## Veolia Connect Veolia in Ireland operates a community sponsorship programme called Veolia Connect. Staff can obtain funding for projects which they are personally involved with. The funding is awarded by a committee made up of representatives from across our company. To date Veolia Connect has donated **€150,000** to **120 community** groups across **24 counties**, all championed by our own employees. ### Environment ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2576/files/styles/show_case_card/public/image/2020/05/Barn%20Owl%20%20No%203.jpg.webp?itok=FYiUpjGG) Veolia supports Barn Owl conservation Since 2015, two much-loved barn owls have seen 12 baby owlets fly the nest from their home in a North County Kilkenny conservation project, the River Field. Barn owls are a Red Listed species in Ireland. There are an estimated 600 breeding pairs across the whole country, so this is no small conservation success story - and it was made possible by **Veolia Connect**. [Find out more](/veolia-supports-barn-owl-conservation) ## ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2576/files/styles/show_case_card/public/image/2021/04/IMG-20210411-WA0006.jpg.webp?itok=vw9nWceV) Veolia supports the Hogsprickle The Hogsprickle Wildlife Rescue, based in Ennis, Co. Clare, rehabilitates orphaned and injured hedgehogs and other wildlife with the aim of successfully releasing them back to the wild. Leo Beretta, who works in our Hazardous Waste Facility in Fermoy, Co. Cork, successfully applied to **Veolia Connect** for funding to upgrade and repair existing equipment and buildings such as the Critical Care Unit and the Recovery Unit. [Find out more](/veolia-supports-hogsprickle-wildlife-rescue) ### Local development ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2576/files/styles/show_case_card/public/image/2020/09/New%20Mullinahone%20Goals.jpg.webp?itok=VpoS-wYy) Veolia supports Mullinahone Playground The playground in Mullinahone, Co. Tipperary has been open since the summer of 2013. It is a fantastic amenity that the local children are lucky to have the benefit of. Brendan Sheehan, who works in Veolia's Kilkenny office, made a successful application to **Veolia Connect** in 2019 for funding to repair and upgrade some of the existing equipment. [Find out more](/veolia-supports-mullinahone-playground) ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2576/files/styles/show_case_card/public/image/2021/01/Photo%201%20-%20Una%20Wallace.JPG.webp?itok=P4CoooON) Veolia supports Alphabet Play Group Alphabet, a cross-community and multi-cultural playgroup, provides a stimulating environment for pre-school children in Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim to play and develop. Una Wallace, who is part of the Project Omega team delivering wastewater treatment services for Northern Ireland Water, successfully applied to **Veolia Connect** for funding to provide a fun, accessible, outdoor learning area for the children, to enrich their learning experience with a hands on approach. [Find out more](/veolia-supports-alphabet-play-group) ### Disability ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2576/files/styles/show_case_card/public/image/2021/01/Volunteer%20Badge%20-%20Jane%20Oconnell.jpg.webp?itok=eBpULWeQ) Veolia supports Mayo Autism Camp Mayo Autism Camp, which was organised by two local parents in Mayo who both have autistic children, provides socially inclusive activities for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. Jane O’Connell, who is part of our Energy team based on a customer site in Mayo, volunteered at the first Mayo Autism Camp in 2019. Following on from her volunteering days, Jane successfully applied to **Veolia Connect** for funding to develop and equip a sensory room for those attending future camps. [Find out more](/veolia-supports-mayo-autism-camp) ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2576/files/styles/show_case_card/public/image/2021/01/Laochra%20Laoise%20image%202.jpeg.webp?itok=SeARXkWV) Veolia supports Laochra Laois Laochra Laois Special Olympics Sports Club is a small, but very enthusiastic, group with approximately 40 athletes and a number of dedicated volunteers. Declan White, based in our Kilkenny office, applied to **Veolia Connect** for funding to purchase a range of new athletic equipment which will help the athletes to develop new skills and ensure they have the best opportunity to participate in all the activities. The funding also allowed Laochra Laois to build storage for the equipment. [Find out more](/veolia-supports-laochra-laois) ### Sport ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2576/files/styles/show_case_card/public/image/2021/01/20201117_152722%5B1%5D.jpg.webp?itok=mbMonUEa) Veolia supports Avoca GAA club The Under 9's Gaelic Football team in the small Co. Wicklow village of Avoca has 22 dedicated boys and girls ranging in age from 6 to 9 including some who are on the autistic spectrum. Paddy Kinsella, who works on a customer site in Wicklow, is a volunteer coach and mentor with Avoca GAA. Paddy applied to **Veolia Connect** for funding to purchase new jerseys and training equipment for the Under 9s. [Find out more](/veolia-supports-avoca-gaa-club) ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2576/files/styles/show_case_card/public/image/2021/04/Three%20Ships%20for%20showcase.jpg.webp?itok=pWOmt1gT) Veolia supports Sail Training Ireland Sail Training Ireland helps the development of young people by providing them with the opportunity to participate on voyages on Tall Ships and other sail training vessels. Jonathan Sedgwick, a member of our Energy Technical team, successfully applied to **Veolia Connect** for funding to support trainees to join a 5 day voyage on a sail training vessel. [Find out more](/veolia-supports-sail-training-ireland) ### Health and Wellbeing ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2576/files/styles/show_case_card/public/image/2020/05/ARC-Cancer-Support-Lowell-House-Official-Opening-2%20%281%29.jpg.webp?itok=iVX8u_rT) Veolia supports ARC Cancer Care ARC Cancer Care provides psychological, emotional, educational and practical support, complementary therapies and counselling services, free of charge to people with cancer and their loved ones, friends and carers. Anne McArdle, who works in Veolia's Dublin office and has personally benefited from the support of ARC Cancer Care wished to help the group open their third support centre, to be located in Herbert Avenue in Dublin. She made a successful application to the **Veolia Connect Fund** in 2019 to secure an initial amount of funding for the project. [Find out more](/veolia-supports-arc-cancer-care) ![](/sites/g/files/dvc2576/files/styles/show_case_card/public/image/2021/04/white%20butterfly.jpg.webp?itok=A_XNl__K) Veolia supports Féileacáin Féileacáin (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Association of Ireland) was formed in 2009 by a group of bereaved parents to offer support to anyone affected by the death of a baby around the time of birth. Jason Hurney, of Veolia's Technical team, submitted a successful application to the **Veolia Connect Fund** to develop a prototype for a new product which would enable parents and families of recently deceased babies to spend more time with those babies and bring them home to make memories before finally saying their goodbyes. [Find out more](/veolia-supports-feileacain)