Significant boost for innovative Mayo social enterprise
An innovative Mayo firm has received a major boost.
Ballina-based Accelerating Change Together (ACT) is a social enterprise comprising of architects, urbanists and policy specialists established to accelerate the Green Transition across Ireland.
It is among the eight high-impact social enterprises announced by Rethink Ireland to be awarded funded under the Social Enterprise Development Fund, now in its sixth year.
The firms are responding to urgent needs in communities and tackling some of the country’s most pertinent societal barriers.
The successful companies will receive a combination of cash grants and business supports, including a cash injection of €22,500 each and access to a non-financial support package worth €7,500, aimed at assisting each of them in further expanding their organisations and supporting people that are most in need.
To date, the fund has supported social enterprises in every county in Ireland, helping them to deliver services to over 400,000 people, provide 500 people with access to employment and to mobilise 16,600 volunteers.
Social enterprises can lead the transition to a more inclusive, sustainable and green economy.
Any profit made by a social enterprise is reinvested back into the organisation's social or environmental mission, allowing it to maximise impact.
The Social Enterprise Development (SED) Fund is a €4.4 million fund being delivered from 2018 to 2023, supported by IPB Insurance, together with Local Authorities Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development, via the Dormant Accounts Fund.
Rethink Ireland, the organisation supporting the most innovative non-profit organisations working in Irish communities across the country, supports social enterprises that are focused on critical positive change.
Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien, commented: "I am delighted to welcome the latest round of awardees who are each working to combat serious social and economic barriers that stand in the way of bringing Irish communities closer together to thrive.
"The government recognises the importance of social enterprises and the key role that they play in our society.”
The chief executive for Mayo County Council, Kevin Kelly, said: "We are excited to be working with Rethink Ireland and IPB Insurance on the Social Enterprise Development Fund, which brings impactful change to local areas and organisations involved, as well as delivering an overall increase in support for the social enterprise sector as a whole.
"We would like to congratulate Accelerating Change Together (ACT) CLG on being successful in becoming an awardee of this fund."
Deirdre Mortell, CEO, Rethink Ireland, said: “Throughout six years of investment, both the need underpinning the Social Enterprise Development Fund, and the positive impact in society, are clearly evident in the people benefitting from new or enhanced services.
"This is just the beginning and we now have an opportunity to reinforce the achievements to date by expanding support for this vital sector.
"We are at a point in social development where Ireland must catch up with its European cohorts.
"At Rethink Ireland we want to see the number of social enterprises increase with continued support and dedicated funding for our local social innovators.”
* Pictured are Deirdre Mortell, CEO, Rethink Ireland, Rebecca O'Malley, project lead, Accelerating Change Together (ACT), Ballina, and John Kearns CEO, IPB Insurance. Photo: Michael McLaughlin