Client Stories
North West Mountain Rescue
Investing in Rescue Vehicles Puts North West Mountain Rescue Team On the Right Track
The North West Mountain Rescue team gained charitable status in 2014 and provide a year-round, 24 hour call-out service at the request of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). The service works to minimise response times across their three regions in Enniskillen, Magherafelt and Ballymena covering the West, Central and Eastern sections respectively.
All rescues are carried out by their volunteers, who are expected to respond in all weather conditions, requiring enormous commitment from team members. In 2022, the team worked with Community Finance Ireland to purchase two new rescue vehicles, vital for ensuring their important work continues.
“Through this funding the team has been able to purchase a Ford Transit and Toyota Hilux. These vehicles are highly customised to perform their chosen roles, namely: patient extraction and command and control. We are delighted with the support from the team at Community Finance Ireland who recognised the value of our work and supported our application.”
Andrew Kelly, Treasurer North West Mountain Rescue
Compass Advocacy Network (CAN)
Compass Advocacy Network’s CAN-Do Ambitions Realised with Support from Community Finance Ireland
The Compass Advocacy Network (CAN) was established in 1997 to provide education, learning and employment opportunities for vulnerable adults. CAN’s bases provide social and leisure opportunities for over 50 people with learning disabilities per day, five days a week in Ballymoney, Ballymena and Coleraine.
In 2022 with Community Finance Ireland’s support, CAN purchased and developed a social farm in Ballymoney, Co. Antrim, extending their services and providing additional training and leisure opportunities for their service users.
“As a user-led organisation, the people we support are at the heart of our decision making. As well as social and leisure opportunities, our social enterprises which include recycling, upcycling and retail, give our users real work-based training towards employment. The social finance support and advice from the team at Community Finance Ireland that allowed us to purchase and carry out improvement works at Lislagan Farm, has been invaluable. Peter and the team really understand and encourage our plans for growth and development. We couldn’t have made our plans for the farm a reality without them.”
Janet Schofield, CEO Compass Advocacy Network
Aodh Ruadh GAA
Aodh Ruadh GAA Club Winning with Funding from Community Finance Ireland
Originally founded in Ballyshannon in 1909, Aodh Ruadh GAA is one of the foremost GAA Clubs in Co. Donegal, with around 400 members. The club consists of a main pitch, Father Tierney Park, which holds county ground status and hosts at least one National Football League fixture each year. A secondary pitch Pairc Aodh Ruadh (Mundy’s field) on an adjoining site consists of two sand-based playing fields and training facilities including a fitness trail and a hurling wall.
Aodh Ruadh GAA has enjoyed significant success at county, provincial and national level and offers both football and hurling to members. In 2022, the club upgraded its facilities with assistance from Community Finance Ireland, helping it maintain its county ground status and attract new members.
“There was an awareness of Community Finance Ireland in the club, and we felt it was more convenient to go to Community Finance Ireland instead of traditional sources of finance. A great credit to the Community Finance Ireland team for making the process a positive experience all the way. The loan from Community Finance Ireland has been utilised to assist with our recent redevelopment costs, helping us to maintain county ground status and improve facilities for our members.”
Patsy Kilgannon, Committee Member Aodh Ruadh GAA