28 April 2017
By Tom Collins
tom@TheCork.ie
GSK Cork has been in operation since 1975 in Currabinny, Co Cork
GSK is running its annual GSK Ireland IMPACT Awards, designed to recognise and reward community-based charities who contribute to the improvement of people’s health and wellbeing in Ireland. There are thousands of “unsung healthcare heroes” all over Ireland, including Cork charities making a huge difference on the ground that deserve to be recognised.
Previous runners up of the prestigious awards include Cork Mental Health Foundation based in Blackrock, Co. Cork. The charity promotes positive mental health within the community and provides social housing to those who have experienced mental health difficulties.
- Previous runners-up at the GSK Ireland IMPACT Awards include Cork based ‘Cork Mental Health Foundation’
- Up to 10 community based healthcare charities across Ireland will share €60,000 in unrestricted funding
This will be the third year of the GSK Ireland IMPACT awards. The programme is an expansion of the global healthcare company’s IMPACT awards programme which has been running in the UK and USA for 20 years. Up to five winning charities will receive €10,000 each in unrestricted funding through the awards, while five runner-up charities receive €2,000 each.
In addition to the prize money, winning charities also receive a specially commissioned video and photography package to help them promote their work. The awards are designed to evaluate how the charities operate, as well as what they do, examining areas such as management, innovation and partnership as judging criteria.
Above: Map showing location of GSK Cork facility. The multi national is a large employer
Claire Taaffe, Communications Director for GSK, says:
“Irish healthcare charities are on the ground tackling some of society’s most difficult health challenges. GSK wants to champion these charities, many of whom are at the heart of Irish community health and wellbeing, and support them in continuing their great work. Previous IMPACT winners show that it is possible to run a small charity well while making a huge impact in communities. Last year we found 10 truly inspirational charities and we are so proud to have helped them continue and expand their support. We are on the hunt for these year’s winners and hope that small healthcare charities around the country to enter and apply”.
The GSK Ireland Impact Awards 2017 will be judged by a multidisciplinary panel of professionals which includes Maurice Pratt, Chair of Barretstown, former Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney, and Deirdre Garvey, CEO of the Wheel.
Last year, the five winning charities of the GSK Ireland IMPACT Awards were Nurture, Sensational Kids, Anam Cara, Dyslexia Association of Ireland and the Traveller Counselling Service.
The five runners-up were Amen Support Services, Cork Mental Health Foundation, Smashing Times Theatre Company, HIV Ireland and Move4Parkinson’s.
Organisations interested in applying must:
- Be registered and located in the Republic of Ireland and be in existence for at least three years
- Have a total annual income of between €20,000 and €1 million
- Target community health needs in Ireland, with community defined as a geographical community or a community of interest
- Able to point to a track record of achievement in community health issues
The deadline for applications is 5pm Friday, 5th May 2017 and interested organisations can apply at: http://ie.gsk.com/ie/responsibility/health-for-all/gsk-ireland-impact-awards
