The Irish Youth Foundation has announced the awardees for the Generation Pandemic Fund. In total 26 projects from around the country have received funding, impacting 3,862 children and young people.
The fund was set up to support projects and programmes around the country as they work to undo the catastrophic damage the Covid-19 fallout has inflicted on our most marginalised children and young adults. The projects were chosen on their ability to tackle these issues along the three focus areas of Education, Health & Wellbeing, and Skills & Employability.
IYF CEO Lucy Masterson said:
“We are delighted to be able to award funding to these amazing organisations. Two years of lockdowns took an incredible toll on young people living in disadvantaged communities. From our research and from talking to young people and their youth workers it is clear that the effects will play out for years to come if left unchecked.
The projects we have awarded funding to are battling hard to undo this damage. To reengage young people and give them the opportunities they deserve. There are so many bright young people across the nation who, through no fault of their own, do not get a fair shot in life. This funding will go some way in levelling the playing field for thousands of them.
We would like to thank the diverse range of individuals and companies which supported the fund. Their support mean a brighter future for so many.“
The fund was made possible through the IYF’s generous individual donors and Philanthropists, and corporate partners including Coopman Search and Selection, Glandore, PwC, Udemy, Vhi, and William Fry.
Successful awardees included:
Horse Power from Lakers Social & Recreational Club, Wicklow which will provide equine therapy to its members, working on their physical, personal and social development and helping them to feel empowered.
Irish Refugee Council with Project Connections, which will work nationally and addresses the lack of wellbeing supports for young people aged 16-25 who are seeking international protection in Ireland and those with refugee status.
The Rite Experience run by Venture Out, which is an engaging, creative and experiential school-based programme for young second level aged boys, aiming to promote their health and wellbeing, while also addressing issues around what it is to be a man in today’s world.
Core Youth Services with Train 2 Gain & Remain which will fund a dedicated youth worker for 12 months to concentrate on employment skills/training for young people in the community who may struggle to make the transition over to and maintain paid employment, further training and apprenticeships.
Thomas McCarthy, a Youth Worker from Core Youth Services said:
We are delighted to receive this funding and are very grateful to the Irish Youth Foundation donors for the opportunity.
It will enable us to bridge the gaps to accessing and sustaining a young person’s first job or further training. We can’t wait to get started.
View the full list of awardees here.
