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Image of the four awardees of the social entrepeneurs ireland changing ireland accelerator programme 2023

Good Funding News

Exciting funding news will allow Helium Arts to reach more children and young people in Ireland living with the challenges of lifelong physical health conditions.

Here at Helium Arts, as we prepare for our upcoming summer camps this July, we are thrilled to announce a number of recent funding achievements:

Image of Helium Arts teenage participants visiting a museum alongside Helium Arts artist Chelsea Canavan

RTÉ Toy Show Grant

Helium Arts has been selected as a recipient of a grant worth €58,000 from the amazing RTÉ Toy Show appeal. This support will let us bring joy and happiness specifically to teenagers with health conditions.

We are one of 147 lucky recipient organisations and in a small group of just 9 organisations receiving the highest grant levels. We are so pleased to receive this award, made possible by the generosity of viewers of last November’s Late Late Toy Show. Massive thanks also to RTÉ and to the Community Foundation Ireland who administer the grant.

 

Image of Helene Hugel, CEO of Helium Arts at the announcement of the Social Entrepeneurs Ireland Changing Ireland Accelerator awards 2023

Social Entrepreneurs Changing Ireland Accelerator

We are overjoyed that our CEO Helene Hugel and Helium Arts have been chosen for Changing Ireland Accelerator – a twelve-month initiative for social entrepreneurs. This follows a highly competitive process with other social entrepreneur trailblazers. We will receive €60,000 and other vital practical support to help us reach more children.

Life can be tough for a child with a lifelong health condition. The Changing Ireland Accelerator programme will allow us to deepen our reach to more children in more places in Ireland and to reach those who need us most.

Image of two Helium Arts participants painting on a large white canvas together

Lakeside Fund

We are delighted to announce a recent three-year investment worth €150,000 thanks to the generosity of the Lakeside Fund. This builds on a previous three-year partnership with Helium Arts.

This kind of multi-annual investment is so important to us. It is special because it allows us to plan our work over a timeframe, grow sustainably and deepen our relationships with others providing children’s services.

Our partnership is exciting because it will help us reach children on the ground in Dublin and all over Ireland as well as connect with those children who need us most of all. A big thank you to the Lakeside Fund for their continued belief in us.

THANK YOU

Thank you to all our donors who help us make magic for children. Parents often tell us we are the only extra-curricular activity in their child’s life. Without us there is only hospital, school and related services. We help children feel they are not alone and support them to make friends in their communities. We are fun! Your support means everything and gives children back their childhoods.

It is an exciting time and we have big plans for the future. If you or your organisation would like to support us to reach our goals, please DONATE HERE  or you can contact emma.mckinley@helium.ie to see how we can work together.

19th June, 2023