A new community funding scheme has been launched to help support projects and initiatives near the site of Ireland's new children's hospital in Dublin.

The BAM Community Benefit Fund sees BAM Ireland provide a €500,000 investment to provide education bursaries and apprenticeship help for nearby schemes in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

The contractor has worked closely with the Community Benefit Oversight Group for the new St James's Hospital to develop this initiative.

Community based and voluntary organisations located within or working with communities in the Dublin 8 and Dublin 12 areas are encouraged to apply for support through the fund.

Speaking at the launch at the F2 Centre in Rialto, BAM Ireland Director Denis McCarthy said: "I am delighted to launch the BAM Community Benefit Fund for the new children's hospital. This was an initiative of the BAM proposal, as we are involved in similar community funding schemes elsewhere, which have proven to be hugely beneficial to all the stakeholders involved.

-- Advertisement --

"Since we started the enabling works contract in 2016, BAM has worked hard to become a part of the local communities of Dublin 8 and Dublin 12 and has witnessed the mutual benefits that our continued cooperation and dialogue has brought to both the local community, local business and our own operations. I would like to thank the Community Benefit Oversight Group, who have assisted us in establishing the BAM Community Benefit Fund for the new children's hospital.

"BAM's purpose is to create sustainable environments that enhance people's lives. As part of this strategy, we have set ourselves the target of having a Net Positive Impact on society by supporting communities where we work, educating the next generation and supporting causes people believe in. We believe this fund will be of great value to the local community, leaving with it a legacy that will support the operation of our new children’s hospital for many years to come."

Gordon Jeyes, who serves as Independent Chair of the Community Benefit Oversight Group, also attended the event, where he voiced his support for the funding scheme.

"This new fund, donated by BAM Ireland, will provide for tremendous work throughout the neighbouring communities," he commented. "Already we have seen BAM positively engage with the local schools and businesses in the community. Corporate social responsibility projects include: refurbishing a space for the Solas Youth Project social enterprise and working with the F2 Homework Club. The Community Benefit Oversight Group very much look forward to continuing working with BAM over the next number of years."

Applications for grants will be made available from the NCH website, with application forms available to download from 27 January 2020.

Work on the new children's hospital is due to be complete by the end of 2022 and, following a period of transition and commissioning, is scheduled to be opened by Children's Health Ireland in 2023.

(CM/MH)