Two Cork groups to get support from Bank of Ireland Community Fund

Two Cork community projects have been announced as beneficiaries of the Bank of Ireland Community Fund.

Nasc, the Migrant and Refugee Rights centre, and Helium Arts, which fosters creativity in children, have been allocated grants in the sixth year of the bank’s flagship community investment initiative, delivered in partnership with Community Foundation Ireland.

The two Cork grantees will each receive employment supports in Cork city and county, industry placements, mentors, access to meaningful further education, and tailored, one-to-one career guidance.

The current round will bring the total value of issued Community Fund grants to €3m for 307 community projects across the island of Ireland since 2020.

Initiatives will receive grants from €10,000 to €80,000.

Eamonn Corcoran, director for area south, Bank of Ireland, said that the grants aim to help society be more inclusive: “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 Cork-based groups, who do incredible work. We are focused on supporting projects that will broaden inclusion levels in our society, equipping people with the requisite skills, and providing opportunities for them to be connected through education, enterprise, or work. I would like to wish all the successful Cork grantees well as they embark on their programmes.”

Denise Charlton, chief executive of the Community Foundation for Ireland, added: “Our partnership with the Bank of Ireland Community Fund continues to deliver support to groups like the Cork-based ones who are receiving this year’s grants.

“We use our experience as a philanthropic hub across Ireland to assist in the identification of projects which are responding to existing, as well as new and emerging, challenges. We congratulate the latest awardees and look forward to hearing the progress of their valuable work.”