Social Innovation Growth Fund Ireland Limited trading as Rethink Ireland.

Lobbying Organisation Social Innovation Growth Fund Ireland Limited trading as Rethink Ireland.

Date published 21 Sep, 2020

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Arts

Period 1 May, 2020 to 31 Aug, 2020

Specific Details A number of organisations that work in the youth mental health sector had particular concerns about the impact of COVID 19 on the mental health of children and young people in Ireland. Together we came up with recommendations to address the issue. Our endgame is for those recommendations to be considered and/or to inform the steps the government takes to support young people’s mental health at this time. Rethink Jessica Curtis is co-chair with Dr Shari McDaid.

Intended results For a funded, National Programme of Creative Arts with Children and Young to be created

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Jessica Curtis- Senior Fund Manager Rethink Ireland on behalf of The Children and Young People’s Mental Health COVID-19 Coalition

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (1)

Letter sent 23rd July 2020 Target - for a funded, National Programme of Creative Arts with Children and Young People. Aims of Programme - 1)give children and young people up to age 22 opportunities to creatively express their experience of the COVID-19 pandemic and this unusual time in their lives 2)support children and young people’s transition back into education or employment 3)provide short-term employment opportunities for professional community artists whose sector has been devastated by the pandemic 4)calling upon the Arts Council to develop new arts and health policy as a matter of priority.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Catherine Martin Minister (Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media)