€680,000 has been shared among 50 organisations under the Awareness Raising Initiative for Social Enterprise (ARISE) scheme. The scheme is designed to raise awareness of social enterprises and their positive impact in communities.

Due to the high number of applications received, the funding being was increased from €500,000 to €680,000.

ARISE grants of up to €10,000 went to 42 groups, including for example:

  • Féach, Co Wicklow is a support group for parents of blind and visually impaired children (€10,000).

W: http://www.feach.ie/

  • Sensational Kids, Co Kildare, provides subsidised therapy supports to children of all abilities (€9,000).

W: https://www.sensationalkids.ie/

  • Siel Bleu Ireland, Co Dublin, offers exercise supports for people in residential and day care centres (€10,000).

W: https://www.sielbleu.ie/

  • Comharchumann Forbartha Cill tSeadhna Teo, in Geesala, Co Mayo provides meals on wheels for older people, along with a community laundry service (€10,000).

W: https://www.facebook.com/mealsonwheelsgeesala

  • Waterford-based Grow It Yourself is a national organisation that works to give people confidence and skills to grow fruit and vegetables successfully (€10,000).

W: https://giy.ie/

Eight applicants were awarded up to €50,000 as follows:

  • Dublin South City Partnership €50,000.
  • Enactus Ireland €40,000.
  • Irish Local Development Network €39,750.
  • Irish Social Enterprise Network €37,370.
  • National Association of Community Enterprise Centres €42,735.
  • Rethink Ireland €50,000.
  • The Rediscovery Centre €18,500.
  • Údarás na Gaelthachta €45,000.

The announcement was made by Minister Heather Humphreys, on Dec. 3rd. A list of the 50 social enterprises receiving funding is available on the Dept. of Rural and Community Development’s website, at:

https://bit.ly/DRCD-ORF-socent

The scheme was set up in pursuit of aims set out in the National Social Enterprise Policy launched in 2019 – see report below:

Ireland’s first national social enterprise policy welcomed by sector

For previous coverage of social enterprise, click: https://www.changingireland.ie/page/2/?s=social+enterprise