Cork groups urged to enter Good Causes Awards

The Sexual Health Centre in Cork city is advising all eligible organisations to put themselves forward for the National Lottery Good Causes Awards.

The awards honour the inspiring work and achievements of projects, clubs and individuals all over Ireland, who, with the help of National Lottery Good Causes funding, have had a big impact on their local communities.

Phil Corcoran, a senior health promotion officer at Cork’s Sexual Health Centre told The Echo that the funding enabled them to “develop promotional materials and videos for the service, and the award element helped us to promote the work we do”.

He explained that their service has been in existence since 1987, and was set up as the SHC Cork AIDS Alliance, supporting people directly affected by AIDS.

“Through the years, the reality of living with HIV has changed. Now, it’s very much a manageable illness. There’s no cure, but it can be quite well managed. In the early days, that wasn’t the case — but now treatment not only protects the person but prevents onwards transmission.”

Nowadays, the centre have sexual health hubs in youth and community settings which are filled with information, resources and can include things like period products, condoms and lubricant for free.

“We are a collection point for the HSE home testing kits, and we provide up to date information, support, HIV testing and counselling in all areas of sexual health, sexuality and things like living with HIV, experiencing a crisis pregnancy, finding it difficult to get pregnant or post abortion counselling.

“Our hubs provide sexual health information which help to normalise the topic, and the information covers consent, issues around mutual respect as well as knowing how to protect against STIs.”

Mr Corcoran added that he would recommend the National Lottery Good Causes awards, saying: “We were national finalists in 2024, the ceremony was very enjoyable and it was so touching to see the good work being done by many individual organisations across Ireland.

“If any organisation is eligible and has been in receipt of funding through the Good Causes programme, we would recommend they apply for the awards.”

Individuals, community projects and organisations who received Good Causes funding between the years 2020 and 2024 are eligible to apply for the awards at the National Lottery website.

Each category winner will receive €10,000 while the overall Good Cause of the Year will receive an additional €25,000.