Leinster Rugby has announced Peter McVerry Trust as its second charity partner of the 2021/22 season as part of the Charity Affiliate Programme which was first launched in November 2020.
Like last season, Leinster Rugby will once again work with a new charity each month in the hope of raising the profile of that charity and Peter McVerry Trust is the second charity selected by the club.
Peter McVerry Trust is a national housing and homeless charity committed to reducing homelessness and the harm caused by substance misuse and social disadvantage.
The national headquarters is located in Dublin, and the charity has a wide Leinster reach with a north-east regional office in Drogheda and another regional office in Naas.
In addition to helping to raise the profile of Peter McVerry Trust, Life Style Sports, Leinster Rugby’s official retail partner, has come on board in association with adidas, to donate cold weather clothing to Peter McVerry Trust ahead of the winter months ahead.
Welcoming the news, Pat Doyle, CEO of Peter McVerry Trust said, “We’re delighted to be chosen as the Leinster Rugby charity partner for December 2021. “Winter is the busiest time of the year for our charity and this year we will work with over 10,000 people, a 20% increase on last year. The partnership will increase public awareness of the issue of homelessness and the supports we can offer in Leinster and across Ireland.
“Unfortunately, the fundraising environment has been incredibly challenging since the onset of Covid-19. As we approach Christmas 2021, we are once again hugely dependant on the generosity of people who support our work. Working with Leinster Rugby will raise much needed funds to support people impacted by homelessness in Ireland and we’re incredibly grateful for their support and the support of their community.”
Peter McVerry Trust was founded in 1983, and in 2020, the charity worked with over 7,800 people and was active in 28 local authorities across Ireland.
In attendance at the launch in Leinster Rugby head office in UCD were Leinster Rugby players Elaine Anthony, Jennie Finlay, David Hawkshaw, Ross Molony and Josh van der Flier, as were representatives from Life Style Sports and adidas.
“Life Style Sports are delighted to be part of this initiative in partnership with Leinster Rugby and adidas” said Emma Mulligan, Head of Marketing for Life Style Sports.
“Peter McVerry trust is an extremely worthy charitable organisation and we are happy to support such a worthwhile cause. “Charities up and down the country have had a very difficult 12 months so when the opportunity arose to support Peter McVerry Trust, we were delighted to come on board.”
Peter McVerry Trust operate a range of services across all counties in Leinster with a total of 53 services in the region.
Services include prevention, emergency accommodation, under 18’s services, addiction services and housing and in 2021 Peter McVerry Trust supported nearly 10,000 people in Leinster alone.
For the month of December, Leinster Rugby will lend its digital support to Peter McVerry Trust and its considerable efforts to fight homelessness in Ireland while the gift of cold weather clothing from Life Style Sports and adidas will be delivered to the three Leinster based offices.
Leinster Rugby also confirmed that Bank of Ireland would continue to support the charity partner scheme again this season and that its Player of the Month Award donation will now be made to the monthly charity affiliate, rather than the player in question, a move that is also supported by the Leinster Rugby players.
Eamon de Búrca, Sponsorship Manager with Leinster Rugby, commented, “It is great to be able to bring our premium partners, like Life Style Sports and adidas, together with some of our charity partners to help further raise the profile of the great work that they are doing but also make contributions and in this case, kit donations to Peter McVerry Trust, that will hopefully help in a meaningful way over the winter months.
“Bank of Ireland have also been tremendous supporters of the charity initiative over the last year or so and it’s been great to see that support backed by the players and great to see them here again this morning to help launch the month-long activation.”
Like all the charities selected, Peter McVerry Trust was selected by Leinster Rugby after a consultation process involving the leadership group of the men, women’s and Academy teams and consultation with the premium sponsors and partners and the Official Leinster Supporters Club.
