KBC Bank Ireland seeks groups to share €100k

KBC Bank Ireland is calling on community groups across Dublin to apply for financial support for their dream projects from its €100,000 funding initiative, Bright Ideas.
KBC’s Bright Ideas community support initiative returns for a third year to support individuals and organisations which are transforming and improving the lives of others in their locality.
This year’s initiative will be promoted across seven different geographic regions, including Dublin, reflecting KBC’s expanding network of retail banking hubs in Ireland.
A new Green category has also been created, to recognise the importance of environmentally-friendly projects in communities nationwide. A dedicated prize of €2,500 will be given to the overall winner of this category.
Over the past two years, 70 creative and innovative local community projects have received funding through Bright Ideas, breathing new life into a diverse range of schemes.
These have included creating community-based amenities for the elderly and people with special needs, sporting and educational activities for young people, community wellbeing resources, arts and culture initiatives, as well as urban renewal projects.
Among last year’s winning projects in Dublin was Steps Together, a pilot programme to provide people with disabilities with greater opportunities to participate in physical activity, health awareness and sport in their local community, helping them to build meaningful, inter-dependent relationships with others as a result.
Sarah Hewitt, of St Michael’s House in Clontarf, which developed the programme and received €2,910 in funding, said: “The pilot programme went really well. It made a huge impact on the individuals involved and as a result we are now running the programme again with another group.
“Having access to funding through Bright Ideas was really worthwhile; it really made a difference to the people who participated and made a significant contribution to developing a sense of community.”
Applications for Bright Ideas funding can be submitted at www.kbcbrightideas.com. The closing date for applications is May 31.