Vhi invests in youth projects to manage anxiety and build resilience
Young people from Finglas Youth Resource Centre: Louise McDonagh; Rebecca McDonagh; and Angelina McDonagh alongside Sarah Edmonds from the Irish Youth Foundation; and Brian Walsh, Vhi CEO as they celebrated being awarded grants through the Vhi Health & Wellbeing Fund. Photograph: Naoise Culhane
Since its inception in 2020, the Vhi Health & Wellbeing Fund has provided a total of €444,000 to 54 youth organisations around Ireland, supporting approximately 37,700 young people facing challenges such as addiction, disability, homelessness, trauma and the international protection process.
This year, ten youth and community organisations across the country have been awarded a share of €85,000 in funding, helping an estimated 2,000 young people build resilience and manage anxiety.
The Vhi Health & Wellbeing Fund is rooted in early intervention and prevention, recognising that timely support can transform outcomes for young people facing adversity.
Speaking about the Fund’s impact and the significance of Vhi’s involvement, Brian Walsh, chief executive of Vhi Group, said: “At Vhi, we believe that investing in youth health and wellbeing is one of the most powerful ways to shape a healthier, more resilient future for Ireland. Through the Vhi Health & Wellbeing Fund, we’ve supported 54 youth organisations and reached thousands of young people with meaningful, community-led interventions. This year the fund will support ten outstanding projects focused on tackling anxiety, building resilience, and creating safe spaces for young people to thrive. The feedback and measurable outcomes we’ve seen over the past five years confirm what we’ve always known—early intervention works, and when young people are supported, entire communities benefit."
The 2025 grants are reaching youth organisations in Dublin, Cork, Kilkenny, Galway, Limerick and Donegal, with each project tailored to meet the unique needs of the communities it serves.
Finglas Youth Resource Centre, for example, will offer social and emotional learning workshops for young people from the Traveller community. Through creative group activities, participants will develop self-confidence, self-awareness and coping skills, creating the foundations for long-term wellbeing.
In Limerick, the Learning Hub will use its grant to support Creative Aftercare Limerick, a programme for young people aged 17 to 23 with experience of care services. The initiative combines creative and cultural activities with practical skills development, fostering resilience and helping participants build positive social networks.
Goshh, the only dedicated LGBTI+ youth organisation in Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary, will expand services with additional youth worker hours. This will allow the organisation to run weekly group sessions, resilience workshops and one-to-one support for young LGBTI+ people who may face isolation or discrimination.
Other organisations funded this year include The Shona Project (Donegal), Wellsprings (Cork), Droichead Family Resource Centre and Aiséirí (Kilkenny), Just Ask and the Irish Refugee Council (Dublin), and the Ard Family Resource Centre (Galway). Grants provided to these organisations will collectively provide community-based support, mentorship and creative outlets for young people across Ireland, helping to boost overall mental health and resilience.
The Vhi Health & Wellbeing Fund reflects Vhi’s long-standing commitment to youth mental health. By investing in grassroots organisations and community-led initiatives, the Fund enables practical, meaningful interventions that support young people and strengthen communities.
Speaking about Vhi’s support of the youth and community sector, Sarah Edmonds, chief executive of the Irish Youth Foundation, said: “The Vhi Health & Wellbeing Fund is a vital force for good, reaching some of Ireland’s most vulnerable young people and supporting organisations that are truly changing lives. This year grants will fuel projects that not only strengthen wellbeing, but also create positive ripple effects for families, schools, and communities. We’re proud of the partnership with Vhi which is delivering opportunity and real support where it’s needed most.”
For more information about the Vhi Health & Wellbeing Fund, visit iyf.ie/grants.
