Ireland

Simon Communities of Ireland, which works with people who are homeless, has enlisted the support of a top design consultant to upgade its charity shops. John Henry Boyle of 21 Spaces will sharpen the charity's look and appeal to a wider market, particularly young people.

A recent radio campaign in the Irish Republic by World Vision to attract 100 new child sponsors is on course to meet its target. The campaign ran on Today FM and asked for child sponsors for the charity's development programmes in east and west Africa.

Following reports in the UK press that some charities working nationally are down as much as 30% in their fundraising because of the impact of Third World disaster appeals, particularly the tsunami, some Irish charities have confirmed a similar trend.

Fintan Bradley, director of AMA, based in Bangor, Northern Ireland, has made a sudden departure from the agency. Bradley built AMA Charity Services into one of the leading suppliers of telemarketing services to charities in the UK and Ireland.

AMA's clients include big charity names such as Concern, Oxfam, ActionAid Ireland, the Simon Community and the National Canine Defence League.

The Irish postal service, An Post, has denied that they have put on a special van delivery to carry 'begging' letters to Euro lottery winner Dolores McNamara's home near Limerick. Dolores won ‚€115, 436, 126 on 29th July, the biggest payout ever from the Euro lottery game.

Former Republic of Ireland soccer star Niall Quinn is leading the pack in a charity trading game. The trading game, Delta Index Fantasy Financial Spread Betting Challenge, will donate ‚€1000 to a charity of choice to celebrities taking part in the virtual game.

Two funding programmes which form part of the Peace ll extension in Ireland have been reopened. The two programmes are Measures 2.4, Pathways to Inclusion, Integration and Reconciliation of Victims, and 2.7, Developing Low Community Capacity and Promoting Active Citizenship.

The Department of Social Development in Northern Ireland recently launched a new website that pulls together funding information across government departments. The website was developed by the DSD's Voluntary Community Unit.

The site provides four types of informaton:
-- Available government grants
-- Detail on voluntary and community organisations

Ireland's national electricity suppler ESB is to donate ‚€1 million a year into a new foundation which will support care for the homeless and suicide prevention programmes. The two areas chosen by the company will be funded under a new scheme known as the ESB Electric Aid Ireland Fund.

Participants in the Ulster Cancer Foundation's Ben Nevis walk will reach £1 million raised over the last five years when the next walk begins in August. 3,000 people have scaled the 4,408ft summit since the walks began in 2000.

Neill Granger, Development Officer with UCF, said the Ben Nevis challenge was one of their most successful events.