TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR CAIRN COMMUNITY FUND, BLESSINGTON 2026

THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS (THE “TERMS”) GOVERN YOUR SUBMISSION TO PARTICIPATE IN CAIRN COMMUNITY FUND, BLESSINGTON. (“GRANTS”).  By proceeding to submit an application you confirm you meet the eligibility criteria set out below and you agree to comply with these Terms.

OVERVIEW

We want to help community groups, clubs and societies to deliver greater community benefit, cultural enrichment and social progress through our Cairn Community Fund, Blessington 2026.

We recognise the volunteers and the people who put time, effort and energy into creating great communities and great places to live. The Cairn Community Fund, Blessington aims to empower Blessingon’s local community groups, clubs and societies to help them to achieve their goals through funding impactful community projects.

The Cairn Community Fund, Blessington wants to recognise and help local heroes to create greater social impact with a range of grants to suit any community project – no matter how big or how small.

THE GRANTS

The Cairn Community Fund, Blessington is a community-based competition for which Eligible Clubs, Community Groups and Societies (as defined below) submit an application through The Cairn Community Fund, Blessington website (the “Competition”). The Cairn Community Fund, Blessington is intended to enable local community groups and societies to showcase their inspiring and innovative projects and initiatives. The grants are designed to support projects that will foster social impact and improvement of West Wicklow communities. The Eligible Clubs, Community Groups and Societies (as defined below) can submit to receive the financial award following the process for selection described herein. 

The Grants will consist of four awards with a financial amount provided for each place:

• 1 x up to €10,000
• 1 x  up to €5,000
• 2 x up to €2,500

(together the “Awards” and each an “Award”).

Payments will be made based on agreed project milestones being delivered and confirmed as completed. There are no alternative awards available. Only one application per specific project will be accepted. Applications must be submitted in advance of costs being incurred.

The Cairn Community Fund, Blessington and the Cairn group (including in particular Cairn Homes Holdings Limited) (together “Cairn”) accept no responsibility for applications that are incomplete, illegible or where an Award fails to be redeemed by the relevant closing date for any reason.

REPORTING AND ACCOUNTABLILITY

All recipients must submit a detailed report of how the grants will be used and will require documentation of expenditure to include receipts and invoices. Grants are not eligible for personal expenditure.

Funding must be used exclusively for the purposes of implementing the project/ activity as stated in the application form.

Every applicant in receipt of funding must inform the Cairn Community Fund, Blessington immediately of any change to their circumstances e.g. cancellation of project/activity, organisation disbandment.

Each applicant must disclose if they are in receipt of any current funding/sponsorship, or any past funding/sponsorship received from any other construction company in the last three years. (This sponsorship does not disqualify entry – but the judges would like to know of any current/ongoing relationship.)

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible to participate in the Cairn Community Fund, Blessington:

• The applicant must be an active club, group or society based in Blessington and carry out the vast majority of their activities in the area. Key categories: Arts, Music & Cultural; Sports & Recreation; Education; Social Advocacy; Wellness; Neighbourhood; Social; Youth & Seniors.
• Each project must be completed in 2026 in order to be eligible.

(Each group outlined above is referred in these Terms as an Eligible Club, Community Group and/or Society and together referred to as the Eligible Clubs, Community Groups and Societies).

Non-eligible organisations or entities :

• An employee of Cairn or its affiliates or immediate family members may not enter for the Community Fund.  This does not exclude organisations where a Cairn employee is involved in the club/society but is not the lead / primary applicant.
• Religious organisations/faith-based organisations, political organisations, health care or addiction related groups or services, homelessness related organisations and services, local businesses are not eligible to apply.

The person making the submission must confirm in their application that they have the authority to do so on behalf of the group, club or society. 

SUBMISSIONS

The period for submission of applications is from 9am on Monday 17 March 2026 through 6pm on Thursday 30 April 2026 (the “Submission Period”). Submissions must be in English. Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.

Each group, club or society must have a bank account in the name of the organisation with two signatories. Each group, club or society must be a minimum of 12 months in operation and have a website, a Facebook page or Instagram account.

If you would prefer to enter on video please upload a video which answers all the questions asked on the submission form with the details of your organisation from the start of the application form.

Please do not include any Confidential Information in your submission. 

If photography or video will enhance your submission please attach photographs to your entry.

The Cairn Community Fund, Blessington may in its sole and absolute discretion reject any submission that it believes: (i) contains unlawful, defamatory, harmful or offensive content, or (ii) may infringe any third-party rights; or (iii) breaches these Terms. 

All entries to be submitted via the Cairn Community Fund, Blessington webpage.

Each group, club or society applying will need to provide a written proposal with their entry. This must include:

• Which of the financial grant categories you are applying for
• Overview of organisation
• Detailed description of the project
• Proposed community impact that this project will achieve
• Detailed plan on how you will spend the grant
• Project plan/timeline (note that all projects must be complete in 2026)

PROCESS AND JUDGING PANEL

Following the close of the Submission Period, all entries will be collated, eligibility verified and screened for suitability and matching of the criteria for success.   

The key criteria for evaluating submissions will focus on:

Criteria	Word count	Key questions to answer	Points allocation
Social Impact	500	Describe your organisation and the work you do and how long you have been in operation (10)   Describe the project you are proposing (10)   What could you achieve with a grant of €2,500?  What could you achieve with a grant of €5,000?    What could you achieve with a grant of €10,000	30
Innovation and Creativity	300	How is it different from other community initiatives that are already in place? (15)  Does it offer a unique community benefit? (15)	30
Project execution and feasibility	500	Describe the community benefit that your project will deliver (5)  How does it have a lasting impact on the community? (5)  How many people will benefit from the project? (5)  How does it generate wider connections within the community? (3)  Who are the key people involved? (3)  What has your organisation achieved to date? (5)  State clear goals and plan for implementation of the project. (5)  Timeline and budget for the project. Clearly outline how funds will be used exclusively for the project. (5)	40

Following an initial screening by CAIRN COMMUNITY FUND, BLESSINGTON project team, a subset of the applications will be forwarded for consideration to a judging panel for evaluation. The judging panel will be comprised of chosen representatives from Cairn and independent third parties (the “Judging Panel”). The Judging Panel shall review the nominations to select finalists using scoring metrics (“Finalists”). Cairn reserves the right to seek additional information or clarifications from the Finalists, if necessary.  Judges’ decisions will be full and final, and applicants acknowledge that there is no right of appeal. No further correspondence from entrants will be entered into.

The judging panel will consist of: 

• John Horan, Chairman of Blessington Town
• Aideen Darcy, Neighbourhood Network
• Madeleina Loughrey-Grant, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer, Cairn
• Louise Quinn, Blessington native and former international footballer

Finalists will be notified that they have been shortlisted by 6 May. Cairn Community Fund plans to list the entrants on the Cairn Community Fund website, in press and on social. Cairn Community Fund will need permission and access to use any and all imagery from the group, club or society for promotion purposes. We will also require those who receive the grants to participate in promotion of the programme in the future. Recipients of the grants will be required to participate in capturing the progress and impact of their projects including access to the team, photography and videography.

Successful applicants must acknowledge the support of the Cairn Community Fund, Blessington in any published materials relating to the project/activity, including newsletters or public presentations about the project. Cairn Community Fund will provide the relevant logos and materials to assist with this.

We will host an awards ceremony in June 2026. The award recipients will be notified that they have been selected for the financial award. Applicants will be advised prior to this if they have been successful (the “Announcement Date”).  At that time, the Award recipients may be asked to provide additional information in relation to the award and may be required to execute agreed documentation regarding branding and promotion intended with award recipients.  

Any entrant may withdraw from the Competition at any time.

If an applicant has been nominated and declared an awardee and the Cairn Community Fund, Blessington discovers before the distribution of the funds that for any reason under these Terms, or otherwise, an award recipient is ineligible for a grant award or if the entry should have been declared invalid, the Cairn Community Fund, Blessington reserves the right to determine that an awardee is disqualified.

Cairn Community Fund, Blessington may withdraw its support of the awardee with immediate effect if the awardee (or any agent, related party, employee or representative of the awardee) acts in a way that causes or is reasonably likely to cause damage to the reputation of the Cairn Community Fund, Blessington and / or Cairn.

Any participants who are not shortlisted Finalists and/or Award recipients will not be contacted by Cairn Community Fund, Blessington to notify them that they have not been successful. All decisions by the Judging Panel are final and are not subject to inquiry or appeal.

Grant recipients are asked to provide the requested information contained in the notification email (such as, but not limited to, address, contact telephone number, and/or any other such relevant details) within two weeks of the Announcement Date. Cairn Community Fund’s obligation to remit the grant award to an organisation shall not arise until the required information has been received.

Applicants seeking funding from the Cairn Community Fund, Blessington must confirm that they have complied with the requirements of the Children's First Act, 2015.

Canvassing by applicants will automatically result in their application being rejected.

All applicants are required to complete an ‘Outcome Report’, including video, photographs and supporting documentation of use of Award funds, upon the completion of the stated project/ activity or six months into the lifecycle of the project/activity, whichever comes first.

Each group, club or society applying may be subject to due diligence review and anti-money laundering (AML) vetting process, and applicants agree to provide supporting documentation of use of Award funds if so requested. Cairn Community Fund, Blessington reserves the right to monitor beneficiaries’ use of funds.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

You will be asked to provide the name and contact details for the person submitting the application on behalf of the Eligible Club, Community Group or Society. You are not asked to provide any other personal information as part of the application. This personal information will be used by Cairn Community Fund, Blessington and/or Cairn in its legitimate interests to review and manage the application in accordance with these Terms.

The Personal Information will not be shared with the judging panel but will be shared with third parties who are providing administration and IT services to Cairn Community Fund, Blessington and/or Cairn. Unsuccessful applications will not be retained after the Competition ends. If your application is successful, Cairn Community Fund and/or Cairn will keep information in respect of the application and the Award for a period of six years from the date of payment of the Award. For further information about how Cairn Community Fund, Blessington and/or Cairn uses personal information, and your rights, please visit: https://www.cairnhomes.com/privacy-policy/

THIRD PARTY LINKS

The technology or other Competition materials may contain links to third party sites (“Third Party Sites”). Such links are provided solely as a convenience and are not under the control of Cairn Community Fund. Cairn Community Fund is not responsible for any Third Party Sites or content provided therein. Third Party Sites are governed by the applicable terms of use or privacy policy posted on those sites or provided to you by that third party.

FORCE MAJEURE

You acknowledge and understand that the venue, times, or dates of the Awards may change or need to be rescheduled due to events beyond Cairn Community Fund's reasonable control, including, but not limited to, earthquake, flood, fire, storm, natural disaster, act of God, war, terrorism, armed conflict, labour strike, lockout, boycott, pandemic or other health related emergency or other similar Competition (collectively, “Force Majeure”). Cairn Community Fund will attempt to notify you of any such changes as far in advance as reasonably possible. Cairn Community Fund not be held liable for any costs or expenses incurred by you as a result of such Force Majeure.

CAIRN COMMUNITY FUND, BLESSINGTON CHANGES, CANCELLATION OF COMPETITION (OTHER THAN DUE TO FORCE MAJEURE)

Notwithstanding the above, Cairn Community Fund reserves the right to reschedule the dates and/or venue for the Awards for any reason. Cairn Community Fund notify you via your registration email of any such changes as far in advance as reasonably possible.

Cairn Community Fund and/or Cairn may cancel the Awards and/or the Competition for any reason. Cairn Community Fund, Blessington will notify you via your submission email of cancellation as far in advance as reasonably possible.

Neither Cairn Community Fund nor Cairn will be held liable for any costs or expenses incurred by you as a result of changes or cancellation of the Competition.

GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION, AND VENUE

These Terms and any disputes arising out of or related hereto, shall be governed exclusively by the laws of Ireland and the courts of Ireland shall have exclusive jurisdiction to adjudicate any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms. Each party hereby consents to the jurisdiction of such courts and waives any right it may otherwise have to challenge the appropriateness of such forums.

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES, LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

Cairn Community Fund and Cairn give no warranties for any aspect of the Awards, Awards materials and, to the extent legally permissible, disclaims all implied warranties, including but not limited to warranties of fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, timeliness, and merchantability. The Awards are provided on an "as-is" basis Cairn Community Fund and Cairn do not accept any responsibility or liability for reliance by you or any person on any aspect of the Awards or any information provided at the Awards. Except as required by law, Cairn Community Fund and/or Cairn shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential costs, damages, or losses arising directly or indirectly from the Awards. To the extent permitted by local law, the maximum aggregate liability of Cairn Community Fund and Cairn for any claim in any way connected with, or arising from, the Competition, whether in contract, tort, or otherwise (including any negligent act or omission), shall be limited to €100.00 (one hundred euro).

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

These Terms constitute the entire agreement between the parties in relation to the Submission and participation in the Competition and related pre-Competition activities and supersede all prior and contemporaneous terms, agreements, proposals or representations, written or oral, concerning this subject matter.

Without limiting the foregoing, no part of these Terms shall be superseded or governed by any other agreement between any of Cairn Community Fund, Cairn and/or or any affiliates thereof and you or your company dealing with the same or similar subject matter.

Cairn Community Fund is a brand of the Cairn Group.

(Published 16th March 2026)