Last year saw communities across the country come together like never before, and Bank of Ireland played a small part by supporting local projects that promote financial, physical and mental wellbeing.

As part of Leinster’s affiliate charity initiative, throughout January we will bring you details from each county about local causes that received support from the 2020 Begin Together Community fund.

In Wicklow, Bray Lakers, Purple House and Greystones Family Resource Centre are all recipients.

Lakers Social and Recreational Club supports nearly 400 people with intellectual disabilities. It offers a range of sports, arts, educational, and social activities, and is open seven days a week, running 60 classes.

The Begin Together grant will support the Lakers Online Community Project. This will allow the club to deliver activities such as keep fit, dance, cookery and art, to its members, virtually, and continue to support their physical and mental wellbeing.

Purple House provides cancer support in a community setting, via its drop-in centre, including psychological and practical help to those who had, or have, cancer and their families and friends.

The project will provide weekly groups to support the emotional and mental wellbeing for families of those who have received a cancer diagnosis.

Greystones Family Resource Centre supports the Greystones, Delgany, Kilcoole and Newtown communities, with a wide range of family-focused activities and recreational supports.

The Begin Together funding will support dance and movement classes for children with additional needs through three, weekly classes delivered by a qualified teacher.

This will support the physical wellbeing, self-esteem and social opportunities for the children as well as the mental wellbeing of them and their families

Bank of Ireland’s Begin Together Community Fund will reopen for applications in the spring and works alongside Begin Together Arts Fund, and Begin Together Fund for Colleagues, as part of a multi-year commitment to support communities and local charities.

Find out more about the ways Bank of Ireland supports communities here.