Carndonagh-based Spraoi agus Spórt are calling on the public to help them pick up the highly-coveted ‘Social Enterprise of the Year’ award for the third year in a row at the prestigious Charity Impact Awards 2020.
Presented by The Wheel (the national association of charities, community & voluntary organisations and social enterprises), the Charity Impact Awards celebrate the positive impact these organisations – and the individuals behind them – make in the lives of millions of people in Ireland and beyond.
With one-third of an entry’s final score being determined by public voting this year (& the remaining two-thirds by a judging panel) Spraoi agus Spórt are therefore encouraging people to vote online for their social enterprise via The Wheel website up until the closing date of 24 November 2020.
Four other social enterprises are in the running to be named ‘Social Enterprise of the Year 2020’ – Cope Galway, Airfield Estate, MyMind and FoodCloud.
Spraoi agus Spórt – Social Enterprise of the Year 2019
Co-founder and CEO of Spraoi agus Spórt Helen Nolan said: “We’re delighted to have been shortlisted again by The Wheel for the ‘Social Enterprise of the Year’ award.
“With the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in early March and two subsequent lockdowns, 2020 really has been a difficult and uncertain year for so many charities, community & voluntary organisations and social enterprises the length and breadth of the country.
“However, at Spraoi agus Spórt we strongly believe we have risen to the challenge of Covid-19 and have continued to provide vital services for children, teenagers and families throughout Inishowen.
“During the pandemic we delivered wide-ranging supports to our local community – including 898 calls taken through our Project Cineál grocery & prescriptions delivery service for older people, over 200 parcels delivered through the Inishowen Food Bank, 2,500 hours of alternative respite for families of children and teenagers with a disability and/or autism, and the production of over 1,000 visors for local frontline workers at our state-of-the-art FabLab facility.
“During the Covid-19 restrictions we also provided hugely successful Zoom activities throughout the summer months and the Halloween break aimed at educating & entertaining children and teenagers in a creative way – which has helped so many parents in terms of respite and their child’s mental health and wellbeing.
“In addition, Spraoi agus Spórt are also in the process of developing exciting new plans for a ‘Digital & Creative Hub’ in Carndonagh which will support local entrepreneurship and the creative economy – and will be a key economic driver in the recovery of the town and surrounding areas following the Covid-19 crisis.
“I would therefore encourage as many people as possible to vote for Spraoi agus Spórt as ‘Social Enterprise of the Year 2020’ via our Facebook page, our website www.spraoiagussport.ie, The Wheel website https://a.cstmapp.com/voteme/898004/641368504 , texting 0868420203 or emailing info@spraoiagussport.ie for details.
“Indeed, we are currently in second place and really need your vote to top the poll!
“By simply taking a minute to vote, you’ll not only be endorsing the drive, commitment and ambition of Spraoi agus Spórt staff and volunteers during 2020, but also be helping us to make it a hat-trick of wins for Inishowen and the county of Donegal!”
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, the winner of ‘Social Enterprise of the Year 2020’ will be announced on Tuesday 8 December (from 4:30 to 6pm) at a special online awards ceremony hosted by The Wheel.
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