The No Barriers Foundation in Donegal has been announced as one of 28 Awardees of Rethink Ireland’s Social Enterprise Development Fund and Social Enterprise Start-Up Fund.
The No Barriers Foundation, based in Letterkenny, assists those with varying levels of disability who experience challenges in finding appropriate post-care support after being discharged from the HSE.
The Foundation tackles the issue of increased social marginalisation of this group by providing ongoing specialist support services in an affordable manner in a socially inclusive gym environment.
No Barriers was named as an Awardee of Rethink Ireland’s Social Enterprise Development Fund at a celebratory lunch event held at Airfield Estate in Dublin last week.
The €4.4 million Social Enterprise Development Fund (2018 – 2023) has been delivered annually from 2018 and will continue until 2023, with support from IPB Insurance and the Department of Rural and Community Development via the Dormant Accounts Fund.
To date the Social Enterprise Development Fund has helped over 500 people gain employment through 112 social enterprises and has mobilised over 16,507 volunteers.
Awardees were also announced for the Social Enterprise Start-Up Fund (2021-2022), an €800,000 Fund developed in partnership with the Department of Rural and Community Development via the Dormant Accounts Fund, aiming to support social enterprises at the start-up and early stage of existence.
Richard Gavin, Assistant Principal at Department of Rural and Community Development stated: “Recipients of this funding and support are playing a key role in developing communities nationwide and I want to extend my congratulations to all Awardees. With their commitment and dedicated work, these enterprises are making a true social and economic impact on their local communities, while also tackling key social issues that we face today. They are inspirations for the next generation of social enterprises, and we look forward to continuing to support them as they progress and develop further.”
CEO of Rethink Ireland, Deirdre Mortell commented on the Awardee announcement stating: “Social enterprises are part of the social fabric of our communities as they play a key role in developing solutions to the biggest challenges we face on a daily basis. From a toy library that offers rental toys to families to reduce waste, to a therapeutic adventure group focused on tackling youth mental health difficulties, or a heart-warming community centre that is integrating and including immigrants and refugees into Irish society through support and learning opportunities, social enterprises show a deep level of care for everyone in a community across Ireland. We are so thankful to our supporting partners and are delighted to have the opportunity to support these wonderful organisations.”
IPB Insurance Chief Executive Michael Garvey said “Working alongside our local authority Members, our collaboration with Rethink Ireland and the Department has proven hugely successful in attracting and supporting social enterprises that are making a real difference in addressing social needs in their communities. The social enterprise sector in Ireland is going from strength to strength and is playing an increasing role in strengthening the sustainability and resilience of communities across the country. It is important that social enterprises continue to be nurtured by recognising the importance of the sector and providing assistance through financial and business supports.”
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