Do you know what a Social Enterprise is? Do you know what Social Enterprises are already doing in Sligo? Here’s your chance to find out more!
During October 2022 the first Sligo Social Enterprise Awareness month is being initiated with social enterprise content shared via the Sligo: Live Invest Visit social media channels and on the Sligo.ie website throughout the course of the month. In conjunction with other agencies, the Economic unit of Sligo County Council sought funds through the Department of Rural and Community Development to embark on an awareness campaign to promote the excellent work carried out by existing social enterprises in Sligo and to encourage more groups to go down that road.
This awareness project forms part of the Awareness Raising Initiatives for Social Enterprise (ARISE) scheme. The project was approved by Government with support from the Dormant Accounts Fund.
Chief Executive of Sligo County Council, Martin Lydon states that
“the objective of the Sligo Social Enterprise Awareness month is to help increase awareness of social enterprises and their potential to deliver sustainable and inclusive development in alignment with the National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland 2019-2022. A new social enterprise landing page has been set-up on Sligo.ie that features profiles of some of the social enterprises operating in County Sligo and the varied services that they provide”.
The National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland defines a social enterprise as an enterprise whose objective is to achieve a social, societal or environmental impact, rather than maximising profit for its owners or shareholders. It pursues its objectives by trading on an ongoing basis through the provision of goods and/or services and by reinvesting surpluses into achieving social objectives.
The Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Cllr. Michael Clarke notes that,
“in Sligo, social enterprises are providing a diverse range of services right across the county in areas such as tourism, heritage, recreation, remote working and community services. The social impact of the work that social enterprises carry out is far reaching and they are a growing part of social and economic life in Ireland”.
Social enterprise is a growing and vibrant strand of the wider economic and social landscape. Within Ireland, many social enterprises have their roots in the community and voluntary sector or were established by entrepreneurs that have utilised the social enterprise model to achieve their core mission objectives.
Sligo LEADER Partnership CEO, John Feerick says that
“social enterprises play an important role in the local economy and in social and cultural development. They are entrepreneurial and innovative and help to improve the lives of people. Sligo LEADER Partnership supports the development of new and existing social enterprises through component activities of the LEADER and SICAP programmes”.
The development of social enterprise is supported at EU level. In December 2021 the European Commission adopted an Action Plan on the European social economy. It was noted as part of the plan that there are an estimated 2.8 million social economy entities in Europe that employ 13.6 million people. This equates to 6.3% of the workforce. In Ireland, the Department of Rural and Community Development is assigned responsibility for the implementation of the National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland 2019-2022. This is the first national policy produced that supports the development of Social Enterprise sector in Ireland. The policy focuses on three key objectives:
For more information on the Sligo Social Enterprise Awareness month visit www.sligo.ie/socialenterprise
Ballisodare Men’s Shed was founded in 2013 and moved into the community facility at Youngs Quarry in 2015 after upgrading the building interior. The shed is a community based non commercial based organisation, open to all.
The primary activity is the provision of a safe friendly inclusive environment where the members can discuss and work on meaningful projects together and which promotes the health and well-being of all members.
The Shedders slogan is; “Men don’t talk face to face, they talk shoulder to shoulder”
Thanks to the hardworking Ballisodare Community Amenity & Centre Committee chaired by Pat Barrett Ballisodare Men’s Shed have a state of the art space which allows them to further develop our activities and the new workshop provides us with an opportunity to demonstrate and improve woodworking skills.
The hall facility also allows us to increase the places available to both men and women playing indoor bowls and our social calendar includes many events and trips such as our annual trip to the Tubbercurry Drama Festival, cinema outings and of course the Christmas Party which is always well attended and enjoyable!
The major interest at the moment is the indoor bowling. They intend to develop links with other indoor bowls clubs in the county and participate in bowl blizes. This year the Shed were successful in applying for a SICAP Community Grant towards some bowling equipment.
There is also an extremely active walking group which meets each Tuesday at 11am and participants go on long hikes nationwide as well as short trips around Union Wood.
The current activities reflect the interests of the present members however we welcome new members suggestions on activities and new ideas.
There is always a warm invitation for new members to come and join our group, bring their skills and learn new ones.
For more information on Ballisodare Men’s Shed
please phone Andrew on 087 9137012
Join the Sligo LEADER Mailing List for regular updates!
County Sligo LEADER Partnership CLG,
Hanson Building, Doorly Park, Sligo F91 P7N2
Sligo Town: Pearse House, 3/4 Pearse Road, Sligo F91 K0VC
Ballymote: Lord Edward Street, Ballymote, Sligo F56NX94