Return 4 Hope
Turning bottles into brighter tomorrows.
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Every child deserves to feel part of a community that cares, a community that looks out for one another, especially in tough times.
For many families, the cost of living has made even the smallest joys feel out of reach. But what if something as simple as a bottle could help bring a little hope back?
Why it matters
Return for Hope is a community-led recycling drive that turns everyday returns into real support for children affected by poverty and exclusion.
By donating your bottles and cans, you’re helping to raise funds that go directly towards small but meaningful gifts, school essentials, warm winter items, and holiday vouchers that remind families they’re not alone.
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The reality for families today
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Across Ireland, many parents are facing impossible choices, cutting back on essentials just to keep their families afloat.
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According to Barnardos’ Cost of Living report (2025), almost half of all families surveyed have had to go without or cut down on basic needs like food, heat, or electricity.
Four in ten parents admitted to skipping meals or reducing their portions so their children could eat.
Nearly one in five families said they had to go without heating, and one in three have fallen behind on their energy bills.
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Research from the ESRI (2025) found that 87% of low-income households cut back on daily spending, while more than half engaged in “risky” coping strategies such as falling into arrears or skipping health expenses.
And when housing costs are factored in, one in five children in Ireland now live in real income poverty, according to joint research by the ESRI and Community Foundation Ireland.
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These numbers tell only part of the story, behind every statistic is a parent lying awake at night wondering how to stretch their income a little further, or a child missing out on the simple joys of childhood because life has become too expensive.
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That’s why initiatives like Return for Hope matter. They give us a way, however small, to ease that pressure together, to remind families that their community still stands with them.
How it works
Its simple...
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Collect refundable bottles and cans at home, work, or school.
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Return them to your collection hub (school, office, etc), or local deposit return point..
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We will do the recycling (bring the collection to the deposit return point), or you can donate the refund value to Every Child Is Your Child, helping us bring relief and dignity to families across Ireland.​
There’s no cost, no complicated steps, just a collective act of kindness that makes a tangible difference.
Who It Helps
The funds raised through Return for Hope will support children and families in our local communities, including those living in international protection accommodation and those struggling to meet daily needs.
We believe every child should feel included, valued, and hopeful, no matter where they come from or what their family’s circumstances are.
