Cork hotel group Trigon Hotels has announced it will continue its ongoing charity partnership with Horizons, formerly Cope Foundation, for the year ahead.
The hotel group has been supporting the Cork-based charity since 2021, building a robust relationship working on both a sensory garden project and Horizons’ Ability@Work programme together.
Team members from Trigon Hotels, which includes the Cork International Hotel and the Metropole Hotel, presented Horizons with a cheque for last year’s fundraising efforts.
The cheque for over €6,000 comes as a result of a number of fundraisers organised by the hotel group, including a Taylor Switch gig, a spinathon in both hotels and fundraising during the Jazz Festival at the Metropole Hotel.
Horizons supports people with an intellectual disability and / or autism to live a life of their own choosing.
The partnership has led to employment opportunities across the two hotels for the participants of the Horizons Ability@Work programme which enables people supported by the organisation to gain paid employment based on their abilities and potential. An Ability@Work Employment Breakfast was held at the Cork International Hotel last year which resulted in 17 job offers made by other companies in attendance.
In 2021, Trigon Hotels guided Horizons in the development of a sensory garden, nestled in Beech Hill Garden Centre, Montenotte. As part of the partnership, Trigon staff continue to take time from their day-to-day work to complete monthly maintenance days. Students in Horizons Bonnington Training Centre, staff in the Garden Centre and Group Executive Chef at Trigon Hotels Alex Petit, all work together and collaborate to plant herbs and vegetables, which are used by Trigon chefs in the hotel kitchens. On average, two crates of produce are used every week.
Kathleen Linehan, Strategic Director of HR at Trigon Hotels, said: “We are delighted to present a cheque to Horizons. We have fostered a marvellous relationship with the organisation over the years, one we are fully committed to going forward. It is a partnership that has proved to be hugely successful for all parties. Our team members from the organisation’s Ability@Work programme have been a welcome addition to our teams at the Metropole Hotel and Cork International Hotel and I would encourage any employer to consider getting involved.”
Elaine Murphy, Acting Communications and Fundraising Manager of Horizons said: “We are so grateful to all the Trigon team for their time, expertise and dedication. The partnership continues to grow and we look forward to further collaborations in 2025 which brings benefits to both Trigon and Horizons.”
