Aurivo Co-Operative has announced the Irish Wheelchair Association as its charity partner for 2020 and 2021. Over the course of the next year, Aurivo employees will organise fundraising events for Irish Wheelchair Association local branches across the North West region, as part of the co-op’s Charity of the Year Programme (COTY).
The funds raised will support Irish Wheelchair Association transport needs – without the organisations adapted buses people with physical disabilities have very limited options on transport, especially those is rural Ireland. Irish Wheelchair Association are working tirelessly to try and bring their service users back to their community centres, until then, they will continue to deliver their outreach services and access to transport is key to this so that people with physical disabilities can stay connected to their communities.
Commenting on the announcement, Donal Tierney, Chief Executive, Aurivo said: “Aurivo is proud to partner with the Irish Wheelchair Association and support the essential services they deliver in the North West of Ireland. The money raised will be invested in ensuring Irish Wheelchair Association members have improved access to transport. We know that accessing local amenities such as a local community centre can often be the greatest challenge for people with physical disabilities especially within rural communities. We’re looking forward to going the extra mile for the Irish Wheelchair Association and allow them to continue supporting those within our local communities.”
The Irish Wheelchair Association is Ireland’s leading representative organisation and service provider for people with physical disabilities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Irish Wheelchair Association continued to deliver personal assistant hours to over 1,800 people, they redeployed the staff from their 57 centres to ensure that people were not socially isolated. Initially, these adapted services were welcomed with positivity by their 2,000 service users, now as the months have progressed, many consider it a lifeline and would be lost without this outreach service.
Speaking about the partnership with Aurivo, Sarah Joyce, Head of Fundraising, Irish Wheelchair Association said: “We are delighted to work with a company like Aurivo who understand how challenging it is for people with physical disabilities to be independent without access to adapted transport options. Irish Wheelchair Association like so many charities have been badly affected in its ability to raise funds during COVID-19 but our priority to deliver services to people with physical disabilities never wavered during the health crisis. We are excited to go on this journey with Aurivo and their staff and know that their support over the next 12 months will make a massive difference to us as an organisation.”
Pat Duffy, Aurivo Chairman said: “Aurivo is delighted to support Irish Wheelchair Association and to raise much needed funds to support their transport needs within the local community. Rural transportation is essential to give people with physical disabilities independence and a social outlet. The Charity of the Year Programme allows our staff, members and customers to work alongside one another in the local community to raise vital funds for our charity partners.”
Aurivo employees, suppliers, customers and members all engage with the Charity of the Year Programme which is an important part of Aurivo’s Corporate Social Responsibility and Origin Green Sustainability Strategy. Other causes which have benefited from Aurivo’s Charity of the Year initiative include: Croí Ireland, Down Syndrome Ireland, Pieta House, ISPCC Childline, local Hospices; Special Olympics, Alzheimer’s society of Ireland, Cancer Care West, Autism Ireland, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland and Cystic Fibrosis Ireland.