Bank of Ireland is donating €1m to 50 non-profits through Community Foundation Ireland to support those most at risk from cost of living pressures.
Bank of Ireland has announced the next recipients of grants from its Cost of Living Fund.
The donations are targeted at groups including children and families at risk, older persons, domestic abuse charities, those with disabilities, lone parents and migrant communities.
“The rising cost of living is a significant challenge for many families across Ireland and that is why we committed €1m in funding towards our cost of living response fund”
Bank of Ireland has committed €1m overall to organisations supporting those most at risk from cost of living pressures, with the funding divided into two tranches.
The first part of the €1m fund was allocated in January with €500,000 fast-tracked to 13 organisations working with vulnerable groups across the island of Ireland with grants from €25,000 up to €100,000. This second round of donations will provide up to 50 smaller non-profit organisations with vital financial support in the form of grants of up to €10,000.
Cost of living response
“The rising cost of living is a significant challenge for many families across Ireland and that is why we committed €1m in funding towards our cost of living response fund,” said Bank of Ireland CEO Myles O’Grady.
“Earlier this year we supported organisations working with some of the most vulnerable in our society, and we are pleased to announce today the second round of beneficiaries, which includes smaller organisations making a real difference in our communities and supporting those most in need.”
Some examples of the ways in which beneficiaries will use the funds include:
- Hill Street Family Resource, an intercultural centre in Dublin’s north east inner city, will offer programmes to families and children at risk, which include 10 monthly workshops on different topics as well as three eight-week personal development programmes.
- Taghmon Family Resource Centre, a community-based family support programme in Co. Wexford, will set up a food parcel programme for families living in the catchment of Taghmon, to provide healthy food parcels on a regular basis to families that are particularly vulnerable due to the rising cost of living.
- Tralee International Resource Centre, an organisation supporting asylum seekers and refugees in Co. Kerry, will use the funds to create clinics and workshops to support Ukrainians to live independently in Ireland.
- Ballinasloe Social Services, an organisation providing services to the elderly in Co. Galway, will use the grant to distribute fuel vouchers to enable older people living in disadvantaged areas cope with cost of living crisis.
A full list of the second round of grantees is available here
As with previous donations of this nature, the Bank is working closely with Community Foundation Ireland to support effective rollout of the fund. The Foundation has advised the Bank on a wide range of social issues and organisations that require immediate financial support and is managing the donation on behalf of the Bank.
“Local on-the-ground access and information is central to achieving our mission of equality for all in thriving communities,” said Denise Charlton, CEO of Community Foundation Ireland.
“Our unique connectivity allows us to identify emerging challenges impacting certain communities and has been vital in assessing the impact of the rising cost of living. Partners like Bank of Ireland who share our equality mission allow us to use this local knowledge to strategically support not only those at risk, but also in identifying and implementing solutions. As a philanthropic hub for Ireland we greatly value this long-standing partnership.”
Main image at top: Pictured at a parent and child group at the Hill Street Family Resource Centre is Kaori Noritake and her son Haru Parad along with Hill Street FRC Manager Eileen Smith and Barry Groake, Bank of Ireland O’Connell Street branch manager
