- ESB increases its Energy for Generations Fund to support organisations responding to the pandemic
- Fund supports organisations in the areas of suicide prevention, homelessness, educational access and support
14 December 2020
ESB has awarded €415,000 to charity and voluntary organisations across the island of Ireland as part of the final round of its 2020 Energy for Generations Fund.
Each year, ESB’s Energy for Generations Fund provides more than €1 million in direct assistance through a quarterly fund to organisations working in the areas of homelessness, suicide prevention, educational access and support. As part of a range of Covid-19 initiatives, ESB increased this funding by €250,000 to provide emergency support to organisations around the country in response to the pandemic.
This quarterly round includes €20,000 for specific Christmas events including the provision of Christmas Day dinner to those impacted by homelessness, organised by the Knights of St Columbanus. Monies are also being distributed to the Capuchin Day Centre, Cork Penny Dinner, Inner City Helping Homeless and City Church Belfast for similar Christmas provisions.
Other recipients include:
- Aware to support the organisation’s Life Skills for Schools Programme
- Wexford Rape Crisis to help with the construction of their new building
- Belong to Youth Service for its ‘Stand Up’ Awareness campaign
- Variety Ireland to help young children with their educational needs
Announcing the fund recipients, Pat Naughton, ESB’s Executive Director, People and Organisation, said: “Through our Energy for Generations Fund, we aim to deliver real change and bring positive and lasting benefits for all. Covid-19 has had a huge operational and financial impact on charities and organisations, especially those in the areas of homelessness, suicide, educational access and support. We recognise the important role of these essential support and service providers in communities across the country and are proud to help them so that they can continue their great work.”
As well as providing emergency funding, ESB also commenced an initiative to encourage staff to volunteer within their own communities across the country. For instance, as part of its support of the Camara Education Ireland and Trinity Access Tech2Students campaign, ESB Networks staff distributed IT hardware to students from disadvantaged areas to help them with their studies at home, doing so in a safe manner and in-line with all social distancing guidelines.
The deadline for the first round of the 2021 Energy for Generations Fund is 3 February 2021. All information can be found here.
ENDS
Media queries: Grainne Burns, grainne.burns@esb.ie / 087-9536640