Social Innovation Ireland (SIFI ), in partnership with Westmeath County Council has officially launched the second year of the €1.6m Social Enterprise Development Fund. The fund is financed by the Department of Rural and Community Development, from the Dormant Accounts Fund and IPB Insurance and will continue to provide critical support to the most innovative and impactful social enterprises in Ireland so that they can sustain and scale their impact across the country.
Last year’s awardees include Westmeath based social enterprise project, Helium Arts, who provide child centred creative and playbased interventions, through Creative Health Hubs which connect chronically ill children with their peers and professional artists.
This year, social enterprises will have a chance to win cash grant amounts ranging from €10,000 up to €50,000. Sixteen successful applicants will each win a cash investment and a place on Ireland’s only National Accelerator Programme for social enterprises.
The Accelerator Programme provides training from best in class experts across the private, non profit and public sectors and is designed to equip social enterprises to expand their business skills and deepen their impact within their communities and across the country. This year, the Accelerator Programme will include an Accelerator Fund, whereby each participant will have an opportunity to pitch for a share of an additional €100,000 in funding on completion of the six month programme.
The fund is now open for applications from social enterprises in Westmeath.
Hugh O’Reilly, Chief Executive of Westmeath County Council, noted, “the Social Enterprise Development Fund presents a great opportunity for social enterprises to achieve their goals and ultimately create measurable social impact in their communities and across Ireland. We hope to see all of Westmeath’s innovative social enterprise projects apply to be part of this excellent funding initiative in 2019.”
The fund is now open for applications from social enterprises until 25th January 2019. Further details are available on www.socialinnovation.ie
