At Cash & Carry Kitchens, we believe everyone deserves a place to gather, cook and feel at home.

Helping Homes: Our Charity Partnership with Simon Communities of Ireland

Through our Helping Homes partnership, we donate fully designed, manufactured and installed kitchens to Simon Communities accommodation services across Ireland.

Simon Communities of Ireland is a network of independent charities supporting people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Their work includes emergency accommodation, homelessness prevention, counselling and addiction support, food banks and much more.

Since launching the partnership, we have completed kitchen installations in Galway, Cork and Ennis, with more projects planned for the future. Already, we have seen the positive impact these spaces can have on residents and communities alike.

Why This Partnership Matters

With more than 17,000 people experiencing homelessness in Ireland, the work carried out by Simon Communities of Ireland has never been more important.

By providing complete, high-quality kitchens, we hope to create spaces that offer more than practicality. These kitchens are designed to help people feel comfortable, supported and at home.

These kitchens promote:

• Greater independence and daily living skills
• Communal bonding in shared housing
• Long-lasting, durable spaces that reduce ongoing maintenance costs

Kitchens That Make a Difference

Our partnership with the Simon Communities of Ireland is about more than just kitchens, it’s about creating spaces where people feel safe, supported, and connected.

In late 2023, we completed our first Helping Homes project in Galway installing a modern Augusta Graphite kitchen in a service that supports up to 16 residents. Designed to be both practical and welcoming, the kitchen quickly became a central gathering space within the home.

In Summer 2024, we brought that same vision to life in Cork,where we designed and installed a functional, accessible kitchen tailored to the needs of residents. The impact was immediate. “The kitchen has given us a new life, I couldn’t be happier,” shared Karen, team leader at the service.

Most recently, in 2025, we installed a brand-new kitchen and utility space at a Simon accommodation in Ennis, home to over 21 residents. The refurbishment has transformed the kitchen into a lively, social space where people come together. “We've already seen a direct impact on the residents from the refurbishment of the kitchen,” said Paul O’Sullivan of Simon Midwest.

Each of these kitchens is a reminder of the difference a well-designed space can make, not just in how people live, but in how they connect.

Staff Fundraising & Community Support

Our staff across Ireland have embraced the Helping Homes partnership, supporting fundraising and awareness initiatives throughout the year:

• Step Up For Simon: In June 2025 we took part in Step Up for Simon. Teams across Ireland committed to walking 15,000 steps a day to represent the over 15,000 people experiencing homelessness in Ireland at the time. Over two weeks our teams walked over 11 million steps while raising awareness of the work carried out by the Simon Communities of Ireland.
•  Christmas Jumper Day:Each year, staff across our showrooms, factory and office take part in the Simon Communities of Ireland “Charity Christmas Jumper Day”.  This is a festive and fun way for everyone to get involved with the charity partnership and raise awareness of a worthy cause.
• Donating time to local communities: Staff are given the opportunity to volunteer for local Simon communities across Ireland.

We’re committed to creating even more opportunities for staff to get involved in 2025 and beyond.

Simon Week 2025

We were proud to support the Simon Communities of Ireland through our continued sponsorship of Simon Week, running in the last week of September. This annual campaign raises vital awareness around homelessness and highlights the need for long-term solutions. Throughout the week, local Simon Communities will host events focused on key issues affecting people experiencing homelessness.

Simon Cares. Cash & Carry Kitchens Care. Show You Care Too.

Visit simon.ie to learn more.

What’s Next for Helping Homes?

We are committed to continuing our Helping Homes partnership by providing more kitchens to Simon Communities services across Ireland, supporting Simon Week initiatives, and creating new fundraising and volunteering opportunities for our staff.

Together, we hope to continue creating spaces that offer comfort, connection and a sense of home.