Funding expected to support over 3,500 young people through learning, inclusion, and sustainable development.

28 non-profit organisations from across Ireland and Northern Ireland are today celebrating the news that they will each receive a grant share from this year’s Coca‑Cola Thank You Fund.

Operating in partnership with the Irish Youth Foundation and supporting partners YouthAction Northern Ireland, the Fund invests in community groups that are orientated towards young people, with this year’s theme centred around empowering young people through learning, inclusion, and sustainable development.

This year The Coca‑Cola Company and its partner Coca‑Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland joined forces to double the amount of funding on offer in 2023, making €200,000 in grants available.  The significant increase in funding means that the Coca‑Cola Thank You Fund can support even more local organisations across the island of Ireland that work tirelessly to champion and empower young people to take an active role in shaping, creating, and maintaining sustainable communities. 

In total, 10 recipient organisations were selected to receive a grant of up to €10,000 to develop and implement their youth programme. These organisations include Childhood Development Initiative CLG (Dublin), Kerry Diocesan Youth Service (Kerry), Outcomers (Louth), Depaul (Dublin), AK Inspired CLG (Kerry), Spraoi agus Spórt Family Centre (Donegal), North West Islamic Association (Derry), Laurencetown Lenaderg & Tullylish Community Association (LLTCA) (Down), Patrician Youth Centre (Down), and Fighting Words NI (Antrim).

An additional 18 organisations will receive at least €5,000 in funding to support their local project and improve their community. These groups include Cork Migrant Centre (Cork), Roscommon Young Carers Project (VITA House) (Roscommon), Foróige Kilkenny (Kilkenny), Tacú (Mayo), Northside Partnership (Dublin), Wexford Arts Centre (Wexford), Footsteps Project Connect FRC (Louth), Mullingar EYE & YoYo Youth Café Youth Work Ireland Midlands (Westmeath), Pocket Forests (Dublin), Learning Hub Limerick (Limerick), Midlands Science (Offaly), Manor Street/Cliftonville Community Group (Belfast), Destined Ltd (Derry), Magnet Youth Adult Centre (Down), The Rainbow Child and Family Centre (Derry), St. Patrick’s Youth Club Keady (Armagh), Active Communities Network (Antrim), and Crisis Café (Newry).

Commenting on this year’s recipient announcement, Agnese Filippi, Country Manager, Coca‑Cola Ireland said: “It has been truly remarkable to witness the evolution of the Coca‑Cola Thank You Fund, an initiative that is firmly focused on having a meaningful impact on the future of young people in our local communities.

“At The Coca‑Cola Company, we recognise the importance of supporting organisations that empower our talented and passionate young people, who are the future leaders of tomorrow, which is why we’re thrilled to partner with Coca‑Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland to double the size and impact of the Fund this year.

“Our goal through this year’s increased Fund is to have a longer-term impact on the lives of young people, our communities, and our planet, empowering positive change that will help build a brighter future for all. I’d like to recognise the efforts of the Irish Youth Foundation and YouthAction Northern Ireland in helping us to achieve this goal.”

Congratulating the recipients of this year’s Thank You Fund, Davide Franzetti, General Manager, Coca‑Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland said: “As a growth-focused organisation, we are honoured to be involved in this year’s Coca‑Cola Thank You Fund. Together with our partners in The Coca‑Cola Company, we are privileged to have an insight into the phenomenal work of local organisations that work to change the lives of vulnerable young people across the island of Ireland.

“Emphasising the importance of education, inclusion, and sustainable development in empowering the next generation is incredibly important to us, and we wish the very best of success to the twenty-eight projects selected for this year’s Fund.”

Speaking about the judging process, Lucy Masterson, Chief Executive of the Irish Youth Foundation, operating partners of the Coca‑Cola Thank You Fund this year, said:“This year, we worked with supporting partners YouthAction Northern Ireland, along with a panel of industry experts, to identify community-based programmes and projects that engaged young people in models of innovative and inclusive practices.

“Working with The Coca‑Cola Company and Coca‑Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland has allowed us to recognise and support twenty-eight valuable local resources for young people across the island of Ireland. The standard of applications across the three pillars of learning, inclusion, and sustainable development has been incredibly high. Although it was a challenging process, it was incredibly enlightening and rewarding experience to hear from the vast number of community groups available to support vulnerable young people.”

For more information about the Coca‑Cola Thank You Fund check out www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou.

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