Giving Back

Raising funds and providing support

The Late Late Show – raising more than just smiles in an extraordinary year

As in other years, The Late Late Show hosted a St. Vincent de Paul Annual Appeal Special which raised over €1.5 million to help households in financial distress. Guests included Andrea Corr, Ronnie Wood, Colin Farrell, Brendan O’Carroll, Jenny Gibney, Majella O’Donnell, Joel M, Pat and Faye Shortt.

This came at the end of an extraordinary year which began in January with the live vaccinations of health care workers. Throughout the year, The Late Late Show brought the Irish diaspora together in a global session on St. Patrick’s night and gave a much-needed leg-up to Irish business on the Taking Care of Business special.

Earlier that year, The Late Late Show also helped to raise over €3 million for the Irish Cancer Society in its support for Daffodil Day. One of the highlights of the show saw Jedward – real names John and Edward Grimes - shave off their signature quiffs live on air. John and Edward, whose mother Susanna died in 2019 from cancer, said: “We just want to thank everyone in the country for donating. It’s such great unity that the country needs, and it’s such a great cause.”

Supporting Media Literacy

RTÉ produced a new bilingual campaign as part of the Be Media Smart programme on behalf of Media Literacy Ireland and the BAI. The campaign was supported by a range of regional, national and digital media services across Ireland, with the intention of equipping people with essential skills in the fight against misinformation.

Supporting Ireland’s Young Entrepreneurs

RTÉ once again partnered with the Junior Entrepreneur Programme to support an in-classroom programme aimed at Fifth and Sixth Class students. The Junior Entrepreneur Programme (JEP) has given more than 90,000 primary school pupils the opportunity to experience practical, real-life business learning as part of their formative education.

RTÉ’s support for the arts more than doubled between 2020 and 2021

As the arts, cultural and events sectors pivoted amid the pandemic, RTÉ lent expansive airtime and campaign support to 130 arts and cultural events all over the island in 2021, up from 56 events in 2020. Each year, RTÉ supports arts organisations with airtime to the value of over €1 million.

The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal

In 2021, the proceeds from the inaugural RTÉ Toy Show Appeal of €6.6 million were shared among 55 different children’s charities. It is estimated that this helped to benefit over 650,000 children and family members. Half of the proceeds raised was shared out between three charities: Barnardos Ireland, Children’s Health Foundation Ireland, and Children’s Books Ireland.

The remaining monies were made available for children’s charities in an open call for grants which was managed by the Community Foundation for Ireland and Community Foundation Northern Ireland.

Projects funded included:

1. Support services for homeless children in Galway through COPE Galway’s Helping Kids First programme.
2. Opening doors to a new generation of musical talent with Music Generation Cork.
3. Therapeutic support from the Donegal Rape Crisis Centre for young people who are survivors of sexual violence.
4. Providing clothing, footwear, school uniforms, and bedding for children in care with Kinship Care Northern Ireland.
5. Rural outreach mental health support for young people in Co. Limerick with Limerick Youth Services.

2021’s Late Late Toy Show once again broke viewing records, attracting an average audience of 1.8 million viewers. The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal in November 2021 raised another €6.6 million to be distributed to children’s charities across the island of Ireland in 2022, helping to change children’s lives for good by funding projects connected to health and wellbeing, essential needs, and play and creativity.