"This latest community fund provided by AWS is in addition to the ACTIVATE partnership AWS initiated last year, which gave local businesses free access to the AWS suite of digital tools. The community fund further demonstrates AWS’s commitment to the people of Drogheda and the local community, and helps build upon Drogheda’s position as one of Ireland’s leading hubs to attractinternational investment which can help create more prosperity and jobs for the region."
Robert Murray, President
L to R : Alan Campbell, Data Centre Facility Manager, AWS, Robert Murray President, Drogheda & District Chamber, Joanne Reynolds Community Engagement Manager, AWS.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) today announced a new AWS InCommunities Fund to help local community groups, schools, and organisations in Drogheda launch new projects or expand existing ones for the benefit of the community. The new €100,000 fund will be managed and administered by non-profit organisation ChangeX and is expected to support up to 25 community projects in Drogheda and surrounding areas.
Applicants can apply for funding to launch a new idea or to expand an existing local project that supports an area of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics education (STEAM), sustainability or health and wellbeing.
Applicants can also apply for funding to introduce one of 16 nationally recognised community programmes into Drogheda. These include established programmes with a proven positive social or environmental impact such as Community Fridge, which are communal places where surplus food is shared with the local community by local businesses and individuals; Cycle Bus, which gives primary school children the opportunity to cycle to school in a safe, healthy, social, and enjoyable environment; Grow at School, a school-based food literacy programme that inspires and supports the whole school community to learn the practical skills and transferable knowledge around food growing; or First Lego League, which introduces science, technology, engineering, and math to children aged 4-16.
The AWS InCommunities Fund is open to people living within15 km of Drogheda with applications allocated on a first come, first served basis. Funding will be subject to a review process, where applications will be assessed and scored against funding criteria and the potential impact in the community. All successful applicants will complete a 30-day challenge to kick-start their idea and take their first steps towards making their project a reality.
Neil Morris, Director of Infrastructure Operations at AWS commented: “AWS has been investing in Ireland for nearly 15 years. The launch of this new AWS InCommunities Fund for Drogheda highlights our continued commitment to both the local community and the country. We remain focused on being a responsible and trusted part of the Drogheda community. We want to make a positive difference in the communities in which we operate, particularly in areas like health, wellbeing, education and the environment. We’re proud to play a small part in helping to support Drogheda, and we encourage anyone interested to apply to the AWS InCommunities Fund today and help make a lasting difference.”
AWS is already working with local community groups in Drogheda including the Red Door Project, a local service that helps people struggling with drug addiction.
Joanne O’Dwyer, Counsellor and Supervisor at the Red Door Project said: “We’ve been very grateful for the support AWS have provided in helping us refurbish our outdoor garden area. AWS volunteers are helping to transform a space that was previously overgrown and unused into a new area of calm and enjoyment by service users. AWS built and donated a pergola and also worked with the local Drogheda Men’s Shed to provide benches so service users can have working sessions outside. The new biodiversity garden near to our hives will keep our bees happy with lots of pollinator friendly flowers. We’re excited to see AWS launch this fund and look forward to seeing the impact it will have for the local community.”
Thousands of local teams across Ireland have successfully started community projects through ChangeX, accessing the ideas, support and funding needed to have an impact in their local area. To apply to the AWS InCommunities fund and for more information visit https://www.changex.org/ie/funds/awsincommunities-drogheda-fund
ChangeX is a non-profit organisation headquartered in Dublin with a community engagement platform designed to get funding and resources directly into citizens’ hands to lead impactful projects in their neighbourhoods. The ChangeX team works with social innovators in Ireland, the US and across Europe to find and open-source proven solutions to environmental, economic, and social issues, partnering with companies and foundations to support communities with the necessary funding.