Jigsaw sees rise in demand

Petrol station operator Applegreen has appointed Jigsaw, the national charity for youth mental health, as its official charity partner for 2026-2028.

The company said it aims to raise €1 million in funding for Jigsaw over the next three years.

A major source of this funding will be Applegreens You Buy, We Give programme. Every time a customer makes a purchase in an Applegreen store, the company donates 1c to its charitable fund on the customers behalf.

Applegreen said it will be doubling this contribution to 2c for the month of February. The company also said that it aims to raise money through sponsored events and customer donations. Seamus Stapleton, Applegreen Ireland Managing Director said that partnering with Jigsaw “allows us to support young people across Ireland in a meaningful and impactful way”.

“Our colleagues made it clear that youth mental health matters deeply to them. We are delighted that our colleagues working in our sites across Ireland, over 50% of whom are under 25 years of age, may gain access to the range of supports that jigsaw provides,” he said.

Jigsaw has seen a 23% rise in demand for its services compared to 2024. Its Cork city unit - located at Unit 8, South Bank, Crosse's Green, Wandesford Quay - had more than 1,200 referrals in 2025.

Jigsaw CEO Dr Joseph Duffy said that the charity was “delighted” to partner with Applegreen.

“This partnership will help us reach more children and young people across Ireland at a time when demand for mental health supports continues to surge.

“When our young people struggle, our families struggle; and by working together with Applegreen colleagues, suppliers and customers, we can ensure that more families have access to the vital help they need when it matters most.

“This partnership is rooted in a shared belief that real change happens when organisations come together with passion and purpose. Everyone at Jigsaw cannot wait to get started,” he said.