Kilkenny youth charity to spend €10,000 award on new ‘chat benches’

A Kilkenny non-for-profit has been awarded €10,000 to assit their mental health education programme for young people.

Kilkenny-based Buddy Bench Ireland was one of 13 organisations on the island of Ireland which were recipients of the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund.

Buddy Bench Ireland educates young people on positive mental well-being with evidence-led lessons on topics such as kindness, friendship, resilience, and emotional intelligence.

Building upon their relationship with Irish Men’s Sheds, the groups promotes positive mental health and encourage reconnection for those transitioning out of isolation through Covid-19 or by other means.

Buddy Bench will use the money to install Coca-Cola Chat Benches at local third-level colleges.

Coca-Cola Ireland County Manager Petre Sandru said: “This fund was set up to empower local community leaders and enable an expanding network of youth-orientated non-profit groups and organisations to effect change and never before has this been more important.

“For some young people, their future is dependent on the frontline work of these local heroes and as a business we’re committed to supporting their efforts towards Ireland’s recovery.”