From Our Hearts to Yours: Empowering Members Through Community Support

Ní neart go cur le chéile. There is no strength without unity.

At Comhar Linn, we often speak about people helping people and the power that comes from working together. For us, it’s more than an ethos because it’s the very way we support our members and invest in the education community they belong to.

As the season changes from winter to spring, it feels like the right time to reflect on connection and community. Not in a loud or promotional way, but in the quiet, consistent support that strengthens relationships and builds trust over time. That steady presence is the very cornerstone of what we do.

Our 29,000 plus active members work within, or are connected to, education across Ireland. They are students beginning their journey, teachers in classrooms today, and retired educators whose contribution continues well beyond their working lives. Importantly, the support we provide and the initiatives we invest in are spread across all ages and stages, recognising that community is lifelong.

Our members are leaders in their own environments, used to educating and guiding others. We are deeply mindful of how we communicate with them, ensuring our service feels personal, respectful and relevant. At every stage of life, our aim is the same: to provide financial support that grows with you.

One of the ways we live this commitment is by supporting activities that enhance wellbeing and culture within the teaching community. For college students, this includes backing sporting teams, creative societies, and orientation events that foster a sense of belonging during those formative years, building confidence, friendships, and a shared identity beyond the lecture hall.

Our commitment to students extends further through our annual scholarship competition, which invites third-level students to showcase their passion, dedication and commitment to their education. Across three categories, 12 talented students are selected each year to receive a share of our €24,000 scholarship fund, while also having the opportunity to become ambassadors for Comhar Linn Credit Union. It is one of the most meaningful ways we invest in the next generation of educators and support them as they begin their professional journey.

For serving teachers, our involvement extends into professional, cultural and sporting spaces. From supporting musical societies and branch events to recognising sporting excellence at the national level – such as participation in the Irish Masters Basketball Championships – these initiatives celebrate the energy, talent and dedication that exist within the profession. We are also proud to support events focused on literacy and learning, including initiatives that encourage a deeper engagement with reading and provide practical support for teachers and SNAs in the classroom.

Our retired members remain an integral part of the Comhar Linn community. Support for association events and social gatherings, including golf society events, helps sustain connections, friendships, and purpose, and reinforces the idea that education is not just a career, but a lifelong calling.

Beyond education-specific initiatives, we also support organisations that care for people at critical moments in their lives. From hospice and health services to charities supporting disability inclusion, homelessness and neonatal care, these partnerships reflect our belief that strong communities are built through empathy, responsibility and collective effort.

Wellbeing, whether it be financial, mental or social, sits at the heart of everything we do. At Comhar Linn, care is shown through consistency. It’s found in long-term relationships, thoughtful support and a deep understanding of what matters most to our members.

Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine – under the shelter of each other, the people live. This is a reminder that when we support one another, invest in our community and show up consistently, we all thrive, today and into the future.