Rural sports and social club needs public votes to win £3,000 community grant

Caremark, one of the UK’s leading home care providers, has announced that St Malachy’s Hurling and Camogie Club has been shortlisted for a £3,000 grant through its UK-wide Community Care Fund, with the final winners now set to be decided by public vote.

The charity, which is based in a rural area of Armagh in Northern Ireland, runs sporting activities and social events for local families, children, young adults and other residents, many of whom experience isolation and limited opportunities. It is now one of 12 regional finalists in the running to receive funding, with the three projects receiving the most public votes each awarded a £3,000 grant.

Voting is now open via Caremark’s Facebook page and closes on 1st September 2026.

St Malachy’s Hurling and Camogie Club was shortlisted in recognition of its work supporting local people in a socially disadvantaged area. It aims to tackle rural isolation through regular, inclusive sports sessions to help improve physical health, mental wellbeing, and community connections.

If successful, the club will use the £3,000 grant to purchase additional equipment to offer a wider range of activities to over 150 people each week, giving families a positive, affordable space to stay active and reduce loneliness.

The Caremark Community Care Fund was launched earlier this year to recognise and support grassroots projects making a positive difference in local communities. As a home care provider supporting people to live independently in their own homes, Caremark created the fund to celebrate local initiatives that help people feel supported, connected and part of their community.

Members of the public, community groups and local not-for-profit organisations were invited to nominate projects they believed deserved support, with more than 1,600 nominations received from across the UK. From those nominations, 12 finalists have been selected, with one representing each of Caremark’s UK regions. The three projects receiving the most public votes will each be awarded a £3,000 grant to help them continue, develop or expand their work.

David Glover, CEO of Caremark, said:

“Caremark’s work is built around helping people live well in the place they call home, but we know that a good quality of life is also shaped by the community around you. It is shaped by whether people feel safe, supported, included and connected. That is why we launched the Community Care Fund. We wanted to recognise the local projects and organisations that are making life better for people in their communities, often with limited resources and without the recognition they deserve.

“To receive more than 1,600 nominations from across the UK has been extraordinary. It shows just how much important community work is happening every day, often quietly and consistently, in towns and villages across the country.

“St Malachy’s Hurling and Camogie Club is a brilliant example of that, providing sports sessions and social events to help connect the local community in a rural part of Ireland. It now has the chance to receive one of three £3,000 grants. We would encourage people across Northern Ireland to read about the finalists and cast their vote.”

VOTING IS NOW OPEN. To vote for St Malachy’s Hurling and Camogie Club and discover more about the Caremark Community Care Fund shortlisted organisations, visit Caremark’s Facebook page and vote via the pinned post. Voting is open until 1.9.2026.

Further information is also available at www.caremark.co.uk/community-care-fund.