Four community groups in Carrigaline have received a quick cash injection thanks to the RISE Community Fund supported by National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company delivering the National Broadband Plan (NBP).
The four successful community groups become the first recipients of the newly launched RISE Community Fund after it was launched just last month in partnership with NBI.
Established by NBI Chairman and technology entrepreneur, David McCourt, RISE is providing monthly grants across the country for small businesses, social enterprises and charities in rural communities seeking to boost their digital ecosystems.
Receiving the grants of €1000 each were the Castlelyons Community Center, with plans to install a mobile booster to extend the benefits of high-speed connectivity in the area; Carrigaline GAA, to enable internet availability throughout the club grounds and use technology to enhance training methods; Carrigaline Mens Sheds, to install a smart TV into their newly built facility and give access to videoconferencing and online resources; and lastly, Courtbrack Community Center, which will be bolstering its online capabilities to better serve everyone in the community as well as digitise some of its key functions including introducing online banking for the first time.
David McCourt, founder of RISE and Chairman of NBI, commented: “When we launched the RISE Community Fund supported by NBI, we were looking for community groups, small businesses and charities in rural areas who were exploring how technology could scale the impact of their work. I’m delighted to say that since opening up applications in Carrigaline and the surrounding townlands, the response has been incredible and now we’re excited to be awarding grants to our four successful applicants. Each one of them is an inspiration, volunteering their time and committing a huge amount of energy and passion to bring pride of place to their local community.”
Following the route of the NBI deployment, The RISE Community Fund supported by NBI calls on small businesses, community groups and social enterprises to use technology in creative and entrepreneurial ways to deliver maximum impact.
Ronnie Dorney from the Courtbrack Community Center commented: “We are delighted to receive this grant from the RISE Community Fund and NBI. As a small community, we work incredibly hard to raise money so that we can continue delivering a growing number of services, and this grant money is going to help us bring in new technology which is critical to our plans. All four community groups who have been awarded grants from Rise are part of the fabric of the community here in County Cork, and we’re very excited to be able to put this money to good use.”
Peter Hendrick, CEO of NBI, added: “At NBI, we’re on a mission to connect over 1.1 million people in rural Ireland who don’t have access to high-speed broadband to a world-class, superfast network. Whilst connectivity is a vital utility and a critical first step, it alone can’t solve all of the challenges for businesses, community groups and social enterprises trying to expand the positive impact they’re able to have – both to the local community, and to the wider economy. That’s why we’re incredibly excited to engage local communities with the RISE Community Fund and celebrate innovative uses of technology here in Carrigaline.”
Read more about the Community Fund at www.riseglobalfoundation.com
