Isaac E Gwin looks at how the annual Dublin Bus Community Spirit Awards have given back to the people of the capital
Whether commuting to work or school or even just shopping for groceries, many a Dubliner’s daily routine involves stepping on and off a city bus. Indeed, public transport is a vital part of city living, even if annual fare rises put a strain on our wallets. But Dublin Bus has made a point of giving back to those who rely on its services through the company’s Community Spirit Awards.
Established in 2003 and funded by unclaimed change from passenger fares, the annual awards programme – the flagship of Dublin Bus’s Community Spirit Initiative – has provided more than 1,300 voluntary organisations across the capital with grants ranging from €1,000 to €5,000, and puts special emphasis on funding smaller groups that do not qualify for State support.
“Especially during these difficult financial times, we find that these community organisations just aren’t getting the funding that they need to operate,” said Maria Brennan, media and communications manager for Dublin Bus.
“People just don’t have the money anymore to give to many of these smaller, lesser known groups, but ones that still make a big impact in our community, and that’s where our grants really do help the most.”
The 2012 awards programme kicked off by giving €5,000 donated by frequent contributor and former Ireland soccer hero Niall Quinn to the Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless People in the north inner city.
Alan Bailey, manager at the centre, said its shelter provides over 490 lunches a day, plus a place to take a warm shower for those who have fallen on difficult times.
“[Dublin Bus] has been very generous to us over the years,” Bailey said. “Simply put, without the support we would not be able to maintain the high standard of service that we do have at the moment.”
Elsewhere, the Blanchards-town Centre for Independent Living, which looks to provide disabled people with the means to live and function on their own, received a Community Spirit Award last year.
Development manager Michael Ryan said the €5,000 award was used to help jumpstart a new service that would match volunteers with disabled people, allowing them to feel less isolated in the community.
“It has really been a tremendous help to us in order to get the process up and running,” said Ryan. “Like any service, it requires an element of financing in order to do the administrative background work and advertising for volunteers, so this award certainly put us on the right path.”
The application period for this year’s Community Spirit Awards concludes on Friday 6 July. Groups that volunteer in six sectors – children and youth; people with disabilities; older people; environment and local community; education; and sport – can apply via the Community Spirit Initiative section of the Dublin Bus website.
“We feel that we can see the benefit that these grants have on the community,” said Maria Brennan. “It is very important to us that we maintain relationships with the community groups and to give back to them, so we are going to continue this for as long as we can, definitely.”
