Five Charities from Across Ireland Selected to Receive Support from the eir Fund
The eir Fund – Connecting Communities is eir’s Corporate Social Responsibility investment programme, open for application to any charity or NGO in Ireland, north or south, with a registered charity number. Decisions for funding are made on a local basis by eir’s employees based in the four provinces of Ireland.
As a direct result of the eir Fund, €160,000 will be invested into charitable organisations across Ireland, each year up to 2019.
DIT Foundation – DIT Disability Support Services
The DIT Foundation is a registered charity which supports the Dublin Institute of Technology, enabling students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds to attend and succeed at DIT. DIT Disability support services help 1,340 students, living with a range of disabilities, attain their educational goals through the use of pioneering technology assistance. Support from the eir Fund will help the DIT Foundation train Technology Mentors, selected from the student body. These mentors will teach and advocate the use of technology supports for students with a disability, including speech to text and text to speech tools. In year one 500 students will be assisted through this programme.
AsIAm
AsIAm is an Autism charity set out to educate the public about autism while acting as an advocate and empowering the Autism community in Ireland. AsIAm run educational awareness programme throughout much of Ireland, their goal is to improve awareness and understanding throughout Ireland, particularly in rural areas where the experience can be even more isolating. Through the support of the eir Fund AsIAm will set up their first network of champions in Connacht, bringing their national schools, business and training programme to that region.
Enable Ireland
National charity Enable Ireland provides services to children and adults with disabilities and their families from 14 counties throughout Ireland. Part funded by the government, the charity has to make up a shortfall of €2m annually. Support from the eir Fund and from the eir Business team will go towards the development, building and maintenance of a mobile app which will be used to help the charity fundraise and drive their clothing donations.
Newport Community First Responders, Limerick
Newport CFR is a voluntary organisation of trained First Responders who respond to emergency calls in conjunction with the National Ambulance Service . Their members assist when requested by the National Ambulance Service in time critical medical emergencies (Cardiac Arrest,Stroke,Chest pain and Choking). They run projects within the community including lifesaving skills training and installation of medical equipment. Support from the eir Fund will enable this charity to purchase and mount its first two automated external defibrillators and heated cabinets. It will also enable the group to have its responders become Irish Heart Foundation certified trainers.
ISPCA Equine Rescue Centre, Mallow
The ISPCA Equine Rescue Centre was set up in June 2007 due to an urgent requirement for a facility to accommodate the volume of cruelly treated, neglected and abused equines in the south of Ireland. In the last 5 years 303 horses were admitted and 198 rehomed, in 2016, 172 dogs, 50 cats and 73 equines were rescued by the ISPCA centre in Mallow. Support from the eir Fund will go directly towards the renovation of the isolation unit for sick, mistreated and cruelly abused horses and ponies and donkeys.
The eir Fund reopened on July 7th please email eirFund@eir.ie to request an application form.
