Meet the 14 Recipients Receiving a Grant Share of €200K as part of this Year’s Coca‑Cola Thank You Fund!
Since 2011, the Coca‑Cola Thank You Fund has donated over €1.9 million to nearly 200 non-profit organisations on the island of Ireland involved in programmes empowering young people through learning and sustainable development.
14 non-profit organisations from across Ireland and Northern Ireland will each receive a grant share from this year’s Coca‑Cola Thank You Fund.
Here’s a look at the projects that will be supported by this year’s Coca‑Cola Thank You Fund.
South Dublin County Partnership (SDCP) is a local development company in South Dublin County, who develop and deliver projects to tackle poverty and social exclusion in the area. This funding will support their 'Aspire' project, which aims to support young people in the area to explore their aspirations and discover the pathways they can take to achieve them. Aspire connects the community through the coordination of free and accessible programmes for young people, with this project focusing on the young people's desired futures through university visits, career talks, workshops and pre-apprenticeship programmes.
Her Sport is a social enterprise closing the gender gap in sport by tackling the systemic barriers that limit girls’ and women’s access, visibility and opportunity. This grant will support the delivery of 32 community-based educational workshops across Ireland, targeting young women aged 16–25 from disadvantaged areas. These workshops will create safe, supportive spaces to explore challenges young women face around participation in sport, such as body confidence, self-esteem, societal expectations, and access.
Generation: You Employed, Ireland is an Irish charity dedicated to supporting diverse individuals facing barriers to employment into life-changing careers that would otherwise be inaccessible. This project will support at least 25 young people (aged 18-25) facing employment barriers through education-to-employment bootcamps, with participants enrolling across four programmes: Data Analytics, IT Support with Cybersecurity, AWS Cloud Engineering, and Solar Installation. Participants will receive wraparound support, with regular 1:1 mentorship and pastoral care, employment preparation and supported job placement.
Greencastle Community Centre enhances the social well-being of the local community through training, recreational activities, education, support and sharing of information. This funding supports the 'Digital Storytellers for Social Change' project, designed to empower young people aged 16-25, particularly those not in education or training, to become active agents of positive social change in their community. Through a series of engaging workshops, participants will learn technical skills, develop narrative storytelling techniques and explore ethical digital practices. Facilitated discussions and guest speakers will guide them in identifying pressing social issues within their community, and participants will produce creative digital projects that address these issues and advocate for positive change. Culminating in community showcases and impact campaigns, the project will amplify youth voices and raise awareness of critical social concerns.
South West Mayo Development Company is an organisation focused on rural community and economic development, social inclusion, health equality, wellbeing and social employment in Southwest Mayo. This funding will support the 'Social Farming' project, which offers young people the opportunity to spend time on a family farm in a healthy, supportive, and inclusive environment. The young person will participate in activities they may be interested in such as gardening, animal care or indoor activities such as baking bread or jam making. The project takes place in a safe and supportive environment taking into account an individual’s abilities, desires and interests and focuses on encouraging participants to socialise, gain confidence, and build relationships.
The YMCA Dublin Local Champions Project is a youth leadership development project designed to empower 16-20-year-olds from three Dublin communities: City Centre, Belmayne and North Clondalkin. Participants engage in workshops on advocacy, negotiation, and action planning, fostering teamwork and personal growth. They will explore Ireland’s political system, youth participation opportunities, and community advocacy, equipping them with leadership skills, increased confidence, and promoting active citizenship. This project provides participants with the tools to create positive change in their communities while strengthening their engagement in society. During the project, they will prepare a community social action project that they will deliver on return to their community and evaluate, with support from YMCA Dublin.
ARD Family Resource Centre supports individuals and families in the culturally diverse community of Doughiska, Galway. ARD prioritises key issues effecting the community, including the lack of access to secure and affordable housing, and racial discrimination. This funding will support the 'Change Shapers' project, which supports young people who are committed to working together to bring about positive change on social justice issues. The group has developed a youth led resource to raise awareness of the lived experiences of young people seeking international protection in Ireland. This project will allow the young people to facilitate workshops in other youth work settings using the resource and will support the development of a safe youth space for the young people to meet together regularly, explore issues they are passionate about and have opportunities to boost their mental wellbeing through targeted workshops.
Aiséirí provides residential and community based addiction treatment to young people aged 15 – 21 years. This funding will support their project 'Empowering Futures'. This project is focused on upskilling and training for young people in addiction support. Young people will participate in Repair Cafés, rescuing forgotten furniture from donations/ landfills, reviving each piece through meticulous restoration and upscale refurbishment. The young people will also have the opportunity to complete manual handling and barbering courses.
Footsteps Project Connect FRC is a personal youth development programme in Co Louth working with young people aged 16-25 who are not in employment, education or training. This funding will support The Community Connect project, which aims to foster social connections and create safe spaces within the community. Recognising the challenges many individuals face in finding supportive environments, this project focuses on establishing inclusive gathering places where community members can engage, share experiences, and build meaningful relationships. Young people will engage in a series of workshops focusing on mental health awareness, conflict resolution, inclusion and active listening in an environment that encourages collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking.
McDonald Centre is an independently run community centre building at St Vincent Street, Belfast. The centre is a shared space, facilitating and hosting programmes to improve social, health, education and employability outcomes in Lower North Belfast. This funding will support the 'Beyond the Pitch' project, which works with young people aged 16-19 in the local area involved in Crusaders Football Club, providing workshops in mental health, education and leadership. The project moves the young people's participation on the pitch, to much needed support beyond the pitch. The workshops are delivered through facilitators from community partners AWARE NI, Women’s Aid, Action Mental Health and Young Enterprise NI. Alongside these workshops, the young people will develop their leadership skills, with wraparound support for the participants.
Drumgor Detached Youth Work Project (DDYWP) is a youth-focused organisation dedicated to supporting young people, in the North Lurgan and Craigavon areas, with a particular focus on those who are at risk, vulnerable, or disengaged. This funding will support the EmpowerHER project, a six-month life skills programme designed to empower young women with practical skills, confidence, and resilience. This initiative aims to equip participants with essential tools to navigate life’s challenges while fostering independence and self-worth. This programme will cover a number of areas, including self-defence, cooking skills and healthy eating, money management, conflict resolution, resilience training, health and wellbeing, and healthy and unhealthy relationships. As well as this, the young women will complete an OCN Level 2 in Personal Success and Well-being.
REACH Across is a cross-community youth project in the western region of Northern Ireland. REACH Across aims to create and develop cross-community contact between young people, provide young people from recognised areas of disadvantage with personal development and qualification opportunities (that will increase their skills-base, employability, social awareness, active citizenship and self-confidence), and to provide support and guidance to vulnerable young people. This funding will support the PALS project, which will provide a programme of personal development, skills and social awareness training, along with team-building activities for the project's Junior Leaders. Participants will gain their OCN level 2 in Leadership, engage in skills based and social awareness workshops, and plan and deliver a social action project.
AdaptNI provides specialist employment and training support for people who are Deaf, have hearing loss, and/or tinnitus across Northern Ireland. This funding will support the Early Intervention and Transitions Programme for Deaf, Hearing Loss, and Tinnitus Youth across Northern Ireland, helping them transition into further education, training, or employment. Many young people in this group face barriers to career progression, including lack of accessible guidance, limited work experience opportunities, and communication challenges in the workplace. This project aims to remove these barriers, equipping participants with the skills, confidence, and support needed for a successful future. Participants will receive specialist career guidance through one-to-one support, workshops, and mentoring, as well as work readiness training, including CV writing, interview skills, workplace rights, and self-advocacy. The young people willl also participate in a NI-wide Work Experience Week, allowing them to gain real-world experience with full communication support (BSL/ISL interpreters, electronic note-takers, speech-to-text support, and hearing loop systems).
Laurencetown Summerscheme is a voluntary community group, delivering youth activities to young people in the Laurencetown, Gilford and Clare communities. This funding will support the 'Inspiring a Generation' project. The project will provide accredited training and experience for 25 young volunteers aged 16-25 to become leaders at Laurencetown Summerscheme. Participants will take part in Level 1 and 2 Leader Training, delivered by YouthActionNI. The young people will then deliver an activity summer scheme to 100 young people in Laurnecetown. Participants take more responsibility in the community and to be better community members by becoming young leaders with a voice, and gain confidence through the process.