Farranree pupils complete Time to Count Programme
Third class pupils from Scoil Aiséirí Chríost in Farranree successfully completed the ten-week Time to Count programme, a Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) initiative. The specially designed numeracy programme was delivered by employees from Gas Networks Ireland.
To celebrate completing the programme, pupils were invited to Gas Networks Ireland's headquarters in Cork for a behind-the-scenes look at how the national utility operates.
Speaking as they concluded the visit while touring the Gas Networks Ireland's urban meadows, Scoil Aiséirí Chríost’s Home School Community Liaison, Tara O'Sullivan said:
"We are delighted with the positive impact the Time to Count programme has had on our pupils. The engaging approach to numeracy significantly helped to make learning fun. It was great to finish the ten weeks with a tour of Gas Networks Ireland’s headquarters.”
Gas Networks Ireland’s Social Sustainability Manager, Grainne O'Reilly said:
"Gas Networks Ireland is proud to partner with BITCI to deliver the Time to Count programme. The programme aligns with our commitment to supporting local communities and fostering a culture of learning. Our employees who volunteered their time really enjoyed themselves and it is so rewarding to see how the students’ confidence in numeracy and problem-solving skills in mathematics, both of which play a role in their development, grew.”
Gas Networks Ireland has a long-standing history of impactful volunteering partnerships, with some collaborations in place for more than a decade.
In 2023, more than 160 of Gas Networks Ireland’s employees volunteered to facilitate and deliver over 70 local community initiatives including STEM education programmes - ‘Energize’, which encourages sixth class pupils to continue science subjects in second level education, ‘Time to Count’ – a numeracy support primary school programme, and the ‘World of Work’ education and career support secondary school programme; as well as gardening for the elderly with our charity partner Age Action Ireland, biodiversity projects and fundraising initiatives.
Gas Networks Ireland committed more than €230,000 to community initiatives, which was a 13% increase on the previous year. Fundraising activities by its employees raised over €53,000.
Other community projects where Gas Networks Ireland’s employees volunteered included planting 600 native trees planted at Turvey Nature Reserve, removing litter from Cork’s Marina Park, tidying gardens for Age Action clients, and donating Chromebooks to a Cork-based non-profit that provides culture and language classes to immigrant teenagers.