Tips for Applying for Léargas Funding

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TIMING: Don’t leave submitting it until the last minute. The NA is limited in staff and cannot guarantee we can fix problems within the timeframe. Aim to have your application ready to submit a few days before the actual deadline. Remember it is 11am Irish time. Your application will not be eligible even it is a second late!

INCLUDE EVERYTHING: There can be no additions to your application after submission at the deadline – an assessor can only clarify aspects relating to technical details such as dates and possible budget miscalculations. If you submit your application several times the application that arrives the latest before the deadline is considered the eligible application.

  • If you don’t say that an EVS volunteer will receive child protection training before working with a group of young people the assessor cannot assume this.
  • If you do not state at what stages of your Transnational Youth Initiative the young people are active the assessor cannot presume that the engagement is throughout the project
  • If you do not detail the significant and meaningful role your partner plays in your Strategic Partnership it may appear to the assessor that the partnership is unequal.

Make sure you have filled in the CORRECT APPLICATION FORM. The October deadline forms have some minor changes to previous deadlines. Incorrect application forms cannot be accepted.

KEEP IT SHORT SIMPLE! And to the point Be as clear as possible – do not try to use flowery language or huge chunks of policy as quotes.

OUTSIDE HELP: Get someone who knows nothing about the project application to read it for feedback on clarity etc.. if they can’t understand the application then neither will the evaluator

ATTACHMENTS: Any annexes you want to attach must be less than 5gb

Check and double check eligibility criteria Refer back to Award Criteria as this is what you will be marked on!

Tell the story of your project …remember to review the Award Criteria in the Programme Guide to double check you have addressed all areas.

Common Pitfalls in the application forms include:

  • Lack of detail and lack of clarity
  • Using general rather than specific statements
  • Inconsistencies between questions
  • Not demonstrating a need for the project or activity
  • Not addressing all the award criteria
  • Lack of potential impact on all partners, participants and other people outside the organisation
  • Lack of a policy link between the need for the project and the activity
  • Write your project summary first, it will tell the story of your project!