Dublin recipients of the 2023 Coca-Cola Thank You Fund revealed

Four Dublin-based youth-orientated non-profit are among 28 from across Ireland and Northern Ireland who are today celebrating the news that they will each receive a grant share from this year’s Coca-Cola Thank You Fund.

The successful non-profit organisations from Dublin are Depaul and The Childhood Development Initiative, receiving up to €10,000 in funding.

In addition, Northside Partnership and Pocket Forests, at least €5,000 in funding.

Depaul is a leading charity that works with people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. They have 37 accommodation and community-based services across the island of Ireland, with upwards of 1,500 men, women, and children availing of these supports each day.

The Childhood Development Initiative (CDI) works to improve?outcomes for children, families, and communities in Tallaght and throughout Ireland.

To do this, they deliver evidence-informed prevention and early intervention programmes, in partnership with communities and services, as well as supporting the child and family workforce through professional development training and consultancies.

Northside Partnership works to bring about positive changes in the lives of people and communities experiencing poverty and disadvantage in the Northeast area of Dublin City. Their mission is to work in partnership with individuals, communities, the State, and the private sector to research design, develop, and implement innovative and high-quality programmes to drive positive change.

Pocket Forests reimagine urban spaces to reconnect people with nature by growing pockets of native forests with communities, creating thriving soil, biodiversity, climate resilience, and natural habitat networks.

From left Ashe Conrad-Jones, Co-founder of Pocket Forests and Agnese Filippi, Country Manager of Coca-Cola Ireland Pic: Naoise Culhane

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.

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.”

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.”