20 September 2018
Contactless Card Readers for Alzheimer’s Society
As this year’s Culture Night headline sponsors, Bank of Ireland UK and Visa will be using contactless card readers in Belfast to raise funds for their charity partner, Alzheimer’s Society – the first time this technology has been used in Northern Ireland to collect for a charity.
This innovative fundraising tool means that with a simple ‘tap’, festival goers can donate vital funds to Alzheimer’s Society and the bank has pledged to match money raised for the charity on the night.
Culture Night 2018, which is taking place on Friday 21 September, coincides with World Alzheimer’s Day and will see the bank working alongside its charity partner to offer a selection of services and facilities to anyone living with dementia who wishes to join in the Culture Night celebrations.
A quiet space will be available at the High Street Bank of Ireland UK branch to offer those living with dementia a place to take time out from the hustle and bustle of the night and an Alzheimer’s Society Roadshow Bus will also be in prime position at Belfast City Hall for those who want to avail of its services.
Ian Sheppard, Managing Director of Bank of Ireland UK said, “Culture Night is one the busiest nights in Belfast with an estimated 120,000 people taking to the streets and we’re excited to use the opportunity to raise funds and awareness for Alzheimer’s Society. There are so many lives in Northern Ireland affected by dementia and through this platform we hope to raise a significant amount to help this fantastic organisation fulfil its various initiatives such as its Side by Side volunteering programme.”
Natasha Gilliland, from Alzheimer’s Society said, “Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer, with one person developing it every three minutes. With support from partners such as Bank of Ireland UK, Alzheimer’s Society is providing help for people living with dementia today, but also hope for tomorrow. As the UK’s biggest funder of dementia research, we have committed to investing £150 million into helping us better understand the condition, but until the day we find a cure we are also committed to supporting people who are currently living with dementia.
“Too many people with dementia are facing it alone. Our new Side by Side service that is supported by Bank of Ireland UK is helping to end the loneliness and isolation that dementia can bring, so this World Alzheimer’s Day we are teaming up with the bank to unite against dementia, we’d love you to get involved and give to this vital fund.”
The two-year charity partnership between the Bank of Ireland UK and the UK’s leading dementia charity, Alzheimer’s Society, has so far seen the Bank in Northern Ireland donate upwards of £70k of essential funding to help deliver vital services.
The bank has collaborated with Visa at this year’s event to encourage people to tap, pay and go therefore giving them more time to enjoy the festivities. Bank of Ireland UK is also getting into the spirit of Culture Night by hosting its own tap event to attempt to break the world record for the Largest Tap Dance Lesson – a play on how easy it is to make contactless payments with a simple ‘tap’.
Fintech company iZettle, which provides a range of financial tools for small businesses, not-for-profit organisations and charities, have donated six contactless iZettle Readers to Alzheimer’s Society allowing the public to ‘tap’ their cards or wearable technology to donate on Culture Night.
To find out more about the Bank’s charity partnership with Alzheimer’s Society, visit https://www.bankofirelanduk.com.
For more information, please contact Smarts Communicate:
Rachel.sinton@smartscommunicate.com / 028 90395500
Hannah.irwin@smartscommunicate.com / 028 90395500