50 non-profit organisations to benefit from Cost of Living Fund

Pictured at a parent and child group at the 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.

Bank of Ireland has announced the allocation of a cost of living donations to 50 organisations around the island of Ireland, in partnership with the Community Foundation Ireland. The Bank has committed €1 million overall to organisations in immediate need of funding to maintain services due to cost of living pressures. This second allocation of funding will see organisations around the island of Ireland receiving grants of up to €10,000. Among the groups who will receive funding in this round is the Hill Street Family Resource, an intercultural centre in Dublin’s north east inner city, which offers a range of support programmes for the local community that are inclusive, responsive to immediate needs for families of all cultures, ethnicities and backgrounds. Pictured at a parent and child group at the 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.
  • Bank of Ireland is donating €1 million through Community Foundation Ireland to organisations supporting those most at risk from cost of living pressures
  • €500k was allocated in January, second allocation of €500k is now being distributed
  • This funding will assist smaller non-profit organisations with grants of up to €10,000 to be allocated immediately
  • Alleviating food poverty for families and integrating migrant communities identified among the key areas for support

Bank of Ireland has announced the next recipients of grants from its Cost of Living Fund today. 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 Bank has committed €1 million 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 €1 million 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.

Myles O’Grady, Bank of Ireland Group CEO, commented: “The rising cost of living is a significant challenge for many families across Ireland and that is why we committed €1 million in funding towards our cost of living response fund. 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.”

Denise Charlton, Chief Executive, Community Foundation Ireland, added:

“Local on-the-ground access and information is central to achieving our mission of equality for all in thriving communities. 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.”

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.

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.

Supporting the financial wellbeing of customers, communities and colleagues is a top priority for Bank of Ireland. Advice on budgeting and financial management from Bank of Ireland’s Financial Wellbeing team is available on Bank of Ireland Cost of Living Hub.