Awards are a knockout for local groups

THE next time you start kicking yourself for not cashing in all your bus ticket receipts, don’t despair.

The fact that all the money accumulated from unclaimed passenger change is going to good local causes is sure to make you feel a bit better.

Members of Bay City Boxing Club, based in Kilbarrack, hooked up with former Republic of Ireland and Arsenal striker Niall Quinn last week to launch the 11th annual Dublin Bus Community Spirit Awards.

Groups across the capital are being urged to register for a Community Spirit Award now and make 2015 a year to remember.

Using the unclaimed passenger change to support grassroots groups around the capital since 2004, the awards have helped fund over 1,800 voluntary groups.

These include groups supporting people with disabilities, community development projects, youth clubs and services, football clubs, family resource and community centres, services for older people, boxing clubs, scout groups and dance clubs for young people.

The awards provide voluntary groups across the Greater Dublin Area with support to develop new projects, grow services and help raise community spirit in their local community.

Any voluntary group located within the area Dublin Bus services operate is eligible to apply for a grant of

?¬1,000,

?¬2,000 or

?¬5,000.

Dublin Bus Community Spirit Awards application forms are available from www.dublnbus.ie/csiapplication

Patron of the awards Niall Quinn said he has seen the difference these grants have made to local community groups and their members, young and old, since their inception.

“From musical equipment to building repairs, the awards have provided crucial help to these communities,

? he said.

“I hope every voluntary group in Dublin applies for a Dublin Bus Community Spirit Award and makes this a year to remember.

?

There were 86 recipients in 2014, including the Laura Brennan Charitable Trust, a group that provides financial support to children and their families who are suffering from life threatening illness; Nurture, a charity rolling out the WRAP programme which helps empower women with mental health difficulties after childbirth; Sticks & Stones, an anti-bullying programme that delivers anti-bullying initiatives to schools in Dublin; Age Action, a charity which promotes positive ageing and better policies and services for older people; and PALS Preschool, a group that provides early intervention programmes for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Dublin Bus chief executive Paddy Doherty said the awards help the company’s customers give back to their own communities and support groups that strive to improve their local areas.

“The only initiative of its kind in Ireland, we are proud that it has gone from strength to strength,

? said Mr Doherty.

“Dublin Bus, along with the help of Dubliners, is putting long-term unclaimed change to good use in communities across the city.

?

The closing date for applications is May 29. Dublin Bus will notify successful applicants from August.