By Chinedu Onyejelem

 

  Irish rugby legend Sophie Spence and Olympian and Dancing with the Stars quarter-finalist Rob Heffernan joined children from the Just Ask Homework Club in Dublin recently to launch a new fund for children’s charities and not-for-profits throughout Ireland. 

 

  The Applegreen Blossom Fund, an initiative of Applegreen and the Irish Youth Foundation, will provide €124,000 to not-for-profit voluntary and charitable organisations around the country which promote the health and wellbeing of children aged four to 12 years living in disadvantaged circumstances. 

 

  The fund will support projects which focus on positive physical or mental health, healthy eating or other innovative ways of supporting children in these areas. 

 

  Over 60 successful applicants across Ireland will receive a grant of €2,000 each from the fund, which is now open to applications.

 

  “Poverty affects every aspect of a child’s life including their health and wellbeing,” says Sabina Cotter, head of grants and programmes at the Irish Youth Foundation. “This partnership opens up fantastic opportunities for projects … working with children living in disadvantaged areas to apply for funding. 

 

  “We know projects are doing innovative, exciting and impactful activities in their communities and often struggle to secure money to deliver them, so this is a fund they can now apply for.”

 

  Adrian Giffney, head of charity at Applegreen added: “As an Irish-owned company, we always endeavour to give back to the communities where we operate. We are very excited to see the impact that this programme will make to the health and well-being of children living in disadvantaged areas.”

 

  The closing date for applications to the Applegreen Blossom fund is Wednesday 9 May. Applications can be made online at www.iyf.ie/applegreenblossomfund