1 September 2025: Rethink Ireland, the Sunflower Charitable Foundation and the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht have today (1 September) launched the three-year €1.5 million Children’s Active Play Fund. This national initiative will support between five to eight innovative projects that help children and young people under the age of 18 get active, build social connections and support their overall wellbeing. Applications are now open at rethinkireland.ie/open-funds/ and will close on Friday, 10 October.  

Charities across Ireland are encouraged to apply to the Children’s Active Play Fund. Successful projects will be awarded up to €210,000 across three years and receive a spot on Rethink Ireland’s Accelerator Programme to support their growth and scaling. 

Commenting on the Children’s Active Play Fund, Pádraic Vallely, Senior Philanthropy & Development Manager, Rethink Ireland, said: “This fund represents a meaningful investment in the future of our young people, supporting projects that will make physical activity and outdoor play accessible for all, especially those on the margins of society. 

“We would like to thank the Government of Ireland and the Sunflower Charitable Foundation who believe in the power of philanthropy and supporting innovative not-for-profits.” 

Caroline Madden, Head of Health, Rethink Ireland, added: “In a world where our young people are growing up surrounded by screens and technology, we need new ways to spark connection, movement and outdoor fun. We’re inviting applications from charitable organisations that can inspire children to get active, whether through sport, outdoor education, or creative play. 

“Increasing physical activity will not only help reduce childhood obesity and sedentary lifestyles but it will also promote emotional, social and mental wellbeing. We want to support projects that will address the holistic wellbeing of young people and benefit their lives in a real, tangible way.” 

Also commenting on the launch of the fund, Samantha Briody, CEO, Sunflower Charitable Foundation, said: “As a foundation, our mission is to support the growth of resilient communities with a particular focus on the well-being of children and young people. The Foundation recognises the importance of outdoor play in a child’s life, and by investing in innovative solutions, the Children’s Active Play Fund will not only support individual projects but also influence policy and inspire new ways of tackling youth health challenges across Ireland.”   

To be eligible for application a project must: 

• Address a critical social issue 

• Must be innovative in an Irish context 

• Must be based on the island of Ireland and must make its main impact in the Republic of Ireland 

• Must have potential and a desire to scale or replicate in Ireland 

• Must provide evidence that it is up and running, or has been tested 

• Come from an entity which is a registered charity 

Rethink Ireland is the funding body thinking differently to create a more just, equal and sustainable Ireland. This fund is created by Rethink Ireland in partnership with the Sunflower Charitable Foundation, with match funding from The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht via the Dormant Accounts Fund.​