Midlands Science gets €5,000 funding boost
Midlands Science is one of 28 non-profit organisations from across Ireland and Northern Ireland to receive a funding boost of at least €5,000 from this year's Coca-Cola Thank You Fund.
Midlands Science is an award-winning not-for-profit organisation which promotes STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths) by developing programmes and events for young people to explore and engage with science in the Midland counties. The aim is to encourage young people to consider a career in STEM and to raise awareness of the value of STEM in our society and economy.
The Coca-Cola Thank You Fund, which operates in partnership with the Irish Youth Foundation and supporting partners YouthAction Northern Ireland, invests in community groups that are orientated towards young people, with this year’s theme centred around empowering young people through learning, inclusion, and sustainable development.
A total of €200,000 in grants was madew available as part of the 2023 Thank You Fund, with the significant increase in funding ensuring support for even more local organisations across the island of Ireland that work tirelessly to champion and empower young people to take an active role in shaping, creating, and maintaining sustainable communities.
Agnese Filippi, Country Manager, Coca-Cola Ireland said the company recognises the importance of supporting organisations that "empower our talented and passionate young people, who are the future leaders of tomorrow."
“Our goal through this year’s increased Fund is to have a longer-term impact on the lives of young people, our communities, and our planet, empowering positive change that will help build a brighter future for all. I’d like to recognise the efforts of the Irish Youth Foundation and YouthAction Northern Ireland in helping us to achieve this goal”
Speaking about the judging process, Lucy Masterson, Chief Executive of the Irish Youth Foundation, operating partners of the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund this year, said: “This year, we worked with supporting partners YouthAction Northern Ireland, along with a panel of industry experts, to identify community-based programmes and projects that engaged young people in models of innovative and inclusive practices."
She added that, although it was " a challenging process" it was incredibly enlightening and rewarding experience to hear from the vast number of community groups available to support vulnerable young people.