Mayo children get a boost from RTÉ Toy Show Appeal

Mayo children are to enjoy extra supports, services as well as access to arts and creativity as a result of grants from the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal, which have been announced by the broadcaster and The Community Foundation for Ireland today.

Children living with the immediate threat of domestic violence, those who live with serious illness, young carers, young Travellers and members of other ethnic groups are to benefit from grants to national support groups, organisations and charities.

The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal raised a staggering €6.6 million in donations from television viewers on a magical Toy Show night last December. Half of that money was shared out between three key charities: Barnardos Ireland, Children's Health Foundation Ireland and Children's Books Ireland. The remaining monies from the fund were made available for children’s charities in an open call for grants managed by The Community Foundation for Ireland, which are now being announced.

In addition to national lifeline and support organisations, one Mayo group has been successful in securing grants for ground-breaking projects aimed at improving young lives in the local communities.

Tacú Family Resource Centre, Ballinrobe, is developing a 'Heroes' programme to support vulnerable young people who have struggled through Covid-19 to pick up the pieces and to reach out and reach in. It is envisaged that as a result of the pilot project, there will emerge an evidence-based programme of early intervention and prevention for young people. This programme will prevent young people from going into long-term mental health services. The grant awarded to Tacú is €25,000.

Meanwhile, Helium Arts is developing a Creative Health Hub WEST (Mayo, Galway and Roscommon). All children deserve a good childhood but those living with health conditions face many challenges, such as social isolation and loneliness, poor self-esteem, lack of agency and often feel like their lives are defined by their condition. The Helium Arts Creative Health Hubs apply an 'arts on referral' model connected to Galway University Hospital to deliver the programme close to children’s homes and in their communities. Their grant award is €94,000.

Mayo children will also benefit from a range of national grants. A new National Dyslexia Learning Hub is being developed, a Deafblind literacy programme is being pioneered, the Irish Wheelchair Association will be promoting creativity for children, while the health and wellbeing group Soar is starting a five-year mission to ensure supports are offered to every transition year student.

Vulnerable children in Mayo and across Ireland will be supported by initiatives such as the development of a Traveller mental health service, My Life Now will ensure children caring for a loved one are supported to develop and continue in education, while SafeIreland will develop supports for children in violent homes.

Ryan Tubridy, Late Late Show host, said: “It’s time to show the people of Ireland just where the money they dug deep for last November is going, and it’s going directly to children all over the island of Ireland who are going to have better, happier, safer and more creative, enriched and nourished lives because of these donations.

“Thank you once again to the viewers of The Late Late Show for your continued overwhelming generosity. The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal will be back again this year to help change children’s lives for good.”

Saoirse Ruane, the Galway girl whose story inspired the establishment of the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal, added: “I'm delighted my story inspired Ryan and The Late Late Show to launch the very first Toy Show Appeal last November. I am so happy the money will go to help such wonderful charities. Since the show I have been busy, learning to cycle my bike again, returning to school and I have just gone back to play camogie.”

In total, over 675,000 children and family members across Ireland will directly and immediately benefit from the overall RTÉ Toy Show Appeal proceeds, with thousands more set to benefit through the investment in essential resources, both medical and otherwise, for years to come.