Coca-Cola has revealed this year’s Thank You Fund award recipients at Zeminar, Ireland’s largest youth conference at the National Sports Campus in Dublin. The Fund awarded a share of €40,000 to five youth organisations in Northern Ireland, from a total of €100,000 awarded to 12 community projects across Ireland.

This year’s Coca-Coca Thank You Fund grant brings the total amount donated since 2011 to an incredible milestone of €1,055,000 (£9,074,05)

The successful non-profit organisations were presented with their certificates during a celebration event, each receiving either €5,000 or €10,000. The money will be used to help fund innovative projects to support and inspire young people across the categories of education and training, diversity and inclusion, and innovative approaches to sustainability.

Three organisations from Northern Ireland each received a grant of €10,000 (£8,601) for the development of their local project:  Monkstown Boxing Club (Co. Antrim); Mary Peter’s Trust (Co. Antrim) and Liberty Consortium- Playtrail (Co. Derry~Londonderry).

• Monkstown Boxing Club provides a diverse programme of activities focused on addressing various social and economic issues in the community. It applied for funding to set up a ‘Second Step’ programme, aimed at achieving sustainable, positive change in the lives of marginalised young people in Monkstown.
• The Mary Peters Trust, Northern Ireland’s leading sporting charity, helps disabled and able-bodied young people achieve their sporting dreams and ambitions. It was awarded funding for the development of a ‘Youth in Sport’ conference, designed to empower the employment and educational decisions of high-level athletes.
• Liberty Consortium @ The Playtrail, an inclusive play and educational facility, provides a range of self-led and programmed opportunities for all. The organisation will deliver ‘Tea in the Park’ thanks to the funding received. The goal of this project is to provide young people with disabilities and specific needs the opportunity to gain training, develop skills and participate in meaningful work placements.

An additional two organisations from Northern Ireland also received €5,000 (£4,300) for their innovative project ideas. They were Horn of Africa People’s Aid Northern Ireland (Co. Antrim) and a joint project between St Malachy’s OB Football Club and Albert Foundry Academy FC (Co. Antrim).

Taking to the main-stage, Pete Snodden, Coca-Cola Thank You Fund Ambassador, said:

“I’ve been involved in the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund for many years and have seen first-hand the difference it makes to local community groups and the immeasurable impact it has on young people across Northern Ireland. I was delighted to get involved with the Fund again this year and it’s so rewarding to be here today to celebrate the class of 2019. One size just doesn’t fit all and by empowering these incredible local champions, the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund is giving them the tools to change the lives of young people in their community.”

Gillian Shields, Sustainability Manager, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland thanked all the organisations who applied for the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund this year, along with the judges who helped select the winners:

“We were so encouraged by the number of community leaders in towns and villages across the island of Ireland who took the time to enter this year’s Coca-Cola Thank You Fund. It has never been more important to invest in our future change leaders and the funding provided through the Thank You Fund brings projects to life that otherwise might never happen.”

“We are delighted to reach the ninth anniversary of the Fund, a significant milestone as we celebrate the donation of over €1 million to nearly 100 youth-orientated non-profit organisations across the island of Ireland since 2011. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all those who were involved this year, as well as our distinguished panel of judges who had the almost impossible task of identifying the 2019 recipients.”

The Fund is delivered in partnership with the Irish Youth Foundation and Youth Action Northern Ireland. June Trimble MBE, CEO, YouthAction Northern Ireland spoke more about how the projects selected had the potential to transform the lives of young people:

“Non-profit groups are invaluable to our local communities, so it was a great privilege for me to be part of the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund and to have the opportunity to make a real impact on the lives of young people across Ireland. Over €1 million has now been donated by the Fund to 95 youth-orientated groups right across the country, with incredible impact. While the financial support is invaluable to these groups as they work to provide vital supports and interventions at ground level, simply backing their belief can act as a catalyst for even greater change.”

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