Staff donate time to inner city project

STAFF from Aon Ireland offices in Dublin took part in a recent local volunteering initiative in the North Inner City as part of its Global Service Day initiative.

Over 80 staff members from Aon’s office on James Joyce Street, Dublin 1, volunteered with HOPE (Hands On Peer Education), which supports local residents who have been affected or harmed by drug abuse or alcoholism in the area.

HOPE is a small community project established in 2003 that’s designed to work with locals negatively impacted by addiction issues.

Through education, prevention programmes and advocacy services, it facilitates young people and adults in the area in remaining free from substance abuse and achieving an improved lifestyle.

The Aon volunteer team worked in shifts, to paint and clean the residents’ community facility area in the Killarney Court Complex on Sean McDermott Street, Dublin 1.

They also undertook jobs such as cleaning, gardening, decorating and much more in the local Our Lady of Lourdes Church.

Aon was supported in their efforts by partners, Accent Solutions, which contributed all cleaning materials and loaned its expertise on the day; Brady’s Home Care, which supplied discounted paint and equipment; and Dublin City Council, which provided gardening supplies and access to high pressure water in the Church yard.

Lord Mayor of Dublin City, Christy Burke, also visited the volunteers in the afternoon.

“We at HOPE could not thank Aon enough for choosing us as their charity this year,

? said HOPE manager, Irene Crawley.

“The valuable support and encouragement Aon’s volunteer team have given us knows no bounds.

“Their volunteers came into our community and revamped the grounds of Lourdes Church, inside and out, and also Sheltered Housing and Independent Living in Killarney Court.

“Both have been on our

‘redo’ list for a long time now, and the devotion Aon has shown this community is just immeasurable.

“Staff at HOPE are already receiving great feedback from the locals, especially from former Lord Mayor, Christy Burke, at how delighted they are to see this work being done.

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In addition to volunteering their time and skills to HOPE the Aon employees also fundraised for the organisation, with final donations currently still being counted.

“I am humbled to see the passion and dedication of my colleagues year after year, working together in support of our local community,

? said Richard Endersen, Chief Executive Officer of Aon Risk Solutions.

“Our Global Service Day is an excellent opportunity for Aon volunteers in Ireland to make a difference in the lives of many, and we continue our commitment to empowering human possibilities.

“In Dublin, we are delighted to be working with HOPE, an organisation who for over 15 years have battled substance abuse in inner city Dublin through education and advocacy, right around the corner from our offices.

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This year marked the fifth annual Aon Global Service Day. Aon volunteers in more than 40 countries worked with more than 250 charities and spent more than 31,000 hours, making their communities a better place.