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McDonald’s Youth Opportunity supporting Clay Youth Project, Crumlin

by Carolyn Hanlon
Photographed L-R: Pamela Devereux, CLAY staff member, Rebecca Clifford, CLAY programme participant, Amir Asfar, McDonald’s Dublin Franchisee, Lorraine Mchugh, CLAY Project Leader, Jamie Barry, CLAY programme participant and Andrea Myers, CLAY staff member pictured at CLAY Youth Project for the McDonald’s Youth Opportunity Ireland programme.

McDonald’s in Dublin is supporting the local Crumlin Lower Advancing Youth (CLAY) Youth Project as part of its new Youth Opportunity Ireland programme. In partnership with the Irish Youth Foundation, McDonald’s is providing funding to the Clay Youth Project, which is located in Crumlin, as part of a nationwide skills and employment initiative. 

McDonald’s Youth Opportunity Ireland programme, which was 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. Clay Youth Project was selected to receive funding in the programme’s first year. 

Clay Youth Project supports young people in the development of their personal and social skills, their sense of belonging and ownership through active participation at all levels within the project and the community. Clay Youth Project is using the funding to develop the computer literacy/IT competency module for its ‘Break the Cycle’ Programme.

Speaking about the McDonald’s Youth Opportunity Ireland programme, Lorraine McHugh from Clay Youth Project said:“At Clay Youth Project we work closely with the young people in the Crumlin area 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 crucial, as it enables us to reach more young people in our community.”  

Amir Afsar, McDonald’s Dublin Franchisee, commented“McDonald’s is passionate about providing training and development opportunities to its people. That is why we have established the McDonald’s Youth Opportunity Ireland programme with the Irish Youth Foundation. Clay Youth Project does exceptional work with young people in Crumlin and I have seen first-hand the impact that this has had. McDonald’s is delighted to be supporting them.”

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.”

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