A new all-island award scheme to grant aid to community organisations groups serving people with special needs has been launched.
The €120,000 "Credit Union Community Chest" scheme has been established by the Irish League of Credit Unions.
Run on a regional basis, the scheme provides a €20,000 grant to schemes in Ulster, Munster, Leinster (excluding Dublin), Connacht and Dublin.
An overall winner from one of the five regions will also be selected to receive an additional €20,000 grant.
Applications are invited from any community organisation and/or group whichs operate projects locally on a not-for-profit basis with the primary aim of providing benefits to persons with special needs.
"We want to support the most vulnerable in our communities as we celebrate 50 years serving communities all over Ireland" said Uel Adair, president of the Irish League of Credit Unions at the launch of the scheme.
"As longtime leaders in the community, credit unions want to make a substantial contribution to services provided for those of our fellow citizens who have special needs".
"We want to recognise and reward the extraordinarily unselfish work that such community groups do," added Mr Adair.
Entry forms for the scheme are available from local credit unions and the ILCU website www.creditunion.ie.
Closing date for entries is November 21st.
