A TOTAL of six Dublin Social Enterprises have received cash grants of between €10,000 and €30,000 and a place on Ireland’s most prestigious Accelerator Programme for Social Enterprises.
Philomena Poole, Chief Executive, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, recently announced the Leinster-based winners of the €1.6 million Social Enterprise Development Fund at a special lunch event in Bistro Le Monde on Crofton Road, Dún Laoghaire Town.
Philomena Poole, Chief Executive, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council
The regional enterprises awarded on the day include projects from Dublin and Wexford.
The fund was set up to support social enterprises from across the country to achieve their goals and create measurable social impact that can be scaled all over Ireland.
The €1.6 million fund, created by Social Innovation Fund Ireland in partnership with Local Authorities Ireland, is supported by IPB Insurance and the Department of Rural and Community Development from the Dormant Accounts Fund.
Chosen from over 200 applicants from almost every county in Ireland, the successful Leinster-based awardees are part of a larger group of 16 Social Enterprises from all across Ireland from a mixture of urban, town and rural settings.
The Social Enterprises will not only receive cash grants of up to €50,000 but will also land a place on Ireland’s most prestigious Accelerator Programme for Social Enterprises.
The Accelerator Programme is run in partnership with Local Authorities Ireland and provides intensive, expert and bespoke supports for social enterprises to hone their social impact, business skills and accelerate their growth.
Among the Leinster awardees are Siel Bleu Ireland who address the growing epidemic of physical inactivity amongst older adults and people living with chronic disease through physical activity classes.
ReCreate Ireland tackle the lack of awareness and appreciation of the practical value and benefits of creativity and highlights the impact our actions have on the environment around us.
Refill Ireland addresses the environmental impact of single-use plastic water bottles, while Walkinstown Green Social Enterprises Limited supports adults with intellectual disabilities, autism and other barriers to successfully transition into the world of work.
Deirdre Mortell, Chief Executive Officer, Social Innovation Fund Ireland said: “Today’s awardees are a fantastic example of the type of social enterprises that are making a real difference.
“We believe that social enterprises offer high quality jobs that meet local community needs and are a big part of the future of vibrant Irish communities.”
Story via 
Full story here
