5 local non-profit organisations in the running for this year’s Coca-Cola Thank You Fund

As we continue to navigate the reopening of society and realise the impact of COVID-19 on our young people, Coca-Cola has revealed the 5 shortlisted non-profit organisations from Northern Ireland in the running for this year’s €100,000 Coca-Cola Thank You Fund. A further 13 groups in the Republic of Ireland were also shortlisted.

This year has seen the return of the ‘People’s Choice Award’, with members of the public invited to vote for their favourite project among the final shortlisted organisations with the successful group receiving a grant of €5,000. Shortlisted Groups from Antrim and Down Demonstrate Passion and Innovative ideas for Supporting Young People. Details of the 5 Northern Ireland shortlisted projects can be found at www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou with the voting lines now open.

Now in its eleventh year, grants totalling €100,000 will once again be awarded to youth-orientated groups across the island of Ireland committed to supporting the future of young people Leaders of the shortlisted projects will be invited to attend a special skills and networking workshop delivered by Coca-Cola Thank You Fund partners at Youth Action Northern Ireland and Irish Youth Foundation, before pitching their project ideas to a panel of judges for the chance to secure an activation grant of €10,000 or €5,000.

This year over 280 non-profit organisations applied for the Fund under the categories of education and training, diversity and inclusion in young people and taking an innovative approach to sustainability. 23 of these organisations were shortlisted by the judges and now advance to the final stage, getting the opportunity to pitch their idea for funding to the panel of judges.

In addition, each of the shortlisted groups go forward to the ‘People’s Choice Award,’ which returns this year, giving the public a chance to have their say and vote for their favourite local group. The recipient of this accolade will be awarded a grant of €5,000 to deliver the proposed project within their local community.

Commenting on the announcement of this year’s shortlisted groups, Agnese Filippi, Country Manager, Coca-Cola Ireland, said; “The past 18 months have been truly extraordinary and particularly hard on our young people as they were forced to miss many milestones that we previously took for granted. Established in 2011 to help local community groups support young people, the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund is designed to back leaders in local communities across the island of Ireland working to guide and protect young people at this critical time.

“We’re really excited about the shortlisted groups and look forward to hearing from them during the pitch phase as they bring their ideas to life. To help them with this process this year, with thanks to our partners at Irish Youth Foundation and Youth Action Northern Ireland, we’re inviting each of the 23 groups to a workshop designed to provide them with helpful hints and tips on both presenting their ideas but also on how to maximise the impact of their local efforts, empowering them to continue their vital community work in the weeks, months, and years ahead.”

The Finalists

• Based in North Belfast, the YEHA Project hopes to equip young members of the LGBTQIA+ community on the Autism spectrum with the tools and knowledge to create a Youth Led Podcast, giving them a platform to make their voices heard.

• The Monkstown Boxing Club is proposing the development of a Brighter Futures Project. If funded, the project will support vulnerable local young people impacted by the Pandemic, to improve mental wellbeing, educate and equip them with the skills they need for the future.

• St. Peter's Immaculata Youth Centre is seeking funding for the Lower Falls Youth Education Project which will offer accredited learning opportunities to the most isolated and excluded young people in the local area through mentorships and skills training to help them succeed in life..

• Lecale Conservation Association is seeking funding for a post-pandemic Climate Change Camp in 2021 with the aim of empowering young people with the knowledge they need to effect change in their local areas on the topic of renewable energy.

• Action Deaf Youth, based in Antrim, the group is seeking funding for Making it Real - a project which will connect and empower young deaf people through a series of supports to guide and develop their career pathway. The project will be delivered through workshops, social media supports and mentorship programmes.

As long-standing Coca-Cola Thank You Fund partners, June Trimble MBE, Chief Executive of YouthAction Northern Ireland, closed by saying; “Congratulations to each of the shortlisted groups for this year’s Coca-Cola Thank You Fund. Through our work at YouthAction Northern Ireland, we know how vital funding is for youth work, especially, as the impact of the past eighteen months on young people is fully realised.

“The Coca-Cola Thank You Fund is once again making funding accessible to youth and community leaders to enable them to provide support to young people beyond the immediate aftermath of this crisis. I am also delighted that an additional stream of support is available this year for these organisations, through the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund Workshop. We want to equip the 2021 shortlisted groups with some basic skills to bring their ideas to life, in preparation for the final pitching session and share with others their commitment to building better futures for our post pandemic generation.”

Details of the 5 Northern Irish shortlisted projects can be found at www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou with the voting lines now open.

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