22 community groups across Ireland will receive grants totalling €500,000 through Bank of Ireland’s Community Fund, bringing the initiative’s total support to €3m since its launch in 2020.
The sixth year of the Bank of Ireland Community Fund, delivered in partnership with Community Foundation Ireland, focuses on building capability and fostering inclusion among under-served groups. Grants ranging from €10,000 to €80,000 have been distributed to 307 community projects across the island of Ireland.
The supported groups work with populations disproportionately impacted by critical social issues, including families and individuals living in or at risk of poverty, older people, people experiencing homelessness, the LGBTQ+ community, traveller and Roma community, people experiencing domestic abuse, migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees.
“This year, we have prioritised projects that will broaden inclusion levels in our society, equipping people with the requisite skills and competencies, and providing opportunities for them to be connected through education, enterprise, or work”
Two organisations received the maximum €80,000 multi-year grants: Belfast-based Advice NI and Young Social Innovators, a non-profit organisation that empowers young people to develop innovative solutions to social challenges.
A full list of 2025 Community Fund grantees is available to view on the Bank of Ireland website: Begin Together Fund – Bank of Ireland
Social impact
Áine McCleary, chief customer officer at Bank of Ireland, emphasised the fund’s social impact.
“Since 2020, the Community Fund has been working with Community Foundation Ireland to help to make our society stronger by allocating funds to those in greatest need. I am very proud of the support that we provide to these groups who do incredible work to address some of society’s most critical issues and the grants are targeted to support them as part of this outreach.”
McCleary highlighted this year’s focus on inclusion: “This year, we have prioritised projects that will broaden inclusion levels in our society, equipping people with the requisite skills and competencies, and providing opportunities for them to be connected through education, enterprise, or work. The grants will enable these organisations to further develop the valuable work they deliver to their service-users, and to make plans for exciting future endeavours.”
The Community Fund has received recognition for its community impact, recently winning the Chambers Ireland “Best in the Community” award at the 2025 InBusiness Chambers Ireland Recognition Awards. The fund has also been shortlisted for Chambers Ireland Sustainable Business Impact Awards.
Denise Charlton, chief executive of Community Foundation Ireland, praised the partnership’s continued impact.
“Our partnership with the Bank of Ireland Community Fund continues to deliver support to groups and communities in greatest need. We use our experience as a philanthropic hub with a network of voluntary, community and charitable partners across Ireland to assist in the identification of projects which are responding to existing as well as new and emerging challenges.”
Main image at top: Pictured at the announcement of Community Fund grants is Roger Warnock, CEO of Young Social Innovators and with Ian Murray, Bank of Ireland, along with Young Social Innovators Youth Panel members Dervla Flanagan, Vanessa Velderrain, Chaniel Sylvester, Shauna Owens, Marika Tsourekis, Orlaith Jennings, Jennifer Chudley, and Angela Babikanga who took part in fast-paced ideas session using LEGO to help reimagine programmes
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