Local Children and Young People amongst over 1 million to benefit nationwide
Statement by Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association
The Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA) is one of over 170 organisations benefitting from the latest round of RTÉ Toy Show Grants which been made possible by the generosity of the annual television spectacle.
The announcement of grants (23rd June 2026) has been made by Community Foundation Ireland which works to turn donations by viewers into actions on the ground which benefit children and their families.
The Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA) is receiving support of €37,000 to help support children and young people who are living with MND in their families.
The project that IMNDA is developing will deliver Ireland‑adapted education, emotional wellbeing supports, and the YCare youth caregiving programme to help children and families affected by MND understand the illness, build resilience, and reduce isolation.
This project will deliver Ireland’s first comprehensive, culturally adapted suite of supports for children, young people, families, and professionals affected by Motor Neurone Disease (MND). Built on the evidence‑informed Global Neuro YCare (GNYC) model, the programme provides a coordinated set of interventions designed to increase understanding, communication, emotional resilience, and practical coping for families navigating MND.
The project includes three interconnected components:
- Professional Training
Healthcare and allied health professionals across Ireland will receive in‑person and online training, equipping them with the skills, tools, and structured guidance needed to communicate effectively with families, support children, and recognise the unique needs of youth involved in caregiving. Training includes experiential learning, video vignettes, manuals, and adaptable materials rooted in best practice.
- Family Programming
Parents and caregivers will participate in facilitated workshops and webinars that offer communication strategies, emotional support, and clear, accessible information on topics such as diagnosis, progression, caregiving, end‑of‑life, and grief. Families will receive tailored handbooks and resource guides designed specifically for the Irish context.
- Youth Programming (YCare)
Children and young people aged 8–20 will engage in the YCare programme, an interactive, supportive, professionally facilitated series of sessions that build mental health tools, confidence, caregiving skills, and peer connection. The programme reduces isolation and strengthens resilience for youth who often shoulder hidden caregiving responsibilities.
Together, these elements create a sustainable national framework of support, ensuring families and professionals have high‑quality, research‑informed, and culturally relevant resources to improve wellbeing and reduce distress among children impacted by MND
Spokesperson Kevin Burn, CEO in welcoming the grant said:
“We are delighted to be amongst the many beneficiaries of RTE The Toy Show Appeal. This will now help us to ensure children and youth living with Motor Neurone Disease in their family have access to emotional support, coping tools, clear education, and safe, structured programming—so they can better understand what is happening, feel less alone, and build resilience in the face of a life changing diagnosis.”
Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland added:
“Being entrusted to turn the €4.3 Million provided by generous RTÉ viewers into actions which deliver benefits for children across Ireland is both a huge honour and responsibility. The Foundation uses insights and knowledge from community partners across the country, best in class research and the insights of top child advocates to inform our decisions. The result is another year when children in every part of our country will benefit.
On behalf of the Community Foundation I want to congratulate everyone who will benefit from the latest grants. We look forward to being updated on your work ahead as we all seek to improve the lives of children and their families. To the viewers who have made all of this possible, Thank You.”
Founded in 2020, the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal has raised over €31 million for children’s charities to date. Each year it is estimated that the Appeal helps more than 1 million children and family members. The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal exists as a Donor Advised Fund with registered charity The Community Foundation for Ireland (Registered Charity Number: 20044886). Grant applications from the 2025 RTÉ Toy Show Appeal were independently assessed following an open application process which opened in early 2026.
