Six Irish Charities Win €1,000 as part of the Movement for Good Awards

Six charities based in Ireland are celebrating today as they each receive a donation of €1,000, courtesy of the Movement for Good Awards.

Bat Rehabilitation Ireland, Shannon’s Hopeline, EC Rapid Response, Irish Baroque Orchestra, The Kilkenny Christian Centre, and Last Hope Animal Charity are among the recipients, all of whom have garnered substantial public support from every corner of the country.

For the fifth consecutive year, Ecclesiastical Insurance and the Benefact Group has committed to giving away over €1 million to charitable causes through its Movement for Good Awards. This initiative invited members of the public to nominate the causes closest to their hearts, culminating in the announcement of 150 awards of €1,000 today, benefiting organisations throughout Ireland and the UK.

A staggering number of charitable causes received votes, with over 245,000 nominations pouring in from supporters. The selection of the 150 winning charities was made through a random draw from the pool of nominees, building on the 150 previous winners chosen in June. Additional donations will continue to be granted throughout the year.

Since the inception of these awards, nearly 2 million individuals have nominated and made a profound impact on communities throughout Ireland and the UK, with over €5 million distributed to over 2,500 charities.

The Irish Winners:

Bat Rehabilitation Ireland, from Limerick, is Ireland’s largest bat rehab centre, caring for almost 1,500 bats since opening in 2019. They rescue, rehabilitate, & release all species of native Irish bats, while promoting bat conservation through education & scientific research.

Shannon’s Hopeline supports and educates young people and their families in the Dublin area on the importance of looking after their Mental Health. It aims to prevent suicide and reduce the associated stigma.

EC Rapid Response is a voluntary response group based in East Cork, that provides advanced care to critically unwell people pre-hospital.

Irish Baroque Orchestra is a period music ensemble that delivers historically-informed performances across Ireland and abroad.

Kilkenny Christian Centre is a resource centre based in Kilkenny City working with young people to spread the Gospel. The facility provides a creative hub for churches and Christian groups to reach the needs of the community.

Last Hope Animal Charity is a voluntary foster-based rescue dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of domestic animals in the Co Meath region.

In this year’s edition, 420 charities will be the recipients of €1,000 donations while an additional 40 causes will receive €5,000 through special grants throughout the year, aimed at providing crucial support to charities in specific sectors. Winners will be selected at random, and the more times a charity is nominated, the greater its chances of being chosen. Furthermore, larger donations totalling €500,000 will be distributed later this year.

To find out how to support the Movement for Good Awards and to nominate a cause you care about visit www.movementforgood.com.

David Lane, Managing Director of Ecclesiastical Insurance, proudly part of the Benefact Group says: “We are thrilled to announce the another set of winners to this year's Movement for Good Awards, and extend our heartfelt congratulations to these six exceptional charities in Ireland. Their dedication and impact in their respective communities are nothing short of inspiring. This initiative is a testament to the incredible work being done by charitable organisations, and we are honoured to play a part in supporting their noble missions. We would also like to thank every single person who took the time to nominate a good cause. We know that €1,000 can make a huge difference to the incredible work that charities do and we’re looking forward to seeing how this financial boost will change lives for the better.”

Aliye Cornish Moore, CEO of the Irish Baroque Orchestra (IBO), said: “We are delighted to receive this grant from the Movement for Good Awards, and we want to say the hugest thank you to everyone who nominated us. This support will make a huge difference to us in delivering tailored and impactful professional development work with IBO musicians of the future. Thank you to the Benefact Group, Ecclesiastical Insurance and all of our fabulous supporters!”

Movement for Good is funded by EIO plc, part of the Benefact Group.

For a full list of the 150 winning charities, visit https://benefactgroup.com/movement-for-good/movement-for-good-2023-all-winners-phase-02/