SCCUL Enterprises CLG has been awarded Social Enterprise of the Year 2022 by the All Ireland Business Foundation. In a virtual ceremony just before Christmas the local social enterprise were announced as top of their category for the year.
SCCUL Enterprises CLG is a registered charity set up by but independent to St. Columba’s Credit Union, Galway in 2002. As a not for profit, social enterprise, SCCUL aims to champion societal change by promoting community, enterprise, wellbeing and social inclusion.
This is achieved through a number of successful initiatives including SCCUL Enterprise Centre, Ballybane where local enterprises and community groups can avail of affordable space and support services.
Through the operation of a two-tier social inclusion model, SCCUL uses income generated from commercial interactions to offset the cost associated with the provision of facilities and services to local community groups.
The SCCUL Enterprise Centre strives to encourage the establishment and growth of start-ups and small businesses. The Centre comprises of independent business units, shared office space with individual pods and hot desks, a number of conference rooms, a holistic counselling suite and a shared canteen.
SCCUL also operates bizmentors a mentoring programme for start-ups and existing businesses currently servicing Galway City & County. It provides free access to business expertise and wisdom to people in small businesses who may otherwise have difficulty in accessing such support. bizmentors has provided 6000+ hours of mentoring to local business for free.
The rapid growth and success of the bizmentors program has seen it recognised by the European Union and was funded to roll-out across 4 regions in northern Europe as a pilot programme between 2018 and 2021 as Bizmentors International which has just been awarded bridging funding for the next six months to bring it to the next stage.
SCCUL also operates SCCUL Sanctuary in Kilcornan, Clarinbridge which was set up to provide a safe space for people facing life challenges. SCCUL Sanctuary runs tailored therapeutic retreat days for community groups and members of the public who are facing a crisis in their lives or in need of healing and an extensive range of therapies & services to improve the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing.
The sanctuary is also available for private hire, team building days and corporate meetings. Funds raised from hire of the space enables therapy days both online and at the centre.
SCCUL also operates Ballinfoile Castlegar Neighbourhood Centre on behalf of Galway City Council. The centre comprises of an Olympic standard Sports Hall, fully equipped for Basketball, Indoor Soccer and Badminton, three meeting rooms, furnished with the highest spec audio visual. A General Purpose Room which can cater for an array of activities such as yoga, zumba, aerobics etc.
CEO Aoibheann McCann said that they are delighted to receive this accolade, as it is a testimony to the incredible work of their board, staff and volunteers over the past twenty years.
