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The Toy Library awarded Rethink Ireland and Cork City Council funding
- Rethink Ireland and Cork City Council funding awarded to five projects to transform Cork’s green and digital future.
- Led by UCC PhD student Giorgia Anile, The Toy Library offers a free way for families to donate and find toys.
- The Toy Library recognised for commitment to sustainability, community building and circular economy.
Ireland’s first digital Toy Library has received funding from Rethink Ireland and Cork City Council to drive transformative change for communities. The project is one of five innovative non-profit projects in Cork, focused on addressing the challenges of green and digital transitions, to receive support from a €400,000 fund.
The Toy Library has been selected to be a part of the SEFIT (Social Ecosystems for Fair and Inclusive Transitions) Challenge Fund, a 10-month pilot collaboration between the municipalities of Cork and Turin, Italy, which aims to eliminate barriers and achieve an equitable and inclusive future for all.
The Toy Library offers a free way for families to refresh toy collections without spending money and reduce waste by giving unwanted toys a new lease of life.
Sustainable and accessible play for all
Led by Giorgia Anile, PhD student in Human Computer Interaction, funded by SFI ADVANCE CRT, at UCC School of Applied Psychology, The Toy Library is designed to provide a sustainable and cost-effective solution to help reduce the waste problem of toys for families, local authorities and communities across Ireland.
Through the Irish SEFIT Challenge Fund, The Toy Library will receive a comprehensive package of cash grants and non-financial support to amplify the project’s social impact and develop sustainable solutions.
Co-funded by the European Union, the SEFIT Challenge Fund is managed by Rethink Ireland, which supports innovative non-profit organisations throughout Ireland, and Cork City Council. They are working in partnership with their Italian counterparts, Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini (FGB) and the City of Turin.
Green and digital transitions
The Irish SEFIT Challenge Fund is aligned with a recent consultation conducted by Cork City Council on the upcoming city Climate Action Plan. It engages community representation, marginalised leadership and partnerships between different sectors to tackle the challenge of the green and digital transitions through enhanced collaboration.
Cork City Lord Mayor, Councillor Dan Boyle said: “The five awardee projects in Cork reflect our city’s commitment to sustainability and social inclusion, addressing urgent local challenges through community engagement and collaboration. These initiatives are pathways to a fairer and more resilient future for all Cork’s residents. The SEFIT Challenge Fund exemplifies how local actions, backed by strong partnerships, can drive meaningful change in our communities. We are delighted to partner with Turin on this and show how an international inter-city collaboration can work and achieve so much.”
Pádraic Vallely, Senior Philanthropy and Development Manager of Rethink Ireland added: “A huge congratulations to the awardees of the SEFIT Fund. These five projects showcase the innovative thinking needed to make green and digital transitions more equitable. They also embody our community-driven approach to social change. We look forward to seeing the lasting positive impact these initiatives will have on both our environment and society. This is another great example of placed-based giving and its value locally, and an opportunity to replicate in different areas. We look forward to strengthening our partnership across the region with key stakeholders.”
Giorgia Anile, Founder and Director of The Toy Library and PhD student in Human Computer Interaction UCC, said: “We’re striving to create a future where children can explore, learn, and grow through play, all while protecting the environment for generations to come. With this support from SEFIT Challenge Fund, we will now be able to ensure The Toy Library can reach and serve a broader audience through funding part-time roles in community engagement and digital marketing.”
The other projects announced in Irish SEFIT Challenge Fund include International Garden by Cork Migrant Centre, ECO-UNESCO, Bridging the Digital Divide by Cork Deaf Enterprises and Access Studio Project by Cork Community Media Hub. Read the Rethink Ireland announcement here.
The Toy Library invites families to share, swap or find toys via a free online platform – www.thetoylibrary.ie. Families can list a pre-loved toy and give it to another child or find a toy to give to their child.