 |
| Feachtas Óg Ghluaiseacht Ghaeilge | €3,007 |
| Junior Chamber Ireland | €777.92 |
| Church of Ireland Youth Department, Girls Friendly Society | €8,375 |
| Foroige | €110,200 |
| Scouting Ireland | €47,709.08 |
| Localise Volunteering | €5,832 |
| National Youth Council of Ireland,Macra na Feirme, YMCA Ireland , Concern Worldwide and Sphere 17 | €53,881 |
| SpunOut | €4,350 |
| Youth Theatre Ireland | €3,700 |
| ECO UNESCO, Irish Girl Guides, Gaisce, NoName Club, Young Irish Film Makers | €64,925 |
| Involve | €10,516 |
| Totals | €397,339.42 |