Did you know that in Galway you can get your bike fixed AND help your community? You can also dump your mattress, learn to walk a tightrope, rent a community space, even listen to the radio while at the same time help your community, the environment and disadvantaged groups in Galway.
This is because the organisations who provide these services are social enterprises. A social enterprise is a business that works primarily to improve the lives of people. They create jobs, work with disadvantage groups, help the environment, and provide much needed services in the heart of the communities.
The ‘Choose Galway Social Enterprise’ campaign has been launched today by a group of social enterprises in Galway to raise awareness about the importance of discovering and choosing social enterprises. The Galway social enterprises involved in the campaign are: An Mheitheal Rothar; Bounce Back Recycling; Galway City Partnership; Galway Community Circus; GO COM Radio and Westside Resource Centre. You might be familiar with these organisations, but you might not know that they are social enterprises and that you can make a bigger social impact by choosing their products and services. There are many other social enterprises to discover in Galway.
Social enterprises operate like any other business, they are professional and work to high standards. But the difference is they reinvest all the profits back into the business they run, creating a valuable ‘circular’ economy in their communities. So while other services are similar to social enterprises, the difference social enterprises make to the community is huge.
Social enterprises can be found throughout Ireland in every sector including health and care, food and agriculture, tourism and hospitality, transport, recycling and also the entertainment sector. They can be coffee shops, community centres, recycling centres and even a circus!
“By choosing to use goods and services from social enterprises, you are increasing their positive social impact and keeping value in your community by creating jobs, helping disadvantage groups and providing essential services for the community”, says Fiona Blaney, Social Enterprise Officer of Galway City Partnership, “ We are asking people to discover the social enterprises in their area and to understand how they are making a big difference to their community by ensuring it is more inclusive, resilient and sustainable.”
Social enterprises find solutions for issues in communities and they are at the front line of social change. They identify the needs of the community and respond to them in an agile way, by creating jobs, looking after disadvantaged groups and creating much needed services. Active engagement with social enterprises is one of the best ways to make permanent change for your community. They bring hope that things can get better.
“We want people to think about social enterprises when they are making a decision about a service or product such as: disposing of their old mattress; getting their bike fixed; hiring a hall; listening to radio; looking for a fun activity to do like circus!’, says Fiona Blaney, “ Your decision to choose social can help improve life for people in your community.”
Galway City Partnership is a local and community development company working in Galway City. Our aim is to tackle disadvantage and social exclusion – and focus particularly on helping those who are long term unemployed.
An Mheitheal Rothar is a social enterprise that encourages and nurtures a culture of cycling in Galway by establishing a practical, ethically motivated facility and social hub, which encourages a strong community and promotes the health and environmental benefits of cycling.
Bounce Back Recycling is a social enterprise that delivers social and environmental impact while also providing job opportunities for people who experience barriers to employment.
Galway Community Circus is a social enterprise circus which empowers young people to be active citizens, confident in themselves, considerate of others, and equipped to take risks, try new things and persist when faced with personal challenges.
GO COM is a community radio social enterprise that creates, produces, and broadcast media content to provide valuable services for ethnic minorities and marginalised listeners.
Westside Resource Centre is a social enterprise that are involved with community initiatives in the local area. The centre provides sustainable employment through the centre and hires out rooms and provides office space and facilities to local and national groups at reasonable rates.
To find out more about the ‘Choose Galway Social Enterprise’ you can contact Fiona Blaney, Social Enterprise Officer at Galway City Partnership at [email protected] or 086 7709919
