Conor, a member of the HeadStart Fund Youth Advisory Panel, represented Comhairle na nÓg and the National Youth Assembly of Ireland as a speaker at the Rethink Ireland HeadStart Fund Closing Event. He also had the opportunity to meet Minister Mary Butler TD, Minister for Mental Health.

The event celebrated the impact of the three-year, €3 million HeadStart Fund, established by Rethink Ireland in collaboration with the Z Zurich Foundation and the HSE. The fund supported 10 organisations across the Republic of Ireland working with young people aged 15–24, helping them develop innovative approaches to improving and maintaining mental health and wellbeing, particularly among groups experiencing disadvantage.

Young people played an important role throughout the initiative. The Youth Advisory Panel contributed to the selection of the 10 awardees in 2023, provided feedback on challenges encountered during the initiative in 2025, and met with awardees in 2026 to hear about their evaluations and reflections.

The HeadStart Fund demonstrates the value of involving young people from the outset, ensuring their voices help shape initiatives that benefit young people, organisations and communities.

Thank you to Rethink Ireland and all the awardees for the warm welcome and for championing youth participation in mental health and wellbeing.

Find out more about the HeadStart Fund.