Client Stories
Belfast Islamic Cultural Centre
Promoting religion, advancing education, relieving distress and improving the living conditions of the Muslim community.
Established as a charity in 1978 exclusively to support the growing Muslim population who live, work or study in Northern Ireland. This centre delivers a range of activities including a mother and toddler group, prayer services, school visits and community meetings.
Our team were delighted to say yes to their application for social finance and to see this funding help towards renovations to their new headquarters at Aldergate House in Belfast. The modern, new centre will support larger classrooms, larger prayer facilities and a café on the ground floor.
“Community Finance Ireland’s financial help played an instrumental role in advancing the business case for the refurbishment of our new headquarters at Aldergate House. The funds provided by CFI enabled us to continue to support the Muslim community living in Northern Ireland. The new centre will provide a wide range of facilities from childcare and language classes to worship and pastoral care services. It was a pleasure to work with Phelim who understood our needs as a Muslim organisation and who provided us with a service that was in keeping with our beliefs.”
Mr Shoaib Tareen, Executive Member Belfast Islamic Cultural Centre
Loughgiel Shamrocks GAC
A rural club with 18 championship titles supporting a community of around 2,000 people.
Established in 1915 this amateur sports club has developed teams across a range of Gaelic games including hurling, camogie, men’s and ladies’ Gaelic football.
Working closely with Loughgiel Community Association, the two primary schools, local churches, councils and other local organisations, the club wanted to reinvest in their two pitch facilities at Father Healey Park and Father Barrett Park.
Their team approached ours, for social finance and with their successful application they moved to the next stage of their development: a significant capital build project which includes a full sized, sand carpet pitch with floodlights, ball stops and fencing as well as a 40m x 40m ball wall with 3G surface fully enclosed with floodlights.
“Our experience with Community Finance Ireland has been incredibly beneficial to the community of Loughgiel, particularly that of our local GAA club, Loughgiel Shamrocks GAC. As a result of the quick turnaround, we were able to start the next stage of our development without any delays. As we progressed to expand our facilities, it became increasingly noticeable that we indeed needed greater resources to provide the best possible opportunities for our hurling and camogie teams. The introduction of floodlights, our new pitch and ball wall facilities have been a source of great excitement within our parish and community, and they will continue to be instrumental in the evolution of our ever growing GAA club. We would not have been able to accomplish this had it not been for the funding provided by CFI.”
Darach Ó Maoláin, Secretary Loughgiel Shamrocks GAC
Mulroyhoops Basketball Club
An All-Ireland basketball winner (2019) whose membership is on
the rise.
Mulroy Hoops is a community basketball club originally formed in Rosnakill, Fanad in County Donegal in 2009. Located on the Fanad Peninsula, the club’s first training session facilitated 15 children, and has now grown to an impressive 151 children representing all areas around Mulroy Bay.
As a successful awardee of a Sports Capital Grant the committee approached our team for bridging finance that meant they could purchase sports equipment quickly and continue to realise their members passion to train and play to their very best.
“As any sports organisation will tell you the work involved in funding is only half way there when you’ve been granted the funds. Establishing the right path and partners to be able to process the money and purchase the equipment can be complicated. When Mulroy Hoops worked with Community Finance Ireland they helped us through the process and supported us as well as offering the best value terms.”
Fergal Coll, Chairperson Mulroy Hoops Basketball Club