For ten years Bord Gáis Energy and Focus Ireland have worked side by side to shine a light on one of the most urgent social issues in Ireland. While tents on the streets often dominate public attention, thousands of families are living out of single hotel rooms where children study at the end of a bed and parents try to hold family life together. This hidden homelessness is devastating yet overlooked. Our partnership exists to change that.
Bord Gáis Energy’s purpose is to energise a greener and fairer future for all which makes Focus Ireland a natural partner. Together we have built one of Ireland’s most impactful and long-standing social sponsorships combining funding, volunteering, skills sharing and powerful national campaigning. More than €7.5 million has been invested, almost 9,000 volunteer hours donated and over 8,500 families supported through prevention services and practical help.
Our creative platform Unseen but Not Forgotten brought the public back to the reality of family homelessness and drove a 58 percent rise in sponsorship awareness. As lead sponsor of Shine A Light we have helped raise more than €9.1 million since 2018 with participation in 2025 growing strongly among schools, companies and business leaders. This year our media strategy even included sponsorship of the David McWilliams podcast to reach a business audience of 70,000 listeners each week.
This partnership has strengthened communities, deepened empathy and delivered real change. As we enter our second decade our commitment remains clear. Everyone deserves a place to call home.
