McDonalds support for Edenderry Acorn Project

McDonald’s in Offaly is supporting the local Acorn Project as part of its new Youth Opportunity Ireland programme. In partnership with the Irish Youth Foundation, McDonald’s is providing funding to the Acorn Project, located in Edenderry, as part of a nationwide skills and employment initiative.

McDonald’s Youth Opportunity Ireland programme, which launched earlier this year, is providing €200,000 to youth organisations across Ireland. The programme will enable these groups to deliver specialised training and mentorship opportunities for 2,000 young people by 2023.

The community-focused McDonald’s Youth Opportunity Ireland programme is supporting young people between the ages of 15 and 24 nationally, who are experiencing disadvantage and aims to empower them with the skills, training and mentorship they need to access the employment market.

In the first year of the programme, the funding will enable 13 grassroots youth organisations across Ireland to deliver targeted youth employability programmes. Edenderry’s Acorn Project was selected to receive funding in the programme’s first year.

The Acorn Project is a confidence-building bespoke programme which promotes personal development through the delivery of Nail Technology Level 5 qualification, which has been developed in-house. As part of the programme, participants will also take part in an accredited communications module, incorporating aspects such as CV preparation, interview skills practice, formal letter writing, a skills audit and public speaking, which will run in tandem with the practical module.

Speaking about the McDonald’s Youth Opportunity Ireland programme, Kevin Farrell of Acorn Project, Youth Work Ireland Midlands said: “At Acorn Project, Youth Work Ireland Midlands, we work closely with the young people in Offaly and Westmeath to give them the support and training they need to enter the jobs market. The funding we have received from the McDonalds Youth Opportunity Programme is significant for us, as it enables us to reach more young people in the Midlands region.”

Brenda O’Loughlin, McDonald’s Ireland franchisee in Offaly, commented, “The Acorn Project does exceptional work with young people throughout Offaly and Westmeath and I am delighted that McDonald’s is able to support them. McDonald’s is passionate about providing training and development opportunities to its people. To be able to help organisations such as the Acorn Project is why McDonald’s has established this new Youth Opportunity Ireland programme with the Irish Youth Foundation.”

Lucy Masterson, Chief Executive, Irish Youth Foundation said, “Our research has found that almost one-in-five young people are not currently in education, employment or training. We want to ensure that young people are provided with opportunities to upskill and take advantage of training and mentorship programmes. Through the McDonald’s Youth Opportunity Ireland programme, we will be able to support the work of dedicated youth organisations across the country targeting the most at-risk and hard-to-reach young people.”