SOSAD share in€100k Coca-Cola Thank You Fund
Thirteen local community groups committed to supporting the future of young people across the island of Ireland, this week celebrated news that they will receive a grant share of this year’s €100,000 Coca-Cola Thank You Fund.
The successful Meath based non-profit organisation is SOSAD, receiving €5,000 in funding.
Grants totalling €100,000 were awarded by a panel of judges to projects seeking support for initiatives targeted at 16–25-year-olds. These projects will help to build their resilience, meet the education gaps that exist and tackle the mental health challenges young people are facing today and will continue to face.
In recent months, SOSAD in Meath became aware of the need for increased support for young people dealing with anxiety and is seeking funding for the Anxiety Support Working group to help young people work together and learn the coping skills needed to navigate the ups and downs of life.
The support group will run four times a year with workshops including personal care education, journaling, cooking skills, and art therapy.
23 shortlisted groups pitched their ideas to the panel of judges during a series of virtual judging sessions, with seven of the thirteen recipient organisations set to receive a grant of €10,000 for the development of their local project.
These organisations include The Kabin Studio (Cork), Liquid Therapy (Donegal), The Yard @ Solas Project (Dublin), Helplink Mental Health (Galway), Kerry Diocesan Youth Service (Kerry), YEHA Project (Antrim) and Amber Women’s Refugee GLC (Kilkenny).
An additional six organisations will also receive €5,000 for their project ideas following their pitch to the panel including Monkstown Boxing Club (Antrim), St. Peter’s Immaculata Youth Centre (Antrim), Happy Trails Therapeutic Riding School (Wexford), Drogheda Youth Development Services (Louth) and SOSAD Ireland Navan (Meath).
This year’s Fund saw the return of the popular People’s Choice Award, giving the public the chance to have their say and vote for their favourite local group, with the winning group Down Syndrome Ireland Mayo Branch receiving a €5,000 grant for their Drama Therapy Camp.
Designed to open a new world of communication, the camp will enable those living with Down syndrome to express and vocalise their feelings while giving them the tools and confidence to know that their voice can be heard.
Agnese Filippi, Country Manager, Coca-Cola Ireland said: “The impact of the pandemic over the past two years has been particularly hard on our young people. Through the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund we are honoured to be in the position to support youth orientated organisations across the island of Ireland that are committed to supporting and helping young people to navigate their futures.”
Since 2011 the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund has donated €1,255,000 to over 100 non-profit organisations across the island of Ireland involved in the delivery of youth targeted community, social and education programmes.