Terms and conditions

Terms & Conditions:

The AIB Better Ireland Programme (“BIP”) supports non-profit organisations working with children under 18 years of age, addressing social exclusion within the community, with the aim of ‘enhancing the lives’ of these children. 

Applications will only be received online as we aim for this to be a paperless and environmentally friendly branch giving scheme.  In order to access the application form, applicants must complete and satisfy the preliminary eligibility questions.

1. Eligibility

a.  Entry is open to groups working with ‘socially disadvantaged’ children up to 18 years of age on a ‘not for profit’ basis. In order to be eligible:

(i) Groups must be classified under one or more of the following:

- Physical and sensory disabilities
- Intellectual / general learning disabilities
- Drug and alcohol abuse issues
- Homelessness
- Lack of access to mainstream education due to poverty
- Other social disadvantage (e.g. traveller groups, youth centres)

(ii)  Beneficiaries of the group must be Irish resident and under 18 years of age

(iii) Groups must have been in operation for a minimum of 12 months

(Iv) Groups must be registered under one of the following:

- Granted charitable tax exemptions under the Tax Acts
- A scheme set up by Government or other agencies
- A Foundation or a Trust
- A recognised and reputable community scheme

(v) The application must have the full support of your organisation and the support of any other partnership organisations involved.

(vi) Groups should not require the funding before July 2008. The BIP does not provide funding for work that has been carried out prior to 1st February 2008.

(vii) An application is not deemed to be eligible until it is validated by the BIP team. Applicants will be notified of ineligibility by 30th March 2008.

b. The following schemes are not eligible:

- International projects
- Third party fund-raising activities
- Sport clubs
- A group involved in the Community Games
- Projects benefiting private individuals rather than groups or organisations
- Private clubs or overseas travel
- Dangerous sports / high-risk venture clubs e.g parachute and bungee jumping
- Schools requesting funding for items that are covered by government funding e.g. whiteboards, computers, playgrounds, psychological assessments etc.

2. Application Process and Decision Making

a. Applications will only be accepted on-line, accessed via the BIP website www.aib.ie/betterireland

b. Applications will only be accepted during the specific four-week open period from 4th to 29th February 2008

c. Applicants must state the closest AIB branch to the main premises from which they operate.

d. All decisions are based on the information received on the application form and therefore quality and accuracy are important as no further correspondence will be entered into. No support documentation is required or will be accepted.

e. Three groups will be shortlisted based on a scorecard based on criteria including (but not limited to) aspects such as the impact on children, need for funding, number of children impacted, capacity to deliver, quality of application etc. The shortlisted and unsuccessful groups will be notified by the end of April 2007

f. The shortlisted groups will be put to a public text vote during the period 6th May to the 6th of June 2008. Information on the voting process will be made available online (www.aib.ie/betterireland) and in branches.

g. All decisions are final and no further correspondence will be entered into.

3.   Prize

a. The winning group will receive a lump sum of €10,000 and a share of any funds generated by the public text vote by the end of July 2008. The winning group must spend the €10,000 on the project as outlined in their application.

b. The two runners-up will each receive a share of any funds generated by the public text vote by the end of July 2008.

c. The winner and two runners-up will be notified by 27th June 2008. Notwithstanding that the winners have been declared, if AIB discovers before distribution of the prizes that for any reason under these rules a winner should have been ineligible or if the entry should have been declared invalid, AIB reserves the right to determine that a winner is disqualified.

4. Publicity

a. The names of the shortlisted groups may be used in local advertising e.g. branch posters, local press, radio and published on the AIB Better Ireland Programme website.

b. In consideration of participation, all applicants agree to participate in publicity relating to the promotion of the AIB Better Ireland Programme.  Completed application forms may be forwarded to an external public relations agency managing public relations for this programme on behalf of AIB Group.

5. Miscellaneous

a. The names of the winning groups will be published on the AIB Better Ireland Programme website or can be obtained by sending a SAE to the AIB Better Ireland Programme, Bankcentre, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.

b. Any queries on your application should be addressed to the Better Ireland Programme, AIB Bankcentre, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. Applicants will be given a reference number following submission of an online application, This reference number must be quoted with your queries to facilitate a response.

c. AIB reserves the right to amend, withdraw or terminate this AIB Better Ireland Programme initiative or alter the specification without prior notice should that specified be unavailable for reasons beyond their control.

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