Holland & Barrett and Barretstown build on partnership success as fundraising tops €150,000
Holland & Barrett and Barretstown are expanding their Five to Thrive Young Adult Programme, as fundraising for the charity surpasses €150,000 and the second residential camp gets underway in October
Print9 October 2026
Holland & Barrett and Barretstown are building on the success of their partnership with the next phase of the Five to Thrive Young Adult Programme, which aims to help young adults develop practical wellbeing skills, strengthen social connections and build positive habits for everyday life.
The second of two weekend residential camps will take place in October, following an initial camp earlier in 2026 that introduced participants to key health and wellness principles through interactive sessions and activities.
The partnership has also raised more than €150,000 for Barretstown through fundraising across Holland & Barrett stores in Ireland, supported by the generosity of customers and the commitment of colleagues.
Fundraising tops €150,000
Holland & Barrett began its partnership with Barretstown in 2025, supporting the charity through in-store fundraising across Ireland.
The funds raised to date are equivalent to the cost of delivering three weekend programmes, with each weekend costing approximately €50,000.
The contribution will help Barretstown continue supporting children, young adults and families affected by serious illness.
In 2026, the partnership expanded beyond fundraising to include practical health and wellbeing support for young adults, combining Holland & Barrett’s health and wellness expertise with Barretstown’s experience in therapeutic and peer support.
Holland & Barrett’s trained wellness champions are contributing their time and expertise to the Five to Thrive programme, working alongside the Barretstown team to deliver practical and interactive sessions.
Five to Thrive supports young adults
The Five to Thrive programme is designed for young adults aged 18 to 24 who attended Barretstown camps as children while living with cancer or another serious illness.
Participants attend two weekend residential camps each year, giving them opportunities to reconnect with the Barretstown community, build friendships and develop practical skills to support their wellbeing as they transition into adulthood.
During the first camp of 2026, Holland & Barrett’s wellness champions co-created and delivered a dedicated health and wellness day centred on five key areas of wellbeing: connect, nourish, move, mind and sleep.
The sessions encouraged participants to explore practical ways to support their health, from nutrition and physical activity to mental wellbeing and healthy sleep habits.
Second camp puts learning into practice
The October camp will build on the foundations established during the first phase of the programme, moving from introducing the Five to Thrive principles to applying them in everyday situations.
Through new activities, practical challenges and real-life scenarios, participants will have the opportunity to put their learning into practice.
Topics will include making positive choices around nutrition and movement, developing strategies to support mental wellbeing and building healthy sleep habits.
The programme is intended to help young adults identify realistic changes they can incorporate into their daily routines, while continuing to benefit from peer support and their connection with the Barretstown community.
Participants report positive impact
Early feedback from the programme has been encouraging, with 100% of participants saying they enjoyed Five to Thrive and 100% reporting that it helped them connect socially with others.
The Holland & Barrett health and wellness day was also well received, with 73% of participants rating their experience eight out of 10 or higher.
For 19-year-old Kaela Nolan from Navan, Co. Meath, who first attended Barretstown at the age of 10, the programme has provided an opportunity to reconnect with the community while exploring practical ways to support her wellbeing.
Having attended the first camp earlier this year, Kaela is looking forward to returning in October.
“I’m really looking forward to coming back to Barretstown in October and seeing everyone again. I really enjoyed the first camp, especially getting to spend time with the group and meeting other people who have had similar experiences to me,” she said.
Kaela added: “The health and wellness day with Holland & Barrett was really useful too. We talked about things like nutrition, movement and sleep, and there were lots of small things that I could actually see myself doing in everyday life.
“It was nice that it wasn’t just about being told what to do, but actually having a chance to try things and talk about what works for us,” she added.
Barretstown and Holland & Barrett welcome partnership
Dee Ahearn, chief executive officer at Barretstown, said the partnership was helping young adults access practical wellbeing support alongside the charity’s therapeutic and peer support services.
“We are incredibly grateful to Holland & Barrett for supporting Five to Thrive. Their practical wellbeing expertise complements Barretstown’s therapeutic and peer support approach, giving young adults tools they can take into everyday life,” Ahearn said.
Adam Moore, director of stores at Holland & Barrett, said the retailer was proud of the contribution its colleagues were making to the programme.
“By bringing the expertise of our trained colleagues into the Young Adult Programme, we can make trusted health and wellness support more accessible and relevant to everyday life – helping young people build positive habits that can support them for years to come,” Moore said.
The partnership reflects Holland & Barrett’s wider ambition to make health and wellness more accessible by combining its community presence and trained colleagues with practical support that encourages people to take proactive steps towards living better for longer.
Read more: Holland & Barrett partners with Barretstown
© 2026, ShelfLife by Patryk Goron
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