Mayo based project awarded share of €100,000 in Coca-Cola Thank You Fund

As young people across Ireland face an extended period of remote learning, 13 local community groups working directly with those most at risk over the coming months today celebrated news that they will receive a grant share of this year’s €100,000 Coca-Cola Thank You Fund.

The successful Mayo based non-profit organisation - Belmullet Swimming Club - received €5,000 in funding.

Belmullet Swimming Club’s funding will go towards offering programmes that aim to encourage local teenagers to participate in a supervised sea swimming social group and gain a valuable lifeguard qualification to build their confidence, social skills and employability status for their future.

Marking a decade of support for youth-orientated community-based initiatives across the island of Ireland, this year’s 10th anniversary fund focused on those disproportionately affected by the economic and socio-economic impact of the pandemic, with a record number of applications registered from all 32 counties.

Thanking all the organisations who applied for the 2020 Coca-Cola Thank You Fund, along with the judges who had the impossible task of selecting this year’s recipients Petre Sandru, Country Manager, Coca-Cola Ireland said: “For the first time, the fund received applications from all 32 counties and, while we are so proud to realise our goal of providing an all-island support to groups working with those most at risk in their local communities, it is a stark reminder of the impact the pandemic is having on our young people.

“This fund was set up to empower local community leaders and enable an expanding network of youth-orientated non-profit groups and organisations to effect change and never before has this been more important.

"For some young people, their future is dependent on the frontline work of these local heroes and as a business we’re committed to supporting their efforts towards Ireland’s recovery."

Since 2011 the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund has now donated €1,155,000 to over 100 non-profit organisations involved in youth targeted community, social and education programmes across the island of Ireland.