Charity helping children in Tipperary named among recipients of €1.5m funding initiative

Children and young people across Tipperary who are coping with bereavement, parental separation or divorce are set to benefit from expanded support services after the Children's Grief Centre was selected for a major national funding programme.

The Munster-based charity has been named as one of the recipients of Rethink Ireland's Children's Active Play Fund, a €1.5 million initiative supported by the Sunflower Charitable Foundation and the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.

The funding will enable the Children's Grief Centre to expand its one-to-one, play-centred support services while strengthening outreach programmes for children who face barriers to accessing help, including those living in disadvantaged communities across Munster, including Tipperary.

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The Children's Grief Centre provides specialised support for children and young people experiencing bereavement, parental separation and divorce, using play-based and creative approaches to help them process difficult emotions in a safe and supportive environment.

Carol Fitz-Gough, Fundraising and Events Coordinator with the Children's Grief Centre, said the funding would help the charity reach more children who need support.

"The Children's Grief Centre provides specialised support to children and young people affected by bereavement, parental separation and divorce, helping them navigate grief in a safe and supportive environment," she said.

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"The Support for Children Navigating Grief uses play-based, creative and child-led approaches to help children express emotions, build resilience and improve their emotional wellbeing."

The Children's Active Play Fund supports organisations that help young people become more active, improve their health and build meaningful social connections through play and movement.

The Children's Grief Centre is among a number of organisations selected for the programme, alongside An Taisce, Children in Hospital Ireland, the Irish Heart Foundation, ChildVision, the Irish Foster Care Association and Neurodiversity Ireland. In addition to financial support, awardees will receive business development supports designed to help them increase their impact.

Pádraic Vallely, Head of Government and Strategic Partnerships at Rethink Ireland, said the initiative was an investment in young people's wellbeing.

"This fund represents a vital investment in the future of our young people, enabling projects that make physical activity and outdoor play accessible for all, especially those on the margins of society," he said.

"The initiative supports a diverse range of organisations working with children facing different challenges across disability, bereavement, caring responsibilities, visual impairment, neurodiversity and time spent in hospital."

Samantha Briody, CEO of the Sunflower Charitable Foundation, said local organisations play a vital role in supporting children's wellbeing.

"We share a belief that communities and local groups are central to improving the wellbeing and resilience of children and young people," she said.

"The Children's Active Play Fund is a means to that end, supporting diverse, inclusive and innovative solutions that help children engage in outdoor and creative play while building a sense of community and belonging."

The support of the Children's Active Play Fund will enable the Children's Grief Centre to expand access to one-to-one play-centred support and strengthen outreach services for children who face barriers to attending the centre, including those in disadvantaged communities.