North West organisations benefit from Bank of Ireland Cost of Living fund

Bank of Ireland UK has announced the three local groups who will benefit from its Cost of Living Fund. 

Strathfoyle Women’s Activity Group, Kinship Care and Older People North West will receive funding to help through the cost of living crisis.

The Fund was set up in January this year to help organisations supporting those most at risk from cost of living pressures.

The announcement marks the second and final allocation of funding with grants of up to £10,000 targeted at a range of groups including children and families at risk, older persons, those with disabilities, lone parents, and low-income families.

Bank of Ireland is working closely with Community Foundation Northern Ireland and the Community Foundation for Ireland to manage the donations on behalf of the Bank and have advised on a wide range of social issues and organisations that require financial support.

Strathfoyle Women’s Activity Group, an organisation that supports low-income families will use the funding to provide a practical cooking course to help families with healthy, cost-conscious meals as well as offer a range of mental health interventions for those in need. 

Kinship Care, a charity that provides immediate and practical support to kinship carers and families.  The funds will be used for their Small Grants Programme which provides help in meeting immediate and essential needs, including support with food, heating and electricity for kinship families.    

Older People North West, will enhance their Cosy Café, providing nutritious food and helping to reduce isolation and loneliness for older people concerned with rising food and fuel costs. 

George Higginson, Director of Northern Ireland, Mortgages and Partnerships, Bank of Ireland UK, commented: “The rising cost of living remains a significant challenge for many people today. This donation aims to help those most at risk. We are grateful to the Community Foundation Northern Ireland for their support in ensuring that it reaches communities across Northern Ireland that are most in need.”

Jaqueline Williamson, the Chief Executive of Kinship Care said: “The support provided from Bank of Ireland has been invaluable in assisting Kinship Care to help meet the growing challenges of the cost-of-living crisis. As an organisation we support 994 kinship carers and 1,011 children and young people across our six centres.  

“This funding will help meet the immediate and practical support needs of 90 of those carers and 145 children and young people who have been hit hardest by rising food and energy prices, and support them to become more resilient and actively involved in the communities they live.” 

Róisín Wood, CEO, The Community Foundation Northern Ireland said: "The ten groups that have been funded are working to address a wide range of pressing issues that have arisen as a result of the cost of living crisis. This funding will make a real difference to those that these groups work with, boosting the community and voluntary sector‘s ability to provide critical supports throughout society at this time.”

A full list of the second round of grantees is available at: Cost Of Living Fund - Bank of Ireland.