BAM announce the 2021 recipients of the Community Grants Scheme & Educational Bursaries for the new children’s hospital project
22.12.21
As part of the new children’s hospital Community Benefit programme BAM have recently announced the award of *21 community grants totalling €50,000. These grants were awarded to projects that focus on building stronger communities, greener communities, recreation, sports, arts and culture and education and employment opportunities across the communities of Dublin 8 and 12.
In addition, Further Education Bursaries have also been awarded to aspiring healthcare and construction students from the area who face challenges in taking up further studies with three students awarded funding in 2021, five in 2020 and a further four receiving one off bursaries.
The fund supports a number of thematic actions including:
BAM’s Community Benefit Fund for the new children’s hospital was launched in January 2020. The €500,000 fund spans a 3-year period. Between 2020 and 2021, €100,000 was allocated to the Community Grants Scheme and 123 applications were submitted. Following a rigorous evaluation process, 43 groups and organisations based in Dublin 8 and 12 have now benefitted from the Community Grants Scheme.
Denis McCarthy, Director, BAM Ireland said:
“We have worked hard to become a part of the local communities of Dublin 8 and Dublin 12 and have witnessed the mutual benefits that our continued cooperation and support has brought to the local community, local business, our own operations and people. I would like to thank the Community Benefit Oversight Group, who have assisted us in establishing the scope of BAM’s Community Benefit Fund for the new children’s hospital.
BAM’s strategy is ‘Building a sustainable tomorrow’. Creating Social Value that delivers lasting social impact is central to the way we do business We believe this fund will be of great value to the local community, leaving with it a legacy that will support the operation of our new children’s hospital for many years to come”.
Gordon Jeyes, Chairperson of the Community Benefit Oversight Group and Chair of BAM’s Community Benefit Fund for the new children’s hospital said: “Seeing the Community Benefit Programme come to life over the last number of years has been something to be really proud of. Over 1,000 children and young people have participated in different initiatives and events through the Programme. The resources provided have sustained a wide variety of activity benefiting the full range of children and young people. This contributes to their achievement because children and young people develop a strong sense of themselves through the projects they take up. Their participation has made the Programme successful.”
Among this year’s beneficiaries was Luke Donoghue, a 2021 Education Bursary Recipient, living in Maryland Dublin 8. “Knowing that I have the Bursary has been reassuring and motivating to work towards during the last year. Being able to do the Pre-Nursing Studies is a solid step towards my ultimate goal of working in healthcare. I really appreciate the relationship that the Community Benefit Programme and new children’s hospital has with my school and college as it shares the wealth of options and possibilities that are out there for us when we work in healthcare settings.”
The Programme also provided support to The Liberties Weavers social enterprise. Marja Almqvist, member of The Liberties Weavers who received a €2,000 Community Benefit Grant said: “We are a project honouring 1,000 years of textile and weaving heritage in the Liberties. The Community Benefit Grant from BAM will help us to breathe new life into weaving in its historic centre. We are using the grant to create a new logo, which will be launched this spring together with our new look ‘WeaveTime’ kits and workshops for the whole community to enjoy and benefit from.”
Other recipients include:
Common Ground
St James’s Primary School
St Agnes Community Centre for Music
FGU Family Social Prescribing, Rialto Family Resource Centre
Ring Street Youth & Community Club, Inchicore
St Kevins Hurling Club
Core Youth Service, Inchicore
Iveagh Trust
Ceann Fort Residents
Dolphin House Community Development Association, The Social Kitchen Social Enterprise
The Liberties Weavers, D8
St Catherine’s National School, Donore Ave
Crumlin Clean-up
D12 Community Mental Health Forum
Presentation Secondary School Warrenmount
Four Terraces Residents, Rialto
Barnardos – Rialto Centre
Oliver Bond Football Club
KIMS Kilmainham Inchicore Musical Society
61st Scout Troup – Merchants Quay
IWAI – Dublin – D8 Canals area
Applicants received supports ranging from €500 to €7,000. In addition, 12 individuals were suppported with Education Bursaries.
