Supporting Communities

RTÉ is committed to supporting local communities in sharing their stories, developing their creativity and hearing their voices

Taking a Stand

In November, for the third year in succession, RTÉ 2fm successfully partnered with BeLonG To Youth Services by running a station-wide campaign in support of Stand Up Awareness Week, a time for second-level schools, youth services, and Youthreach Centres in Ireland to take a stand against homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying.

School Digital Champions

RTÉ continued its support of the School Digital Champion Programme which has been funded and run by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in collaboration with the Department of Education for six years and goes from strength to strength. The initiative aims to motivate, encourage and support second-level schools in embracing digital technology through completing a project using their skills and technology to make a difference to their school/home, the wider community, or a local business.

As part of RTÉ’s support, RTÉ 2fm’s Stephen Byrne took on MC duties at May’s Showcase Event, while RTÉ 2fm’s Head of Music, Adam Fogarty, talked to students about the importance of supporting young Irish artists and answered their questions. Finn Valley College, Donegal also won a mojo (mobile journalism) workshop with RTÉ News mobile journalist, Eleanor Mannion for their school.

Virtually Supporting BTYSTE 2021

In January 2021, like many other initiatives, the BT Young Science and Technology Exhibition hosted a virtual event at btyoungscientist.com and RTÉ was again there to support Ireland’s schools with a virtual stand showcasing television, radio, online and podcast content, as well as hosting a competition to win a Samsung phone.

Reflecting Real Drama

Normally, in May of each year in Athlone, Co. Westmeath, 50 amateur drama groups compete for the coveted grand prix at the RTÉ All-Ireland Drama Festival. While the festival was postponed again last year, RTÉ was there to support talented actors from a range of the regional festival locations who came together to produce a short film to mark what should have been the 69th RTÉ All-Ireland Drama Festival. Recorded remotely using mobile devices, the special two-minute film (see RTÉ’s YouTube channel) was a reflection on the lockdowns and restrictions that saw theatres, many of which are at the core of creative and community life in their localities, go dark all over the country.

An Alliance for Good

At the end of last year, through the efforts of a number of staff members, RTÉ became involved in a corporate initiative Alliance for Good Ireland. The concept for Alliance for Good Ireland was to work with selected charities using technology to solve a problem for social good. RTÉ was among 12 Irish companies who came together to work with Parkinson’s on their challenge to improve or solve their problem using technology. This culminated with a virtual hackathon that ran for three days over the 23rd –25th of April. During the hackathon, a portal was developed with the concept of taking health information from a smart wearable device, analysing it and making it available to clinicians while getting insights into Parkinson’s disease as well as creating a one-stop location where there is an opportunity to link into wider support and build a community to stay connected. The hope is that it will help clinicians make an earlier diagnosis and/or help manage the symptoms for Parkinson’s patients as well as finding a way to help support people living with Parkinson’s.