At Picker Pals, we’re proud to work with a wide range of funders who make our mission possible. On this page, you'll discover the stories behind those partnerships, from Central Government and Local Authorities all the way through to private companies and philanthropic funds.
These stories are our way of saying thank you and of showing how our supporters’ values and goals align with ours.
Each story highlights not only the impact on participating children and families, but also the positive outcomes for the funders themselves, such as stronger community links, brand alignment with sustainability, meaningful employee engagement and more.
If you represent an organisation that’s looking to make a lasting environmental and social impact, we hope these stories inspire you. There’s space for your story too and we’d love to help you write it. Reach out to us by clicking this link to our Interest Form or by scanning the QR Code opposite.
Picker Pals is primarily funded by the Department of Climate, Energy & the Environment, whose support is key in enabling us to provide Picker Pals free of charge to primary and special schools across Ireland.
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Local Authorities across Ireland play a vital role in bringing Picker Pals to life in their communities. Their support allows us to meet growing demand from schools in each county, ensuring that children everywhere can take part in Picker Pals. By funding environmental education locally, Local Authorities are helping to inspire the next generation of environmental champions right where they live.
Community Foundation Ireland (CFI) has played a key role in expanding Picker Pals by connecting us with generous philanthropic funders who are committed to environmental education and local impact.
Through CFI, we’ve received support from three individual funders, allowing us to extend the programme to more schools, (particularly in areas close to those funders) while continuing to meet growing demand nationwide.
We deeply value the work of Community Foundation Ireland in facilitating these partnerships. Their role in bridging community needs with philanthropic support has made a meaningful difference to the reach and sustainability of Picker Pals.
Over the past four years, BMW Ireland and its network of authorised dealers have sponsored more than 130 classrooms to take part in Picker Pals.
This partnership has resulted in tonnes of litter removed from local areas, but more importantly, it has nurtured a generation of young people who understand that looking after our world starts with small, consistent actions.
BMW’s support is more than financial. It reflects a shared belief in sustainability and innovation and highlights BMW Ireland’s commitment to shaping a cleaner, greener future.
When Sky Ireland was looking for a way to empower its team to give back to the local community, Picker Pals offered the perfect solution. Through a unique staff engagement partnership, Sky has teamed up with Picker Pals to organise litter-picking events near its Dublin office, giving employees a meaningful way to make an immediate, visible difference.
These events also build team spirit, connect colleagues through shared values, and align with Sky’s broader commitment to environmental responsibility.
In addition to community clean-ups, Sky also sponsored the Picker Pals’ storytelling competition, supporting creativity and climate literacy among schoolchildren across Ireland.
esw. has provided Picker Pals with financial backing and expert tech support for four years, which has helped us to focus on what really matters: getting more children out litter-picking with their families and building a generation that cares deeply about the environment!
Their motivation? Simply to be part of something good. For ESW, supporting Picker Pals is a reflection of their values. The partnership also enhances their brand while empowering a movement.
For companies looking for a meaningful way to support environmental education, esw’s model is a brilliant example of values-aligned, trust-based impact.
Deloitte’s first year partnering with Picker Pals has shown how direct sponsorship of classrooms can spark meaningful change in communities. By funding classrooms in areas close to their Irish offices, Deloitte has helped over 400 children become litter-picking heroes in their local neighbourhoods.
Deloitte’s support empowers schools to join Picker Pals without cost, while also giving Deloitte staff a sense of pride in seeing the environmental impact happening right on their doorstep as a result.
The message to other companies is simple: You don’t have to look far to make a difference. Backing classrooms near your own offices is a smart, authentic way to invest in the next generation and show your commitment to the environment in action.
When ESB joined forces with Picker Pals through their Energy for Generations fund, they opened doors for children who need support the most. By directing their sponsorship towards DEIS and special schools, ESB ensured that children who are statistically more likely to face educational disadvantage got the chance to lead their families on litter-picking adventures, to build confidence and discover their own power to make a difference.
ESB’s approach sets a strong example for other companies: if you want your funding to reflect your commitment to equity, community and sustainability, you can direct it to the places it’s needed most with Picker Pals.
We’re delighted to welcome Smurfit Westrock as a new sponsor of Picker Pals for the 2025–26 school year. As leaders in sustainable packaging, Smurfit Westrock are deeply invested in promoting the principles of the circular economy and they’re taking that message directly to classrooms through their partnership with us.
Their support will fund Picker Pals packs for schools located near their sites, ensuring a strong local connection. But this partnership goes further than just funding. Picker Pals will also be delivering specially designed educational content that helps children understand what the circular economy is, why it matters, and how they can be part of it.
MSD Ireland chose Voice Picker Pals as their Neighbour of Choice in 2023, a distinction that brought a major boost to our programme. Thanks to their generous one-year sponsorship, Picker Pals was able to reach 100 additional classrooms.
We’re incredibly grateful to MSD for recognising the value of Picker Pals and amplifying our reach during that important year. It’s a great example of how corporate partnerships can lead to big, long-lasting change and we’re always open to similar collaborations in the future.
In the early years of Picker Pals, AIB Bank stepped in with vital funding that helped us lay the groundwork for what has since become a nationwide movement. Their early backing enabled us to bring the programme to more classrooms at a crucial stage of growth and helping to turn a promising idea into a proven, impactful initiative. We remain grateful for their belief in Picker Pals when it mattered most.
Beidh Foras na Gaeilge ag tacú le Picker Pals den chéad uair i mbliana. Cuirfidh an pháirtnéireacht luachmhar seo ar ár gcumas an clár a leathnú go níos mó teaghlach agus pobail Ghaeilge ar fud na tíre.
Cuirtear gníomhaíochtaí spraíúla agus oideachasúla ar fáil a spreagann páistí agus a dteaghlaigh dul amach ag glanadh a gceantar féin agus cúram a dhéanamh don timpeallacht – agus iad ag úsáid na Gaeilge sa saol laethúil. Táimid fíorbhuíoch as an tacaíocht seo a chuideoidh le todhchaí níos glana, níos gníomhaí agus níos Gaeilge a chothú.
Supporting Picker Pals is a meaningful way for companies to meet their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals. By empowering children and families to take action against litter, Picker Pals fosters environmental awareness and community engagement from the ground up. Partnering with the programme allows businesses to demonstrate a tangible commitment to sustainability, education, and local impact.
Picker Pals also aligns closely with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
VOICE is a member-based environmental Charity established in 1997. We currently focus our attention on waste and water issues. VOICE membership represents people from across Ireland and reflects the growing concern that Irish people have for the quality of their environment.
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