RTÉ Toy Show Appeal 2026 – Addressing Essential Needs Grants (UK)

Deadline: 13-Mar-2026

The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal 2026 is offering grants to children’s charities across the Island of Ireland to support vulnerable and marginalised young people through essential services, wellbeing initiatives, and creative play. Grants range from £10,000 for community organisations to £35,000 for larger charities, with projects encouraged to integrate child voice, outdoor engagement, and play-based approaches. Eligible applicants must be registered children’s charities actively supporting children aged 0–18.

The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal 2026 provides funding to children’s charities to enhance essential services, wellbeing, and creative play opportunities for vulnerable and marginalised children across Ireland.

The programme emphasises empowering children, integrating their voices, and building resilience to address current and future challenges.

Grant Objectives

Funded projects should focus on three main themes:

1. Addressing Essential Needs

   • Ensuring access to basic services and support for children facing poverty, disability, trauma, or marginalisation

   • Engaging children and youth in programme design and delivery

2. Improving Wellbeing

   • Supporting physical, social, and cognitive development

   • Promoting mental health and resilience through play-based and participatory approaches

3. Creativity and Play

   • Encouraging playful pedagogies, imaginative activities, and engagement with outdoor/nature spaces

   • Supporting opportunities for creative expression and skill development

Types of Grants

1. Community Grants

• Funding: Up to £10,000

• Eligible Organisations: Annual income between £20,000 and £500,000

2. Impact Grants

• Funding: Up to £35,000

• Eligible Organisations: Annual income exceeding £500,000

• Additional Priorities: Innovation, systemic organisational impact, and clear success factors

Who is Eligible

• Registered children’s charities in Ireland

• Core mission must focus on supporting children aged 0–18

• Regular engagement with children and young people

• Up-to-date governing documents and annual accounts

• Child safeguarding policies in place

Project Requirements

Projects must:

• Align with the Addressing Essential Needs theme

• Serve vulnerable or marginalised children and young people

• Apply evidence-based practices and empower beneficiaries

• Demonstrate measurable impact for participants and the wider community

• Begin no earlier than June 2026 and run for 12 months

• Include innovative approaches for Impact Grant applications

• Existing programmes may be expanded or continued if aligned with grant objectives

Funding Priorities

The Appeal prioritises projects that:

• Integrate child and youth voices in programme design

• Use play and playful approaches to enhance learning and wellbeing

• Encourage outdoor and nature-based engagement

• Demonstrate strong impact and potential for long-term benefit

• Promote innovation and systemic improvements in larger organisations (Impact Grants)

How to Apply

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

• Ensure organisation is a registered children’s charity supporting children aged 0–18

• Verify annual income aligns with grant category (Community or Impact)

• Confirm up-to-date governance, accounts, and child safeguarding policies

Step 2: Develop Project Proposal

• Define objectives, target beneficiaries, and expected outcomes

• Highlight integration of child voice, wellbeing, and play

• Detail methods for measuring impact

Step 3: Submit Application

• Complete the application before the deadline (check official RTÉ Toy Show Appeal website for submission dates)

• Include required supporting documents, including annual accounts and safeguarding policies

Step 4: Post-Award

• Implement project starting June 2026 for 12 months

• Monitor progress and report outcomes as required by the Appeal

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Applying without being a registered children’s charity

2. Failing to demonstrate regular engagement with children

3. Submitting projects that do not focus on vulnerable or marginalised children

4. Omitting safeguarding policies or up-to-date governing documents

5. Proposing projects that begin before June 2026 or exceed 12 months

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who can apply for the grants?

Registered children’s charities in Ireland with a core mission supporting children aged 0–18.

2. What is the maximum funding available?

£10,000 for Community Grants; £35,000 for Impact Grants.

3. Are existing programmes eligible for funding?

Yes, provided they start no earlier than June 2026 and align with the grant objectives.

4. What types of projects are prioritised?

Projects that integrate child voice, promote wellbeing, encourage play, and support vulnerable or marginalised children.

5. Is innovation required?

For Impact Grants, projects should demonstrate innovation, systemic impact, and a clear success plan.

6. Can projects include outdoor or nature-based activities?

Yes, outdoor engagement is encouraged to enhance development, wellbeing, and learning.

7. What supporting documents are required?

Annual accounts, governing documents, and child safeguarding policies.

Conclusion

The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal 2026 empowers children’s charities to support vulnerable and marginalised young people through essential needs, wellbeing, and play-based initiatives.

By funding high-impact, child-focused projects, the Appeal strengthens resilience, creativity, and opportunities for children across Ireland, bringing the spirit and magic of the Toy Show to every young person.

For more information, visit Community Foundation for Northern Ireland.