Connemara West Chairman, Dr Kevin Heanue, has been appointed as Vice Chair of the Board of the Social Finance Foundation.

The Foundation is a non-profit organisation and registered charity that was established by the Government and the Banking Industry in 2007 to make loan finance available at reasonable rates to viable social projects and organisations that find it difficult to obtain finance from mainstream lending sources.

Acting as a wholesaler it provides funding to its lending partners Clann Credo and Community Finance Ireland.

In addition to his Vice Chair role, he also Chairs the Credit Committee and is a member of the Strategy Committee that developed the Foundation’s strategy for the next three years.

Kevin described it as ‘a great privilege’ to take on the Vice Chair role with the Social Finance Foundation.

“Since it began, the Foundation has lent over €244 million to approximately 2,250 community, voluntary, heritage, social care, sporting and social enterprise projects all around the country,” he said.

“The Social Finance Sector plays a pivotal role in Ireland’s financial infrastructure by facilitating access to finance for socially and economically impactful community & voluntary, heritage, social care, sporting and social enterprise projects for which normal bank-lending is beyond reach.  It makes a significant impact on peoples’ lives,” he added.

Kevin sits on the Social Finance Foundation Board in a personal and voluntary capacity.

Pictured: Dr Kevin Heanue.