Since the mid-1990s, Northside Partnership has helped over 2,500 students from our target area to take part in and complete third level education.
We know that for students and families with low incomes, sometimes the day-to-day costs of attending college can simply be too much. This is why we established the Partnership Fund to provide a small amount of financial support to students who want to continue with their education but do not have the means to do so. In 2016 we supported 240 students to attend third level education through this fund.
The Partnership Fund provides a small amount of financial support to students in full-time Post Leaving Certificate courses and full-time Higher Education Undergraduate courses.
We offer this financial support together with advice from our Career Guidance Service to help students to make good decisions, to get into the course they want, and to apply for other funding supports that are available.
You can apply for the Partnership Fund if you:
- Live in a neighbourhood where the Partnership works
- Are attending a full-time Post Leaving Certificate course or a full-time Higher Education Undergraduate course in a public college. Certificate, diploma and degree courses are all eligible
- Are under 23 years of age and your family are dependent on social welfare
- Are 23 years or over and you are dependent on social welfare
You can apply between June and August of each year.
To apply you will need:
- A completed application form
- Proof of income (P21, P60 or a Social Welfare statement for the last year)
- A letter from your college confirming that you have a place on your course
You can request an application form by contacting Linda Shanley at 01-8485630 or email linda.shanley@nspartnership.ie.
If your application is successful we will get in touch and tell you how much you will receive.
- We will ask you to sign an agreement when you receive support.
- You will not receive any cash payments. You will be refunded money when you send us in your receipts.
- Your funding can be used for college fees, travel, books, materials, equipment, rent or childcare from a registered childcare service.
- At the end of each year we will ask you to send us in a copy of your exam results.
- As part of the support you receive through the Partnership Fund you will also get support from our Education and Career Guidance Service. Our Guidance Counsellor, Paul Hayes will help you apply for other funding supports and give you advice on how to register for courses you are interested in.
The Partnership Fund is funded under the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government.