DCU Educational Trust is one of over 170 organisations benefitting from the latest round of RTÉ Toy Show Grants which have been made possible by the generosity of the annual television spectacle.
The announcement of grants (23rd June 2026) has been made by Community Foundation Ireland, which works to turn donations by viewers into actions on the ground which benefit children and their families.
Thanks to the RTÉ Toy Show Grants, the DCU Write to Read Project is receiving funding to improve literacy outcomes for children in disadvantaged schools and communities in Dublin.
Write to Read is a research-based initiative of DCU Centre for Literacy Research, Policy and Practice in the Institute of Education. Inspired by the award-winning research of Professor Eithne Kennedy, this professional development model supports teachers to design and implement research-informed high quality literacy programmes for children in disadvantaged (DEIS) schools. Since 2012, Write to Read has engaged with more than 460 teachers and 5,000 children.
This funding will help the project to provide literacy support for over 1,000 children and their families in communities with the highest levels of educational disadvantage, dismantling barriers to literacy equity in DEIS Band 1 schools.
Prof Eithne Kennedy, Director of DCU Centre for Literacy Research, Policy and Practice, in welcoming the grant said:
“Write to Read aims to support all children, regardless of their socio-economic background, to emerge from primary school as confident readers, writers, and independent thinkers. We are delighted to receive this award which will enable us to equip even more children with the tools, resilience and confidence to reach their highest aspirations for themselves and for their futures.”
Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland added:
“Being entrusted to turn the €4.3 million provided by generous RTÉ viewers into actions which deliver benefits for children across Ireland is both a huge honour and responsibility. The Foundation uses insights and knowledge from community partners across the country, best in class research and the insights of top child advocates to inform our decisions. The result is another year when children in every part of our country will benefit.
On behalf of the Community Foundation I want to congratulate everyone who will benefit from the latest grants. We look forward to being updated on your work ahead as we all seek to improve the lives of children and their families. To the viewers who have made all of this possible, thank you.”
Founded in 2020, the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal has raised over €31 million for children’s charities to date. Each year it is estimated that the Appeal helps more than 1 million children and family members. The RTÉ Toy Show Appeal exists as a Donor Advised Fund with registered charity The Community Foundation for Ireland (Registered Charity Number: 20044886). Grant applications from the 2025 RTÉ Toy Show Appeal were independently assessed following an open application process which opened in early 2026.
