A NEW FUND has awarded €80,000 to 28 organisations across Ireland who had “bright ideas”.

The funding was announced by KBC Bank Ireland, who offered organisations funding for innovative ideas.

A total of 28 projects across Ireland have received funding from a pool of €80,000 donated by KBC as a way to support groups and individuals who are making a transformational difference in their communities, and who require funding to continue with the work that they are doing.

Among those receiving funding:

• Scoil Oilibhear in Ballyvolane, Cork (€10,000) who will build a state-of-the-art activity trail/playground, creating a new recreation space for 700 pupils to become physically active as part of their learning and development.
• The Tribesmen Rowing Club in Galway (€3,500) will be able to purchase special equipment to help breast cancer survivors learn how to row as part of a new recovery programme on the River Corrib.
• Social enterprise Food Cloud (€10,000) will have an e-car for a year to redistribute surplus food to over 40 charities in Dublin city, securing food donation deliveries for charities who find it harder to organise collections in the evenings and on weekends.
• St Gabriel’s School & Centre in Dooradoyle, Limerick (€9,000), will now be able to buy specialised play equipment for an outdoor sensory playground for children with multiple physical disabilities. The space will be designed to support the children’s communication skills, social, emotional and psychological development in a stimulating new environment.

Aidan Power, Head of Brand and Marketing, KBC Bank Ireland said:

We launched our Bright Ideas initiative earlier this year as a way of supporting those who are making a real difference in our communities.

“We were really heartened and impressed by the level of commitment and creativity shown by the concepts submitted, where volunteers are developing unique and innovative projects to benefit others.”

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