Cost-of-Living Fund to support CommunitiesMyles O’Grady, Group CEO Bank of Ireland with(L-R) Denise Charlton, CEO of Community Foundation Ireland along with grant recipients, Focus Ireland’s Director of Services, Ciara Carty and Tanya Ward, CEO of The Children’s Rights Alliance.
The Cost-of-Living Crisis has had a profound impact on the financial wellbeing of our customers and wider society. As part of our response to this Bank of Ireland has donated €1 million to organisations supporting those most at risk from cost-of-living pressures. The donation was targeted to a range of groups including children and families at risk, older persons, those with disabilities, lone parents, international protection applicants, and low-income families.
The first €500,000 was fast-tracked in early January 2023 to 13 organisations working with vulnerable groups across the island of Ireland with grants ranging from €25,000 up to €100,000. It provided support to established, national organisations that are alleviating the cost-of-living crisis through the provision of a range of practical supports.
The second allocation was divided across 53 smaller non-profit organisations, with grants of between €4,500 and €10,000 being distributed. This second round of funding was to maintain or increase services and support increased running costs resulting from the cost-of-living crisis. The cost-of-living fund was delivered in partnership with the Community Foundation for Ireland.