Funds to help communities
5 Cork-based social enterprises who work to improve the lives of communities are to receive funding, it was announced this week.
Together Razam Centre, KindFolk, Saoirse Ethnic Hands on Deck, The Dialogue Code and Trauma Responsive Education are among 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. These funds aim to support and develop social enterprises across Ireland who work to improve the lives of communities.
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 more than 16,500 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.
Cork-based awardees include:
• KindFolk, which was established in 2021 and is located in Cork city, operates an online second-hand clothing store for children’s clothes, with funding gained from sales directed to women and children living in Direct Provision or Emergency Accommodation.
• Saoirse Ethnic Hands on Deck, a cooperative social enterprise based in Cork city that provides training on craft-making and sells handmade crafts made by migrant women, resulting in employment opportunities and a connected community for vulnerable groups throughout Cork.
• The Dialogue Code, based in Shearwater, West Cork, has been paving the way for discussion on diversity for the last decade and hosts change management workshops addressing current challenges that employees experience in the workplace with juggling family and life commitments.
• With a focus on creating safe environments in education, Trauma Responsive Education, located in Kinsale, enables educators to recognise, respond and effectively support children in learning environments who may have experienced traumatic life events.
• Together Razam Centre is set up in Cork city and holds a focus on improving integration, inclusion and the mental wellbeing of migrants in Ireland. Together Razem Centre offer information, advice and support for migrant communities in Cork and nationwide.
Tim Lucey, Chief Executive of Cork County Council said: “We would like to extend our congratulations to each awardee on their success in receiving a Social Enterprise Fund Award from Rethink Ireland.
“Coming out of an extremely challenging period for Irish society, we’re delighted with this good news story for Cork. Social enterprises have an important role to play in guiding Ireland to become a more inclusive and equal society. Organisations like KindFolk and Together Razem Centre are leading the charge by not only creating jobs but working towards bringing about positive social change.”