Funding for four Mayo groups combating Covid isolation

Four Mayo community projects aimed at combating isolation during Covid-19 are receiving support from a round of grants supported by private donors to the Community Foundation for Ireland.

The grants are being provided through the Foundations Covid-Recovery Fund which has been supporting communities throughout the pandemic with money raised by private and corporate donors.

The latest support is being provided in two strands. ‘Overcoming Isolation’ is giving local on the ground support while ‘Building Capacity’ is aimed at bigger national groups who support people across the country.

The strong community spirit across Mayo has been recognised in the first strand with grants of €3,000 each for four communities.

The successful applicants are:

Claremorris Family Resource Centre: This project is to fund the ongoing re-location project of Claremorris Men's Shed Men

NEART ACLA CTR, Achill: This initiative is involved in supporting the ending of rural isolation in the island community.

Comharchumann Forbartha Cill tSeadhna Teo, Ballina: This group aims to reduce isolation and loneliness amongst older people.

Tacú Ballinrobe Family Resource Centre CLG: The organisation is providing a range of in-person programmes and initiatives for the most marginalised groups impacted by Covid-19 that encourage socialising and improve wellbeing.

In addition Mayo will also benefit from national grants to organisations like Ronald McDonald House, One in Four, Free Legal Advice Centres and many others.

Congratulating the successful projects, Denise Charlton, chief executive of The Community Foundation for Ireland said: “Throughout the pandemic we have been working with amazing community partners and supporting their work on the ground across Mayo.

"In this latest round of funding our donors are delighted to continue that support.

"Each of the four local projects are inspiring as they show communities coming together to support friends, family, neighbours and others who used to be strangers.

"Such actions lie at the very heart of our mission ‘Equality for all in thriving communities’.

"It is also important to note that when we opened this grant round that demand exceeded the available support ten times over.

"The need remains great in communities and we would ask any donors – whether private individuals, families or businesses – who want to get involved to drop us a line at info@foundation.ie

"For now I want to congratulate the successful Mayo grantees and wish them every success in the work ahead.”