Charities and researchers are partners in the process. Developing ideas, project design and development are achieved through reciprocity, transparency and dialogue.

Through partnership, your civil society organisation will benefit from, and will actively contribute to, high-quality research that directly aligns with your organisation’s work plan and strategic interests. By working with an excellent researcher, you will build the evidence base to tackle the major challenges that your organisation seeks to address.

Funding opportunities:

IRC funding schemes support collaborative projects that bring together researchers and civil society organisations. Check out the following:

New Foundations (Strand 1a) is entirely funded by the IRC and supports impactful 9-month collaborative projects between researchers and registered charities. This is particularly well-suited to charities that have a defined need or short project in mind.

Enterprise Partnership Scheme is a co-funding programme between the IRC and a civil society organisation for one to four years. The research project is closely related to the interests of the civil society organisation, and the researcher typically completes a placement there. (Note: A waiver may be available to registered charities for the first year of award.)

Employment-Based Postgraduate Programme is a similar scheme in which the IRC co-funds the cost of employing a researcher. The research project is directly related to the interests of the civil society organisation. The civil society organisation is fully embedded throughout the project, and the researcher is employed there.

Next steps?

For further information on IRC funding schemes email info@research.ie.

For tips on how to develop your partnership, consult the Campus Engage Framework for Engaged Research: www.campusengage.ie.

For further reading, see Ní Shé, É., Cassidy, J., Davies, C. et al. Minding the gap: identifying values to enable public and patient involvement at the pre-commencement stage of research projects. Res Involv Engagem 6, 46 (2020). https://rdcu.be/b6uPT.

Age Action supports and advocates for equality and human right for all older people, empowering them to live full lives as actively engaged citizens.

www.ageaction.ie

Cork Traveller Women’s Network is a community development organisation run by Traveller women and working for Traveller rights in Cork city.

CTWN Facebook Group

Our mission is to prevent heart disease and stroke, save lives, empower and support families, communities and future generations to take control of their health and well-being.

http://croi.ie

Cystic Fibrosis Ireland (CFI) is a voluntary organisation that was set up by parents in 1963 to improve the treatment and facilities for people with Cystic Fibrosis in Ireland. CF Ireland also co-operates with medical professionals to give maximum assistance to both parents and children/adults with Cystic Fibrosis.

Disability Federation of Ireland is a charity who’s mission is to advocate for the full and equal inclusion of people with disabilities and disabling conditions in all aspects of their lives.

www.disability-federation.ie

Patient led charity Fighting Blindness strives to empower and support patients living with blindness.

www.fightingblindness.ie

The National Centre for Youth Mental Health offers expert advice and support to young people in Ireland aged 12 – 25

jigsaw.ie

The Irish Men’s Sheds Association provides support, information and resources to members sheds in Ireland, north and south of the border.Their aim to make it as easy as possible for any like-minded group of men in Ireland to set up, run and maintain a men’s shed.

menssheds.ie

The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre provides an essential service to victims of sexual assault, rape or childhood sexual abuse. The mission of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre is to prevent the harm and heal the trauma of rape and other forms of sexual violence.

www.drcc.ie

Threshold, founded in 1978, is a registered charity whose aim is to secure a right to housing, particularly for households experiencing the problems of poverty and exclusion.

www.threshold.ie