Seven Dublin-based social enterprises named Awardees of Rethink Ireland’s €530,000 Social Enterprise Funds

Seven Dublin-based social enterprises are among the 28 Awardees of Rethink Ireland’s Social Enterprise Development Fund and Social Enterprise Start-Up Fund. The Awardees were announced at a celebratory lunch event held at Airfield Estate in Dublin recently.

These Funds aim to support and develop social enterprises across Ireland who work to improve the lives of communities.

Dublin-based Way 2 Work, Books at One, The Good Summit, Pocket Forests, The Bike Hub, The Sustainable Life School and Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality, will benefit from Rethink Ireland Fund supports.

Pictured (L-R) are Catherine Cleary (Pocket Forests) and Deirdre Mortell (CEO, Rethink Ireland). Pic: Marc O’Sullivan

The €4.4 million Social Enterprise Development Fund (2018 – 2023) has been delivered annually from 2018 and will continue until 2023, with support from IPB Insurance and the Department of Rural and Community Development via the Dormant Accounts Fund.

To date the Fund has helped over 500 people gain employment through 112 social enterprises and has mobilised over 16,507 volunteers.

The Social Enterprise Start-Up Fund (2021-2022) is an €800,000 Fund developed in partnership with the Department of Rural and Community Development via the Dormant Accounts Fund, aiming to support social enterprises at the startup and early stage of existence.

Dublin-based Awardees include:

• Way 2 Work, located in Dublin City centre, is a mentor-based supported employment program developed in collaboration with Tusla to assist young people aged 16 to 21 who have been in care. The organisation promotes and supports opportunities for young people to engage in training, education, and work, and develops programs that enable young people to achieve full autonomy in their life.
• Books at One, is a network of community bookshops run by local people to address the social and economic decline that faces many areas in Ireland. The organisation is currently opening a new store in Dublin, as well as developing engaging activities for local schoolchildren, teachers, and families to enjoy and benefit from free reading events and workshops.
• The Good Summit is an event–based platform bringing together students and change-makers to drive awareness of compelling issues and inspire people to take positive actions in their communities and workplaces in building sustainable social change.
• Pocket Forests, is an award-winning social enterprise working to reconnect people with nature through leading education workshops that help communities rejuvenate soil and plant native trees and shrubs in densely planted urban forests. Pocket Forests has partnered with a variety of organisations including The Digital Hub, Coillte Nature, and Dublin City Council.
• The Bike Hub, based in Dun Laoghaire, is an inclusive community-focused bicycle workshop that works to upcycle and provide free bikes, along with bike mechanic & safe cycling training to marginalized and dis-advantaged people. They also work on providing accessible bicycle fleets to people with disabilities.
• The Sustainable Life School is a new social enterprise focused on supporting and inspiring individuals, communities, and businesses to live more sustainably and working to empower those who are concerned about the climate crisis by taking action. Through their signature program, tailored classes, resources and a growing community, the Sustainable Life School community is creating happier lives for a happier planet.
• Smithfield-based group Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality produces interdisciplinary arts programmes centred on equality, diversity and human rights. They support all artistic mediums and hold vast experience in conducting globally recognised arts-based projects both nationally and internationally.

Richard Gavin, Assistant Principal at Department of Rural and Community Development stated: “Recipients of this funding and support are playing a key role in developing communities nationwide and I want to extend my congratulations to all Awardees.

“With their commitment and dedicated work, these enterprises are making a true social and economic impact on their local communities, while also tackling key social issues that we face today.

“They are inspirations for the next generation of social enterprises, and we look forward to continuing to support them as they progress and develop further.”

Pictured (L-R) are Diane O’Connor (Sustainable Life), Nathalie Pavone (Sustainable Life), Des Crowther (The Good Summit) , Mary Mac Sweeney, (Dublin City Council) Joanne Hunter (Books at One)

CEO of Rethink Ireland, Deirdre Mortell commented on the Awardee announcement stating: “This year Rethink Ireland published our 6 Year Impact Report, detailing the level of progress that has been made towards developing a more sustainable and fairer Ireland by supporting social enterprises.

“Today, I’m delighted to announce that Rethink Ireland is awarding additional support and funding to 28 social enterprises who are on their journey to creating a lasting positive impact on communities across the country.

“Social enterprises are part of the social fabric of our communities as they play a key role in developing solutions to the biggest challenges we face on a daily basis.

“From a toy library that offers rental toys to families to reduce waste, to a therapeutic adventure group focused on tackling youth mental health difficulties, or a heart-warming community centre that is integrating and including immigrants and refugees into Irish society through support and learning opportunities, social enterprises show a deep level of care for everyone in a community across Ireland.

“We are so thankful to our supporting partners and are delighted to have the opportunity to support these wonderful organisations.”

IPB Insurance Chief Executive Michael Garvey said “Working alongside our local authority Members, our collaboration with Rethink Ireland and the Department has proven hugely successful in attracting and supporting social enterprises that are making a real difference in addressing social needs in their communities.

“The social enterprise sector in Ireland is going from strength to strength and is playing an increasing role in strengthening the sustainability and resilience of communities across the country.

“It is important that social enterprises continue to be nurtured by recognising the importance of the sector and providing assistance through financial and business supports.”

For more information on each Awardee please visit https://rethinkireland.ie/our-funds/social-enterprise/