Dublin Bus launch the 2016 Community Spirit Awards
At the heart of every community in Dublin there are people and groups that drive it, make it thrive and create opportunities to connect the people that live there together. Each year since 2004, Dublin Bus has celebrated and supported these groups that are a lifeline to their local neighbours and families through its Community Spirit Awards (CSAs), giving away thousands of euro to help nurture and develop community spirit around the capital. Launched on Tuesday 17th May by Niall Quinn, the entries are now open for the 2016 Community Spirit Awards.
From youth groups to football clubs, from silver surfer courses to community gardens and from scout groups to homework clubs these grassroots volunteer groups are at the centre of the real spirit of communities in Dublin. The Dublin Bus Community Spirit Awards provides funding for these groups to develop new projects, grow services and help raise community spirit. Any voluntary group is eligible to apply for a grant of €1,000, €2,000 or €5,000. Dublin Bus Community Spirit Awards application forms are available from www.dublinbus.ie
Pictured with Ray Coyne, Chief Executive Dublin Bus and Niall Quinn, were boys from St. Laurence O’ Toole’s Junior Boys School, Joel Ilogue, Temitope Falegan, Majd Mubarak and Sean Daluz.
Picture Colm Mahady / Fennells – Copyright© Fennell Photography 2016
Niall Quinn who spearheads the Community Spirit Awards is looking this year in particular to find a community group that embodies everything that’s great about community involvement. Commenting on the awards he said “It’s a pleasure to be part of this initiative that seeks out, celebrates and supports so many good causes throughout Dublin. It’s great to see true recognition for groups that put so much effort into their local neighbourhood. We want to find groups that personify the true community spirit of Dublin and reward them. Now is the chance for people to nominate those groups they believe are deserving of an extra boost through a Community Spirit Award.”
Using long-term, unclaimed passenger change, Dublin Bus helps the community groups of Dublin reach their full potential through the CSAs. They empower local groups by supporting community development projects. There were 84 recipients in 2015, drawn from a wide variety of community groups and initiatives, including The Down Syndrome Centre Leopardstown, a charity dedicated to providing support and services to families and carers of people with Down Syndrome, helping them to reach their full potential and creating a brighter future; Older Voices for Change in West Dublin, an advocacy group committed to identifying local issues affecting older people; Daisyhouse Housing Association located in Portobello, a charity and approved housing body that provides supported temporary accommodation with uniquely tailored individual personal support programmes to women who are homeless; and Just ASK, based in the city centre which provides much needed support to secondary school students who struggle to find space to do homework and require homework assistance.
The closing date for applications is 24th June 2016. Successful applicants will be notified by Dublin Bus from August 2016 onwards.
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