RT AND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IRELAND ANNOUNCE RT TOY SHOW APPEAL GRANT AWARDS 2025

To date the Toy Show Appeal has raised over 26 million since its inception in 2020

169 grants to benefit over one million children in every county in Ireland

Full list of grants available here

Today RT and Community Foundation Ireland are announcing the 169 recipients of the RT Toy Show Appeal grant awards in 2025, with the lives of Irish children right across the country set to be changed for good in a variety of ways. All of this is possible due to the remarkable generosity of RT viewers of last December's Late Late Toy Show.

The kindhearted response from The Late Late Toy Show viewers to the appeal will help transform the lives of over one million children, young people and their families in Ireland, with every county on the island benefitting from grants totalling 5 million euro. To date, the Toy Show Appeal has raised over 26 million euro for Irish charities since its inception five years ago.

The RT Toy Show Appeal began in 2020 and was inspired by the story of Saoirse Ruane from Kiltullagh, Co. Galway, who along with her beloved teddy Slush captivated viewers with her appearance on The Late Late Toy Show. Saoirse sadly died aged 12 in March 2024.

Announcing the grants, RT Director General, Kevin Bakhurst said:

The RT Toy Show Appeal is one of RT 's most important initiatives we are humbled by and grateful for the generosity of our Late Late Toy Show audience. Your continued support has ensured that the RT Toy Show Appeal will continue to make a positive difference to the lives of thousands of children and their families, across the island, north and south. The memory of Saoirse Ruane lives on with every annual RT Toy Show Appeal, as thousands of young lives are transformed year after year.

The RT Toy Show Appeal, in partnership with Community Foundation Ireland, also announced today that the following four charities are to receive transformative grants of between 95,000 and 140,000 each.

EXCHANGE HOUSE

Thriving Together is a community-led mental health initiative designed to improve mental health outcomes for Traveller children, young people and families by fostering resilience through peer-led support and crisis intervention.

This programme directly supports Traveller children and young people, who face significant discrimination, mental health challenges and barriers to accessing services. The programme aims to increase access to culturally appropriate mental health support through peer-led services and improve resilience among Traveller youth. There is a focus on crisis response, peer mentoring and capacity building, reflecting a proactive, early intervention approach.

The peer-led model and inclusion of community voices in programme design demonstrates the emphasis on including beneficiary feedback and creating strong community impact.

Amount awarded: 140,000

THE CRANN CENTRE CLG

The Crann Centre CLG transforms the lives of children and families living with neurophysical disabilities through a unique programme of accessible play and recreation supported by a world class multi-disciplinary team and facilities.

Crann has identified that a lack of accessible, purpose designed, inclusive spaces for play and recreation means that their clients do not have opportunities to engage in play, nature and social activities which are key to their development, health and wellbeing. Crann has developed a unique Social Capital Programme of activities in their accessible spaces to provide these opportunities to children and families with neuro-physical disabilities in Munster.

Crann offers a unique programme of events and activities delivering year-round play, creativity, social connection and participation in Crann's purpose-built indoor and outdoor accessible facilities for children and families living with neuro-physical disabilities.

Their Social Capital Programme activities include regular access to Crann's unique accessible playground and conservation area, fully inclusive summer camps, Ireland's first accessible theatre group, conservation events, nature hunts, picnics, family barbecues, music performances as well as an accessible Christmas Winter Wonderland.

Amount awarded: 140,000

THE JACK AND JILL CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION

Jack and Jill currently provide home nursing care to children up to the age of 6, by providing vital in-home nursing and respite support, that is bespoke for every family. In 2025, they propose to extend the age criteria to 7 years.

Jack and Jill is a nationwide charity that funds and provides in-home nursing care and respite support to families caring for children up to the age of 6 currently, who have severe to profound cognitive delays, associated with complex medical needs. This includes children with brain injury, genetic diagnoses and undiagnosed conditions. A critical part of their service is end-of-life care for all children up to the age of 6, irrespective of diagnosis. In 2024, Jack and Jill supported 539 families across Ireland with in-home nursing care and delivering over 129,000 respite support.

Currently, they are caring for 436 families and since their founding in 1997, they have supported 3,147 families. Based on immediate results from their pilot extension to 7 years, they plan for this to become the standard age offered by Jack and Jill going forward. This means when a child in their care turns 6, parents will have the option to continue receiving up to 20 hours of home care per month for an additional year.

Amount awarded: 140,000

WOMEN'S AID

Women's Aid plan to expand the impact of the unique Too Into You project for youth at risk of or subjected to intimate partner abuse by educating those working with children/youth and creating awareness and advocacy among young people from diverse communities.

Women's Aid has been working to prevent and address the impact of dom

LINK:	https://about.rte.ie/2025/06/18/rte-and-community-foundation-ireland-a...
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