Applications for the sixth round of the Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged will launch tomorrow to promote cross-sectoral co-operation to help the disadvantaged and benefit more people in need.

Priority will be given to projects in pursuit of enhancement of quality of life, employment and skill development, empowerment and exclusion prevention of the disadvantaged; those with promising sustainability of social partnerships with business corporations; and, those comprising elements of early intervention with preventive measures targeting a social problem.

With the Government's provision of matching grants, businesses are encouraged to make donations and take part in the social welfare projects run by non-governmental organisations which seek to help the disadvantaged and create a caring society.

Since its 2005 inception the fund has approved $130 million in applications submitted by 111 NGOs together with 568 business partners to implement 319 welfare projects. At least 650,000 disadvantaged people have benefited.

In view of the fund's remarkable achievements in the past few years, a further injection of $200 million proposed by the Government was approved by the Legislative Council on May 28.

Fund allocation for each approved proposal will be capped at $2 million. Each applicant welfare NGO can submit up to 10 applications in the sixth round, which will close September 30. Click here for details, call 2892 5104 or send an email for enquiries.