Local groups receive Dublin Bus awards

LAKERS Sports & Recreational Club, Dublin/Wicklow Mountain Rescue team, and Enniskerry Community First Responders, have all received Community Spirit Awards from Dublin Bus.

The awards were presented on Monday and will allow groups to develop projects and create a valuable difference to those in need.

Eighty-seven groups from across the greater Dublin area received a Community Spirit Award; there were five €5,000 winners, 13 €2,000 and 69 €1,000 winners.

Lakers Sports & Recreational Club, received a top Community Spirit Award of € 5,000. The group supports adults and children, age five to 70, with intellectual disabilities. They’ll use their grant to fund their ‘ Grow Project’, a gardening scheme with many benefits of which include improved mobility and fine motor skills, improved physical health through exercise, improved mental health from working outdoors, and increased self- confidence.

The Dublin/Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team is a charity group who aim to provide a professional mountain rescue service for those who find themselves in need. With their €2,000 award, the group hopes to increase their water capabilities by updating their rescue and training equipment.

Enniskerry Community First Responders are a group of volunteers who help those in need in the Enniskerry area while they are waiting for an ambulance to arrive. The group also provide much needed training in CPR to the local community. With their

€1,000 award, the group will update their current equipment, which includes purchasing two new defibrillators.

Since inception in 2004, the Community Spirit Awards has made a huge difference to voluntary and community groups across the capital.

Speaking about the announcement of the 2019 winners, Ray Coyne, Dublin Bus CEO said: ‘Every day there are people and groups working in the heart of their communities across Dublin carrying out invaluable work. It is important for us to be able to give back to these groups through the Community Spirit Awards. They are the unsung heroes providing incredible support to their fellow community members. To date, the initiative has provided grants to nearly 2,000 grassroots voluntary and community groups.’