£5000 support for Mae Murray Foundation’s Covid-19 response projects

The Mae Murray Foundation, which aims to create inclusive environments so everyone can participate together, was awarded a £5,000 grant from the Bank of Ireland.

A delighted Alix Crawford, founder and chairperson of the organisation, said: “This financial assistance is enabling us to loan equipment, such as all-terrain wheelchairs, directly to families for their sole use during this difficult time.

“Through this scheme we are creating opportunities for families to get active together, increase participation at beaches, forests, country walks etc and help them to sustain better mental health.

“As an organisation we have been able to react quickly during this pandemic to adapt existing projects and introduce new measures to support our membership, thanks to the generosity of funders such as Bank of Ireland.”

The bank’s Begin Together Fund helps community groups and non-profit organisations continue to serve their communities through the emergency. It is working with The Community Foundation for Ireland, which administers the fund, and was supported by The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland in selecting 25 projects.

The bank is also working with a number of expert partners – including Action Mental Health and Sport NI – who have assisted in developing the fund’s focus and social impact objectives.

William Thompson, head of Consumer Banking NI, Bank of Ireland UK, said: “The aim of the Begin Together Fund, which we launched back in February, is to support charities and community organisations that are making a real difference to the financial, physical and mental wellbeing of their communities.

“As our local communities, towns and cities begin to open up again it’s important to remember that charities and community groups have seen their income severely impacted by Covid-19 but the work they do is more important than ever.”

In June, the Mae Murray Foundation was announced as a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service recipient (read more here).

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