Trigon Hotels won the ‘Partnership with a Charity’ category at the 2022 Sustainable Business Impact Awards gala event at the Clayton Hotel for the hotel group’s ongoing work with Cope Foundation and its Ability@Work programme. It was one of 75 projects shortlisted across 14 categories at the Chambers Ireland awards.

Cope Foundation is Trigon Hotels’ charity of choice for 2021 and 2022. One of the most successful elements of the collaboration is the creation of a new sensory garden at Cope Foundation in Montenotte, Cork. Trigon Hotels is part of Cope Foundation’s Ability@Work programme and has created sustainable employment for six people supported by the charity.

Aaron Mansworth, Managing Director of Trigon Hotels said, “It is a huge achievement to win a Sustainable Business Impact Award and shows what can be achieved by businesses and charities working together. Our relationship with Cope Foundation is about so much more than fundraising, by sharing our skills we have learned so much from each other and we have developed lasting friendships along the way. Cork has led the way in terms of inclusion in sport for many years and now we’re leading the way for inclusion in business. It is important to us that our hotels are as inclusive and diverse as possible and our partnership with Cope Foundation and Ability@Work is central to that.”

Cope Foundation Chief Executive, Sean Abbott added, “It is wonderful to see the partnership between Trigon Hotels and our organisation recognised at a national level. However, more importantly, I know that the collaboration has improved the lives of so many people we support. I would like to thank the volunteers from both organisations who gave up their time week after week to design, build and maintain the sensory garden. They worked closely with the students from Bonnington Training Centre who were able to apply the skills they learned in their horticulture classes. Trigon Hotels has also provided meaningful employment and training opportunities for people supported by our Ability@Work programme and is a fantastic advocate both locally and nationally.”