Cork organisations share €220,000 from Toy Show Appeal

Nine organisations in Cork have been awarded €220,000 in funding from the annual RTÉ Toy Show Appeal.

Funding of more than €4m, announced this week by Community Foundation Ireland, was awarded to 169 organisations nationwide, made possible by donations given from members of the public during the yearly Christmas-time television programme.

The money awarded will be used to sustain organisations across the country offering vital services, benefitting up to one million children and their families in Ireland.

Recipients in Cork include Nasc the Migrant and Refugee Rights Centre; Good Shepherd Cork; Carrigtwohill Family Resource Centre; Clonakilty Friends of Asylum Seekers; Shandon Therapy trading as Eating Disorders Centre Cork; See My Skills; YANA North Cork Domestic Violence Project; SampleStudios, and the Crann Centre.

The Crann Centre, a specialist healthcare centre based in Ovens, was awarded €40,000 to help fund specialist psychological wellbeing programmes for children living with neuro-physical disabilities and their siblings.

Head of services at The Crann Centre, Eimear Daly, said the organisation was delighted to be recipients of the grant.

“Our play therapy and art therapy programmes will receive this funding so that children and young people living with disabilities, as well as their siblings, have an opportunity to build resilience and independence by expressing their emotions with our team in a safe environment,” Ms Daly said.

“We are grateful to Community Foundation Ireland for their continued support and their acknowledgment of our work to support the whole family.”

Chief executive of Community Foundation Ireland, Denise Charlton, said providing these grants to hard-working charities and organisations is “both a huge honour and responsibility”.

“I want to congratulate everyone who will benefit from the latest grants,” said Ms Charlton.

“We look forward to being updated on your work ahead as we all seek to improve the lives of children and their families.

“To the viewers who have made all of this possible, thank you.”