Using empty toy boxes to highlight the struggle many families living below the poverty line face.

2020. The most difficult year for charities. With traditional donation sources obliterated by the lockdown, it was vital that SVP connect the donor and the recipient in a motivating way for its annual Christmas appeal.
So in December, we opened ‘The Empty Toy Shop.’ A pop-up shop filled with thousands of toy boxes. Each one of them empty, to represent a child who would be left empty-handed on Christmas morning.
Strategically located on Henry Street, one of Dublin’s busiest shopping streets, our goal was to engage Christmas shoppers at the moment they were buying presents for their loved ones. For every box bought in the shop, a donation would directly go towards a toy for a child in need.
Our empty boxes, which another agency client Smurfit Kappa volunteered to produce, were also placed in the windows of SVP charity shops across the country, with messaging reminding customers that every donation was a direct intervention.


Read the full case study
THE MISSION
Despite the notion that hunger was something that Ireland left behind back in the 1800’s, food poverty is still a huge, yet almost hidden problem in modern-day Ireland. Over 100,000 children go to bed hungry every night, 20% of parents skip meals to feed their families and the demand for food help increased by 70% in 2020.
The solution
To highlight Ireland’s rampant food poverty, a food bank was installed in front of the most powerful symbol of hunger in Irish history, the famous Famine Memorial. Situated in Dublin City Docklands, the haunting Famine statues commemorate the most profound disaster in Irish history, when more than one million people died and a million more emigrated.
The hard-hitting installation, which invited people to donate to Little Flower via a QR code, provides a stark reminder that even though it’s been 173 years since the Irish Famine, hunger is still a huge, ever-growing issue.
THE IMPACT
+388% donations
+258% donors (94% new donors)
+20% new charity volunteers.
173 years later and Ireland is still hungry. ‘Famine Food Bank’ installation puts a spotlight on food poverty in Ireland.

The Mission
Despite the notion that hunger was something that Ireland left behind back in the 1800’s, food poverty is still a huge problem in modern-day Ireland.

The Solution
To highlight Ireland’s rampant food poverty, a food bank was installed in front of the most powerful symbol of hunger in Irish history, the famous Famine Memorial.


The impact
+388% donations
+258% donors (94% new donors)
+20% new charity volunteers

Fighting Blindness are an Irish-based charity whose vision is to cure blindness, support people with sight loss and empower patients. They wanted to communicate an optimistic and hopeful message, informing the public that their investment in blindness research is working in generating new ways to restore people’s sight.
Using simple conceptual illustrations, we developed a series of playful images that combined scientific icons with scenes illustrating the wonderful benefits that can come out of sight restoration treatment and gene therapy.
Stargazing, visiting an art gallery or simply looking at nature; these simple activities we take for granted can be made possible through funding scientific research.





Read the full case study
THE MISSION
Despite the notion that hunger was something that Ireland left behind back in the 1800’s, food poverty is still a huge, yet almost hidden problem in modern-day Ireland. Over 100,000 children go to bed hungry every night, 20% of parents skip meals to feed their families and the demand for food help increased by 70% in 2020.
The solution
To highlight Ireland’s rampant food poverty, a food bank was installed in front of the most powerful symbol of hunger in Irish history, the famous Famine Memorial. Situated in Dublin City Docklands, the haunting Famine statues commemorate the most profound disaster in Irish history, when more than one million people died and a million more emigrated.
The hard-hitting installation, which invited people to donate to Little Flower via a QR code, provides a stark reminder that even though it’s been 173 years since the Irish Famine, hunger is still a huge, ever-growing issue.
THE IMPACT
+388% donations
+258% donors (94% new donors)
+20% new charity volunteers.
The Mission
Pandemic isolation risked intensifying male suicides in Ireland. Conversations save lives but starting them is the challenge.

The Solution
We shed light on the importance of social connections and conversation by lighting up iconic Dublin landmarks with messages of solidarity.
The series featured collaborations with artists and designers such as Sebastian Barry, Vivienne Roche, Gavin Friday, Maser, Damien Dempsey, Domino Whisker, Aches, Mundy and Tiny Ark.


The impact
The campaign delivered reach of 4.5M, delivering 183,000 engagements, sparking many life-saving conversations and doubling annual donations to €4.9m.
Read the full case study
THE MISSION
Despite the notion that hunger was something that Ireland left behind back in the 1800’s, food poverty is still a huge, yet almost hidden problem in modern-day Ireland. Over 100,000 children go to bed hungry every night, 20% of parents skip meals to feed their families and the demand for food help increased by 70% in 2020.
The solution
To highlight Ireland’s rampant food poverty, a food bank was installed in front of the most powerful symbol of hunger in Irish history, the famous Famine Memorial. Situated in Dublin City Docklands, the haunting Famine statues commemorate the most profound disaster in Irish history, when more than one million people died and a million more emigrated.
The hard-hitting installation, which invited people to donate to Little Flower via a QR code, provides a stark reminder that even though it’s been 173 years since the Irish Famine, hunger is still a huge, ever-growing issue.
THE IMPACT
+388% donations
+258% donors (94% new donors)
+20% new charity volunteers.
The Mission
Reverse the drop in donations and trust and build a sustained new younger donor base for SVP.

The Solution
Show that it takes one small thing to tip a person into or out of poverty.









The impact
Reversed the fortunes of SVP to deliver an increase in donations of +28% in four years.


Read the full case study
The Mission
78% of LGBTQI+ children report feeling unsafe in school. We set out to help make schools a safer place for LGBT children.
THE SOLUTION
Re-invent the ‘Remember the Rainbow’ mnemonic using a message of positivity and inclusivity.
There are seven colours in the rainbow – Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo Violet. To help children remember the colours, old King Richard of York is dug up in schools all around Ireland and the UK with the mnemonic: Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain. Not a very positive message.
We invented a new one: Respect Others You Grow By Including Variety.
This was a perfect message for BeLonG To Youth Services, whose mission is to create a world where all young people, including LGBQI+ youth, can feel safe and equal without experiencing any discrimination.
We then made a story about it – THE COLOURS WHO DIDN’T WANT TO MIX. A short film story about colours who come together to create one of the most beautiful things in the world – a rainbow.
We launched a website with fun activities and teaching worksheets.
THE IMPACT
Thousands of work lessons have been downloaded and used in schools across Ireland. We know Richard’s battle was in vain, but by being killed again, he may help win the battle for equality and tolerance.
Rest in peace Richard.
The Mission
Most gender diversity messages wait till children are age-appropriate, by which time it is much harder to change biases.

THE SOLUTION
A trojan horse approach – change an age-old class lesson and re-invent a whole new way for school children to remember the colours of the rainbow.



The impact
Listed as an official new teaching resource and adopted in hundreds of schools across the country.
