Aiséirí in Kilkenny receives grant from Vhi Health & Wellbeing Fund

Vhi and the Irish Youth Foundation (IYF) have announced details of the nine projects awarded grants through the Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund. 

Now in its fourth year, the Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund supports projects that are focused on strengthening resilience in young people and helping them to manage anxiety, with a particular focus on early intervention and prevention. Non-profit organisations which work with young people in Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny and Limerick were invited to apply for a share of the €90,000 fund this year. 

In Kilkenny, Aiséirí has received a grant from the Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund. Aiséirí, which provides residential and community-based addiction treatment for young people aged 15 to 21 through a 12-step and holistic programme, will use the funding to sustain and expand their "Connection" Programme. 

This initiative will focus on recovery through two key components: sailing and equine therapy. For those engaged in community-based recovery support for 1-2 years, the funding will support two one-day sailing programmes. Meanwhile, equine therapy will be offered weekly for 2 hours over an 8-week period to those in the earlier stages of engagement. This support aims to enhance participation, manage anxiety, and build resilience. 

Other grant recipients this year include Venture Out in Galway, Donegal Youth Service, Dublin-based community group Just Ask, The Shona Project, Irish Refugee Council, Wellsprings in Cork, as well as Blue Box Creative Arts Therapy Centre and SMILE School Completion Project in Limerick.

Therese Bourke, Head of Customer Service at Vhi, said: "At Vhi, we’re incredibly proud to continue our longstanding commitment to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young people across Ireland. This year, we've allocated funding to nine diverse youth projects across the country. The chosen projects rose to the top with their innovative ideas and approaches to addressing the needs of young people by empowering them to build resilience, manage their anxiety and ultimately lead to positive mental health outcomes. 

The Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund has proven to be a powerful force for change with positive feedback and tangible results from grant recipients over the last four years. We hope that the funding allocated this year will provide young people engaged in selected initiatives with an opportunity to enhance their overall wellbeing. We’re looking forward to seeing the impact that the projects supported this year will have on their communities.”

Lucy Masterson, CEO at Irish Youth Foundation, said: “We are immensely proud of the impact the Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund has had on young people in Ireland, and we were delighted to once again partner with Vhi on this important initiative this year.

The financial support provided by Vhi will benefit a variety of organisations nationwide which provide vital supports to the most vulnerable young people in our society. We hope that the funding provided will not only have a positive effect on young people, but their peers and communities alike.”   

For more information about the Vhi Health & Wellbeing Fund click here.

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