Autism Support Louth & Meath seek fund support

THE Louth-based group Autism Support Louth & Meath has been shortlisted amongst the final 20 20 non-profit organisations for this year’s Coca- Cola Thank You Fund.

The local group’s project is called “Capacity Building through Drama & Music for young adults with Autism or Communication Difficulties”, and the goal of is to empower and build confidence in young adults with Autism to participate not only in this project but also more actively in their own local community.

While the ‘ Thank You Fund’ aims to empower and support young people across the island of Ireland, the groups were selected for their ideas to bridge the divide between education and the workplace, foster diversity and inclusion in communities, empower young people to become the leaders of the future, and welcome innovative approaches to sustainability.

The selected groups will now continue in the process to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges for a share of the €100,000 Fund.

A new element this year is ‘ The People’s Choice Award’. The 20 shortlisted organisations have been posted on www. coca-cola.ie/Thank-You-FundPeoples- Choice-Award where the public are encouraged to vote based on a summary of each project. The winning organisation will receive up to €10,000 in funding from the Coca- Cola Thank You Fund.

The Coca- Cola Thank You Fund is delivered in partnership with the Irish Youth Foundation and Youth Action Northern Ireland. Shortlisted from over 200 entries, the 20 shortlisted youth organisations are in the running to receive a grant of €30,000, €10,000 or €5,000 following their presentation to the panel of judges. Winners will be announced at Zeminar, Ireland’s largest Youth Conference, in the RDS on Tuesday 13th November 2018.

Through the Thank You Fund, Coca- Cola is seeking to fund youth focused projects that will provide young people across Ireland and Northern Ireland with opportunities to engage in their community and participate in programmes and activities that will in the long term equip them with the skills and experiences they need to be successful and involved in today’s society.

More information about the Coca- Cola Thank You Fund is available at www.coca-cola.ie/ thankyou.