Ireland Funds awards €45,000 to three Donegal groups

Three Donegal non-profit organisations have received €45,000 through Heart of the Community Fund 2022

The Ireland Funds, the global philanthropic network, has awarded this funding to these charitable causes through its fund which is providing critical and timely funding by responding to the needs of a wide range of not-for-profit organisations.

They are Liquid Therapy which is based in Rossnowlagh Milford and District Resource CLG and Spraoi agus Spórt, Carndonagh received support.

Liquid Therapy provides Surfing and Ocean experiences to young people with any disability who struggle to participate in mainstream activities. Its approach has been influenced by the NEAR health project, which investigated the benefits of human interaction with green (country) and blue (water) space-based activities. This grant will enable Liquid Therapy to deliver 80 sessions of the Surf Experience program to up to 40 young people.

Milford and District Resource CLG (MDRC) is a community development and rural regeneration organization which operates a resource centre. This grant will fund the purchase and installation of solar panels, a new heat system and a battery. Through this work, MDRC will reduce the amount needed from the grid by 52%. This saving will allow it to support more people. For example, it can provide its program to reduce social isolation to 40 more people.

Spraoi agus Spórt provides fun, affordable and inclusive opportunities, experiences and activities that are aligned to the needs of its community. This grant will be used to employ a staff member who will establish a Centre for the Circular Economy in Inishowen. This Centre will enable furniture, toys, textile and paint to be recycled and upcycled locally.

The Ireland Funds launched The Heart of the Community Fund in 2021 to support organisations striving to meet the ever-growing needs of people across the island of Ireland.

This year’s grant round will provide a total of $1,000,000 in funding to 74 organisations in 23 counties across the island of Ireland. The grants have been distributed to organisations working under The Ireland Funds’ four pillars of Arts and Culture, Community Development, Education and Peace and Reconciliation.

Siobhán Gallagher, executive director of The Ireland Funds, said: “The Ireland Funds is proud to continue to build on the success of the Heart of the Community Fund and to support Ireland’s non-profit sector, North and South, with this latest round of $1,000,000. It is our hope that these grants will impact and enhance the lives of thousands of people, changing them for the better.”