John Moloney T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for Disability and Mental Health announced the first round of grants, totalling over 2.6m euros, awarded by the Genio Trust to support transition from institutional to personalised models of care in disability and mental health services. These grants follow the decision by the Minister in December 2009 regarding to allocate 3m euros of innovation health funding to the Trust for a special fund designed to encourage innovative, personalised supports which offer better opportunities to people with disabilities and mental ill health to reach their full potential.
"The Genio Trust is a leading example of partnership between Government and philanthropy, developed with the support of The Atlantic Philanthropies, my Office for Disability and Mental Health in the Department of Health & Children and the HSE.", the Minister said. In his announcement Minister Moloney emphasised that "The service reforms which will be facilitated by the Genio Trust are fully in line with the objectives of Government policy as set out in A Vision for Change and with the objectives of the National Disability Strategy."
383 applications were submitted from across Ireland, from initiatives based in both rural and urban settings; spanning different types and levels of disabilities and mental ill health; and reflecting different phases of the life cycle, e.g. children, young people and adults.
"There has been overwhelming interest from organisations both small and large across Ireland," the Minister said, "The high standard of applications to the fund has brought into sharp focus the appetite and ability for creating innovative and sustainable initiatives in this country, in the provision of self-directed and inclusive supports."
35 initiatives are being awarded grants in this round, with a second round to be announced in September, following further clarification and evaluation of the remaining shortlisted projects. Grants will range from relatively small amounts to a maximum of €300,000. All initiatives selected for funding are subject to specific conditions and evaluation ensuring accountability, cost-effectiveness and maximising learning for further progress.
Examples of initiatives that will be supported include primarily those that:
- move and keep people out of institutional care by supporting them to live as independently as possible in the community
- actively integrate people with disabilities and mental ill health into mainstream activities
- strengthen and build networks of support comprising family, friends and neighbours
- empower people with disabilities and mental ill health to take control of their own lives.
The Minister concluded, "The growing commitment towards positive change and progress on a national level is clearly evident. These grants mark an encouraging move towards meeting our policy objectives and we must continue to build on this momentum in the coming months."
A second round of applications has been shortlisted and those initiatives which are successful will be awarded grants in September.
Genio Trust list of approved grants, July 2010.
Organisation Name - Organisation Address - Approved Amount (€)
Ability West - Galway - 26,890
Aras Follain - Tipperary- 110,000
Autism Initiative Group - Louth - 17,440
Brothers of Charity Services Clare Ltd (2)- Clare - 160,000
Carriglea Cairde Services - Waterford - 106,811
Cheshire Ireland - Dublin - 280,000
Dara Residential Services Ltd - Kildare - 42,400
Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) - Dublin - 73,925
Dublin City University Mental Health Knowledge Community - Dublin- 104,804
Dublin West and South West Mental Health Services - Dublin - 59,650
Dublin West and South West Mental Health Services / Dublin City University- Dublin- 9,000
EVE Limited - Dublin - 194,900
Galway Centre for Independent Living Ltd - Galway - 41,750
HSE Kildare West Wicklow MHS / Shine / IAN- Kildare - 173,428
Irish Autism Action- Westmeath - 75,000
Irish Wheelchair Association - Dublin - 217,242
John of Gods - City Gate - Dublin - 40,000
LEAP - Dublin - 30,970
Mentored Peer Support UCC - Cork - 80,000
National Parents and Siblings Alliance - Dublin - 14,500
National Service Users Executive - Dublin - 53,283
PROTECT - Wicklow - 271,365
Service Improvement Leadership Programme - Kildare - 63,475
Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary/Muiríosa Foundation (2) - Westmeath - 29,377
Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary/Muiríosa Foundation (2) - Offaly - 68,701
SOS Kilkenny Ltd - Kilkenny - 12,700
South Lee Social Inclusion Group - Cork - 1,440
South Tipperary Mental Health Services / St Lukes Clonmel - Tipperary - 37,190
Specialisterne - Dublin - 20,000
St Michael's House - Dublin - 50,000
West Cork Mental Health Services - Cork - 104,000
Western Care Association - Mayo - 100,000
White Crest / Cheshire Ireland - Dublin - 20,000
Total - 2,690,240
Source:
Department Of Health and Children, Ireland