National Competition Launches for Ideas to Solve Social Problems – Cash and Support For Winners
8 winning social entrepreneurs will receive initial 300,000 euro in funding and support with potential for further investment and development opportunities
15 people with early-stage ideas will win a place at the Academy for Social Entrepreneurs
Picture shows at the launch of the 2017 Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Awards, CEO of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland,(right)Darren Ryan gives Tommy Breen,(left) CEO of DCC plc a tour of the ReCreate Warehouse. ReCreate was a 2016 SEI Award Winner. Social Entrepreneurs Ireland is making funding and support available to people with ideas to solve social problems in Ireland and is calling for applications. The SEI Awards are supported by DCC plc.Pic:Naoise Culhane.
SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS IRELAND today (Feb 22nd) launched their 2017 Awards Programme, supported by DCC plc, calling for applications from ambitious individuals with ideas to create positive social change in Ireland.
‘Don’t let a good idea go to waste’ is the call from the organisation which seeks the most innovative ideas and energetic entrepreneurs to solve social problems in Ireland.
Speaking at the launch of the competition, Darren Ryan, CEO of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland said:
‘We support people who have an entrepreneurial drive, people who think big and have the ambition and energy to see their ideas realised, so that the social problem they are tackling may one day be a thing of the past. If you have an idea or project to make a positive impact, apply to us. If we believe in it, we’ll back you.”
Social Entrepreneurs Ireland today announced a whole range of supports for social entrepreneurs from start-up to scale-up. The call is for people with early-stage ideas right through to people who are ready to grow and scale their existing organisations, to apply at socialentrepreneurs.ie.
Previous winners include Iseult Ward and Aoibheann O’Brien who had the idea for FoodCloud – an app that connects shops with too much food with charities who need it; John Evoy who had the idea for the Irish Men’s Sheds Association – a place in the community for men to connect and create meaningful projects; and Dara Connolly with the idea for ReCreate which takes unwanted materials from businesses and turns them into art materials for schools and families that couldn’t otherwise afford them.
The eight Award winners will join Ireland’s largest network of social entrepreneurs. As well as an immediate 10,000 euro in unrestricted funding, they will receive a place on an accelerator programme worth 15,000 euro, with access to over 150 pro-bono supporters, coaches and mentors. The programme will explore options for further funding and support from Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, which historically ranges from 20,000 to 300,000 euro in value.
DCC plc, the international sales, marketing and support services group, is the flagship supporter of the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Awards.
Speaking of DCC’s partnership with Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, CEO of DCC plc Tommy Breen said,
“We strongly believe in the work of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland. It is a great privilege to play a role in assisting Ireland’s brightest and most ambitious entrepreneurs who are dedicated to making a positive impact on our society.”
Applications to the Awards programme and the Academy open today, February 22nd, closing at 5pm on March 29th. A series of roadshows – public workshop and training events for aspiring social entrepreneurs – are scheduled around the country in the coming weeks. Interested candidates can apply or find out more at www.socialentrepreneurs.ie.
Roadshow events around the country:
Roadshows are taking place over the coming days in Dublin, Derry, Cork and Galway. A chance to find out more about the funding and support on offer from Social Entrepreneurs Ireland and to hear from past Awardees and other inspiring speakers on topics related to social entrepreneurship. Great networking opportunity. Free tickets available. Log on to socialentrepreneurs.ie for more information on venues, times, etc.
Galway Roadshow – 28th February, Croi House, Newcastle
Cork Roadshow – 1st March, University College Cork
Dublin Roadshow – 2nd March, Wood Quay Venue
Derry Roadshow – 7th March, Social Enterprise Hub, Londonderry
About Social Entrepreneurs Ireland
Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (SEI) is an Irish not-for-profit organisation that supports people with new solutions to Ireland’s biggest social problems. SEI helps these individuals to increase their impact by providing significant funding alongside in-depth technical and practical supports. Over the last 12 years Social Entrepreneurs Ireland has supported 204 social entrepreneurs, and this year’s funding will bring the total support to over €6.7 million in their projects, in addition to providing significant additional supports. These projects have in turn directly impacted 520,000 people all over Ireland, creating over 1,230 employment opportunities in the process. For more information please see www.socialentrepreneurs.ie
