22 Community groups across Ireland to receive Community Fund grants

€500,000 is being allocated to community groups across the island of Ireland in the sixth year of the Community Fund, Bank of Ireland’s flagship community investment initiative, delivered in partnership with Community Foundation Ireland. The groups supported include those who are disproportionately impacted by some of the most critical issues in Ireland today, as identified by Community Foundation Ireland and through ESRI data.

Among those awarded the 22 grants, two €80,000 multi-year grants have been allocated to Belfast-based Advice NI and to Young Social Innovators, a non-profit organisation empowering young people to use their talents and creativity to produce innovative solutions to social challenges.

Pictured at the announcement of Community Fund grants are Young Social Innovators Youth Panel members Chaniel Sylvester, Shauna Owens, Jennifer Chudley, and Angela Babikanga. The current round of grants will bring the total value of Community Fund grants issued to €3 million for 307 community projects across the island of Ireland since 2020. Initiatives will receive grants starting from €10,000 all the way up to €80,000.

 

  • €500,000 Community Fund focuses on building capability and fostering inclusion among under-served groups.
  • Grants from €5,000 up to €80,000 distributed to 22 groups.
  • €3M in supports distributed by Community Fund since 2020.
  • Advice NI and Young Social Innovators both awarded €80,000 multi-year grants.

 

€500,000 is being allocated to community groups across the island of Ireland in the sixth year of the Community Fund, Bank of Ireland’s flagship community investment initiative, delivered in partnership with Community Foundation Ireland. The groups supported include those who are disproportionately impacted by some of the most critical issues in Ireland today, as identified by Community Foundation Ireland and through ESRI data. These groups include families and individuals living in or at risk of poverty, older people, people experiencing homelessness, the LGBTQ+ community, traveller and Roma community, people experiencing domestic abuse, migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees.

The current round of grants will bring the total value of Community Fund grants issued to €3 million for 307 community projects across the island of Ireland since 2020. Initiatives will receive grants starting from €10,000 all the way up to €80,000.

Among those awarded the 22 grants, two €80,000 multi-year grants have been allocated to Belfast-based Advice NI and to Young Social Innovators, a non-profit organisation empowering young people to use their talents and creativity to produce innovative solutions to social challenges.

Áine McCleary, Chief Customer Officer, Bank of Ireland, said: “Since 2020, the Community Fund has been working with Community Foundation Ireland to help to make our society stronger by allocating funds to those in greatest need. I am very proud of the support that we provide to these groups who do incredible work to address some of society’s most critical issues and the grants are targeted to support them as part of this outreach.”

“This year, we have prioritised projects that will broaden inclusion levels in our society, equipping people with the requisite skills and competencies, and providing opportunities for them to be connected through education, enterprise, or work.

The grants will enable these organisations to further develop the valuable work they deliver to their service-users, and to make plans for exciting future endeavours. I would like to wish all the successful grantees well as they embark on their programmes.”

Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland added: “Our partnership with the Bank of Ireland Community Fund continues to deliver support to groups and communities in greatest need. We use our experience as a philanthropic hub with a network of voluntary, community and charitable partners across Ireland to assist in the identification of projects which are responding to existing as well as new and emerging challenges. As a long-standing partner, Bank of Ireland continues to show its strong commitment to be an active member and a supporter of groups transforming lives every day. We congratulate the latest awardees and look forward to hearing the progress of their valuable work”

A full list of 2025 Community Fund grantees is available to view on the Bank of Ireland website: Begin Together Fund – Bank of Ireland

The Community Fund recently won the Chambers Ireland “Best in the Community” award at the 2025 InBusiness Chambers Ireland Recognition Awards and has been shortlisted for Chambers Ireland Sustainable Business Impact Awards.