Mayo children raise over €4,700 for autism support and eco-education

Early years settings in Mayo donated over €4,700 as part of Early Childhood Ireland’s twentieth National Pyjama Day fundraising event.

Over 760 children and educators in 24 early education settings put on their cosiest pyjamas to raise vital funds in support of children across Ireland last November.

A total of over €285,000 was donated to two child-centred projects. The first was autism charity AsIAm’s ‘Child and Family Support Programme’, which provides group-based support and advocacy for autistic children and their families, and the other a new ‘Eco-Emotions’ project for Early Years and School Age Care educators in Mayo. 

Developed by Early Childhood Ireland in response to feedback from educators, the programme supports children’s emotional health and develops a sense of environmental responsibility.

Teresa Heeney, CEO of Early Childhood Ireland said since its inception, ‘National Pyjama Day activities have raised over €4.3 million for selected projects and charities’. 

She added:“As we mark two decades of Pyjama Day magic, we're delighted to see the ripple effect of kindness reaching children nationwide.

“We would like to thank our members and all the educators in Mayo who put so much time and effort into ensuring the children in their care had the best National Pyjama Day possible and express our gratitude to the generous families who sponsored the young fundraisers in their lives.”

Ms Heeney explained that the funds support ‘hildren in Mayo through two worthwhile causes’. 

“The Eco-Emotions initiative will foster the development of a future generation which is both caring and environmentally conscious. While AsIAm's Child and Family Support Programme continues to make a tangible difference in the lives of autistic children and their families across the country,” she concluded.

_{Adam Harris, CEO, AsIAm and Teresa Heeney, CEO, Early Childhood Ireland (Pic:Marc O'Sullivan)}

CEO of AsIAm Ireland, Adam Harris, they are ‘delighted to once again be supported by Early Childhood Ireland's National Pyjama Day’.

He continued: “The incredible funds raised by children, for children, have enabled us to support thousands of autistic children and families across Ireland including in Mayo through our free, group-based support delivered by our Child and Family Support Programme."

“Autistic children very often don't enjoy the same chance to live, work and play in the community but National Pyjama Day enables AsIAm to remove barriers and build capacity so that the children we work with can access neuro-affirmative support and social opportunities.”

Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland explained how pyjama day is about ‘turning the generosity of children, parents and members of Early Childhood Ireland into important supports for young people and their families’. 

“The partnership with AsIAm does this in a way which is not only supportive but also pioneering. It breaks down barriers to specialised care and makes it more accessible to all. On behalf of the Community Foundation, I want to congratulate all who participated in Pyjama Day and look forward to hearing about the transformative work by AsIAm which is now getting underway,” she concluded.