Kildare youth project gets McDonald’s support

McDonald’s in Naas recently welcomed the local-based InSync Naas/Clane Youth Project to its restaurant to highlight the vital services they provide to young people.

The InSync Naas/Clane Youth Project is one of the ten community-based projects to receive funding from McDonald’s through the company’s partnership with the Irish Youth Foundation. Welcomed by McDonald’s Naas franchisee Sean Quirke, the project’s Team Leader Tina O’Sullivan and young participants shared the positive impact made by the restaurant chain’s support.

The local project supports young people by providing non-formal education programmes based on the topics they wish to learn about, artistic and skill-based activities and afterschool engagements. As a result of the McDonald’s funding, the project has been able to run an employability programme, hosting more than 15 sessions for young people, covering a wide range of key areas from interview preparation, working in a team to communication and leadership skills.

“The employability programme we have been able to run really helps to invigorate both self-esteem and confidence within our young participants through completing these sessions,” Ms O’Sullivan said. “InSync is hugely appreciative of the support the McDonald’s funding has given to our project in providing practical skills and guidance to young people for entering and navigating the workforce.” Through its wider partnership with the Irish Youth Foundation, McDonald’s has already supported almost 5,000 young people directly across the Republic of Ireland. In April 2024, McDonald’s launched its nationwide Makin’ It initiative – a programme that provides young people with genuine opportunity in the areas in which they live.

In the lead up to April’s launch, McDonald’s piloted the programme in Ireland in partnership with the Irish Youth Foundation and ten local youth projects. To date, 4,898 young people aged 15-24 have been supported directly, with 42 youth workers also supported in their work with young people nationally and 50 volunteer mentors engaged in programmes across Ireland.

“McDonald’s is proud of its partnership with the Irish Youth Foundation and helping these youth organisations across the country implement their own employability and skills projects,” said Naas franchisee Mr Quirke. “At McDonald’s, we are passionate about providing training and development opportunities to our people to grow in their careers. To see an extension of this in the local community here and learning first-hand the incredible work InSync provides to young people is inspiring to see.”