Coca-Cola Thank You Fund 2024
A total of €200,000 in grants were made available to youth groups working to
empower young people through transformative programmes of learning and
sustainable development. All 18 recipients of this year’s Coca-Cola Thank You Fund
can be found below.
Cork Foyer
Cork
Learning
18
Cork Foyer provides medium term supported accommodation for 20 young people between the ages of 18-25 who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. This funding will support ‘The Foyer Summer Programme’, which aims to give residents a chance to continue to upskill during the break from their internal training over the Summer months.
Gaiety School of Acting
Drogheda
Learning
100
The Gaiety School of Acting is widely regarded as the country’s premier acting training facility. This funding will support an event called ‘Céim’. In partnership with Drogheda Youth Theatre, GSA will host Céim – a two-day event of workshops and talks giving the opportunity to young people aged 16-25 to explore theatre as a career and highlight the benefits of drama. A key focus of this project will be bridging the gap in terms of access to education in the arts.
Way 2 Work Ireland
Dublin
Learning
15
Way 2 Work Ireland is a not for profit organisation founded in partnership with Tusla child and family agency to create opportunities of employment, education and training for all young people with a care experienced background. This funding will focus on supporting young people in remission from cancer. W2W hope to specifically support these young people in their individual goals focused on employment and training opportunities.
STAR Tuam
Galway
Learning
60
STAR Tuam is one of four pilot projects in Ireland set up to address educational inequality and school engagement amongst young people from the Travelling and Roma Communities. The project will fund an activity and life skills programme for Traveller and Roma youth to encourage school attendance engagement and third level progression.
The Acorn Project - Youth Work Ireland Midlands
Offaly
Learning
35
The Acorn Project is a youth diversion project aimed at supporting young people who are deemed ‘at risk’ of anti-social or criminal activity. The focus of the work is to steer these young people to more positive lifestyle choices and upskilling them in terms of employment prospects. This funding will support 25 young people to participate in their Employabiity Programme which takes place over 9 months and includes a QQI accrediation as well as work experience.
Engage in Education
Limerick
Learning
50
Engage in Education is a local community organisation focused on supporting third level progression in Limerick. They offer
financial and non-financial interventions that support progression through the education system, from primary to higher level education. This grant will support access to extra tuition support for 50 young people in the Leaving Certificate cycle.
Student Volunteer Ireland
Limerick
Sustainable Development
500
Student Volunteer (SV) is actively addressing barriers to volunteering by enabling youth (specifically students in higher education) and community partners to connect through a bespoke online platform. This specific project aims to train and empower minority students in leadership skills focused on volunteer management and then support them to lead on volunteer engagement for circular economy projects.
Mayo North East
Mayo
Sustainable Development
100
MNE works with communities and public sector agencies to support individuals experiencing social exclusion, inequality, and poverty. The partnership aims to create sustainable, inclusive communities through provision of continued further education and development of local community groups.Funding will support a project called “Waste Wise Kitchen”. MNE will run 2 x 10 wk programmes focused on food waste, cooking skills, healthy eating and ways to reduce food waste and be more sustainable. A key outcome is the project will lead to small changes regarding food waste and help participants become more informed and sustainable consumers.
Aiseiri
Kilkenny
Sustainable Development
100
Aiséirí provides residential and community based addiction treatment to young people aged 15 – 21 years in their Kilkenny centre. This funding will support their ‘Loved back to Life’ project. This project is focused on rescuing forgotten furniture from donations/ landfills, reviving each piece through meticulous restoration and upscale refurbishment. Young people from the Kilkenny treatment centre will be taught the necessary skills to participate in this project through Repair Cafés. The focus is on teaching new transferable skills while also learning about environmental conservation and the principles of circular economy.
Spraoi agus Spórt Family Centre
Donegal
Sustainable Development
120
Spraoi agus Spórt provide fun, affordable, and inclusive activities, opportunities and experiences for children and young people in Inishowen. This funding will be channlled into their ‘Swap & Style” project – a monthly event for young people aged 16-25, promoting sustainable fashion through clothing swaps and sales. This initiative not only promotes environmental consciousness by reducing the demand for new clothing production but also makes fashionable attire accessible to young people experiencing socio-economic deprivation.
Monkstown Boxing Club
Antrim
Learning
350
Monkstown Boxing Club (MBC) is an award-winning organization committed to helping young people become happy, healthy, and successful adults. The STRIVE project aims to positively impact the mental and emotional wellbeing of its participants targeting a critical period for intervention. This project is poised to equip participants with tools not only to enhance their own well-being but also to support their peers, families, and the wider community.
BCT NI C.I.C
Antrim
Learning
20
BCT is a long established accredited training organisation, based in the heart of Ardoyne in Belfast focused on supporting young people who are not engaged in any level of training, education or employment. Funding will support an inclusive 5 week Summer programme for young girls, focused on enhacing their health and wellbeing, and empowering them to become strong positive role models for change.
St Patrick's Youth Club Keady
Armagh
Learning
20
St Patrick’s Youth Club provides a safe space for young people where they can socialise and mix with their peers. This project will engage young people who are considered high risk for early school leaving and who are displaying risk taking behaviours. Funding will support a programme called ‘Going in the right Direction’, which aims to support the personal growth and development of these young people with a specific focus on improving their employability prospects.
Diverse Youth NI
Belfast
Learning
20
Diverse Youth NI aims to empower and uplift young people within the BAME community in Northern Ireland. Funding will support their ‘ElevateU’ project. This project addresses the critical need for skills development and employment among marginalised youth through comprehensive training, personalised mentorship, and practical job experiences.
Kilkeel Parish Bridge Association Limited
Northern Ireland
Sustainable Development
175
KPBAL seeks to support the personal development of children and young people in the community through a range of activites. This funding will support the cultivation of a community garden by the young people in the programme, with a specific focus on sustainability to promote environmental care.
Willowfield Parish Community Association
Down
Learning
10
WPCA works to alleviate poverty & its causes in inner city East Belfast. This funding will support The Leaders In Training (LIT) project. This project has been designed to enable young people from inner city east Belfast, an area known for its high levels of antisocial behaviour, low academic attainment and socioeconomic challenges, to engage with positive leadership principles, the importance of personal development and community ownership.
R.E.A.C.H Across
Northern Ireland
Learning
30
REACH Across is a cross-community youth project for young people aged 14-17yrs in the western region of Northern Ireland. This funding will support F.L.I.P (Future Leaders Investment Project). This project aims to provide an extended programme of training and development opportunities for their current Leaders and Assistant Leaders (18 – 24 year olds) to benefit their youth work or career pathways.
NI Youth Forum
Antrim
Empowering Learning
112
Northern Ireland Youth Forum exists to inspire, motivate, empower, and support young people to have a voice on personal; peer; community and societal levels. This grant will be channelled into their ELTA programme – Empowering Learning Through Advocacy Programme. The ELTA programme will empower a group of 12 young asylum seekers to make a lasting impact on newcomers arriving in Belfast by offering upskilling opportunities and creating awareness through learning about the issues affecting asylum seekers in Belfast.