The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal 2024 opens for applications on 17th February 2025. In 2024 there was €3.6million in 122 grants to benefit 1.1million children in every county in Ireland.
Children and family charities working at local, regional and national level can apply for a grant under one of the following thematic strands:
- Addressing Essential Needs
- Improving Health and Wellbeing
- Creativity and Play
Children and family charities with an annual income of €20,000 to €500,000 may apply to the Community Grants Round. Children and family charities with an annual income of more than €500,000 may apply to the Impact Grants Round.
There are criteria documents for each of the strands, please ensure you have read the criteria thoroughly before starting your application. Any applications that fall outside of the criteria will not be eligible.
The deadline for applications for Toy Show Appeal is Friday 14th March 2025
Community Foundation Ireland will be hosting a webinar on Wednesday 19th February at 11am to run through the criteria and share tips and advice on how to apply for funding.
Click here for more info and to register for the webinar
2024 RTÉ Toy Show Appeal grants
Inspired by children, the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal works to bring the magic of the Late Late Toy Show to every child in Ireland. It achieves this by funding essential support, health, wellbeing, play and creativity; these grants will change children’s lives for good.
Thanks to the continued generosity of the Irish public and viewers of the Toy Show, the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal 2023 raised over €3,600,000 which will now be distributed across 122 grants. More than 1.1 million children, young people and their families in every county on the Island of Ireland will be impacted by this funding.
Grants are being provided under three main areas of support:
Addressing Essential Needs assist those children in every county who face the greatest challenges.
– Projects include:
- family support for children across Ireland at risk of food poverty, therapy and counselling for children and young people facing homelessness (Dublin), and specialist legal support for children in the care system. €650,000 has been dedicated to ensuring children are fed, warm, safe and have brilliant opportunities ahead of them.
– Health and Wellbeing focuses on supporting children living with disabilities and life limiting conditions. In total, over €1.5M is being awarded this year to provide health, disability supports, mental wellbeing and therapy services. Grants include supports for children with cancer diagnosis in Cavan, palliative care supports for children in Munster and supporting those with ADHD in Belfast.
– Creativity and Play will ensure the lives of marginalised and disadvantaged children are full of colour, creativity and fun. Grants include:
Providing access to recreational activities including surfing in Donegal & Galway, developing a neurodiversity sensory centre in Leinster, and a youth theatre for children with disabilities all across Ireland.
In 2024, the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal, in partnership with Community Foundation Ireland, will provide five (5) Transformative Grants to charities that support children with disabilities, Travellers and those facing poverty and sexual abuse. These strategic and impact proposals will ensure that vulnerable children are protected, supported and allowed to reach their full potential.
