Celebrating 10 years.179 social entrepreneurs.

Looking forward to a bright future.

“From a little spark may burst a flame.”Dante

ContentsCEO Introduction 212 Months in Numbers 3Impact 4Impact Updates 5SEI at 10 Years - The Journey to Date 6Awards Sponsor - DCC plc 1110 Years - Highlights 122014 Awards 142014 Awardees 15Karen Leigh 16Aoibheann O’Brien & Iseult Ward 18Elizabeth Waters 20Raymond Burke 22Adam Harris 24Mairead Healy 26Joan Henderson 28Jean O’Brien 30Jennifer Ryan 32Selection Process 34Elevator Programme 35Impact Programme 36Alumni Network 37The Impact Series 38Social Entrepreneurs Exchange 39SEI Connect 40School for Social Entrepreneurs 41Join Us 42Our Partners 43The Team 44

Back then we went on instinct to seek out and support individuals that were developing big, new ideas to tackle Irish social problems. We knew that these ideas might not succeed, but we knew that if they did, the social impact would be transformative.

This optimism is critical to bringing about any major change. When you look coldly on the challenges that we are facing in Ireland, it would be easy to give up in despair. The problems we are facing can sometimes seem too great, too entrenched. But optimism changes the way you see the world. It forces you to focus on potential, to seek out opportunities as they arise and take full advantage of them. Optimism empowers us to find our own role in improving the society that we live in.

And social entrepreneurs are eternal optimists.

The 179 social entrepreneurs that we have supported over the last 10 years are tackling some of the biggest challenges in Irish society, challenges that to many would have seemed insurmountable. They aren’t blind to the obstacles that stand in their way but they choose to believe that they can overcome them.

But optimism in isolation is just a pipe-dream. It requires action to turn vision into reality. And this is where social entrepreneurs set themselves apart. They show the courage of their convictions not just to believe that things can be better, but they take action to actually make it happen, to turn their ideas into impact.

Back in 2004 our optimism was founded on hope, today it is based on 10 years of experience, evidence and impact. We are even more optimistic now because we know that social entrepreneurship works.

So as we mark the journey so far and look forward to the next 10 years, we are optimistic about the future for Ireland. We know that social entrepreneurs will play a crucial role in creating the society that we all want to live in. At Social Entrepreneurs Ireland we have now laid the foundations and created a movement that has already had a massive impact across the island of Ireland. Now we want to further increase that impact in the years ahead and do whatever it takes to ensure that the best social entrepreneurs get the support they need to succeed.

As we begin the next phase in our journey, I invite you to join us.

We’re just getting started.

Darren Ryan, Chief Executive

OptimismTen years ago Social Entrepreneurs Ireland took a shot in the dark. We knew there were big challenges in Ireland that weren’t being solved, and we saw an untapped resource within Irish society. We were optimistic that, given the opportunity, Irish communities could provide the solutions to some of our biggest challenges.

2

Number of towns/ cities visited on the

SEI Roadshow(2013 = 0)

7

Number of followers on Facebook and Twitter

(2013 = 9,176)

11,341

Number of professionals who provided pro-bono

support to us and our social entrepreneurs

(2013 = 207)

276

Number of hours of assessment of applications for

Awards Programme(2013 = 526)

567

Hours spent in individual workshops

(2013 = 396)

504

Number of participants at Social Entrepreneurs

Exchange(2013 = 69)

93

Number of entrepreneurs at Social Entrepreneurs

Bootcamp(2013 = 40)

50

Number of news articles

(2013 = 65)

65

Number ofindividual

workshops(2013 = 175)

237

Number of interviews held to select the Award winners

(2013 = 66)

69

Number of attendees at The Impact Series

(2013 = 387)

200

Number of attendees at SEI Roadshow events

(2013 = 0)

156

Number of visitors to socialentrepreneurs.ie

(2013 = 45,699)

50,546

Number of Impact Series

events held(2013 = 3)

2

Number of group training workshops

(2013 = 10)

24

Number of Social Entrepreneurs

Exchange events(2013 = 2)

Number of attendees at SEI Connect events

(2013 = 0)

48Number of

SEI Connect events(2013 = 0)

2

3

Our Investment179

Social entrepreneurs supported by Social Entrepreneurs Ireland

since 2004

e5.82 millionMoney invested in their

projects since 2004

ImPACt FIGures(based on our work with 10 social

entrepreneurs over a 12 month period)

44,959Estimated number of people directly impacted

4,496Average number of people directly impacted

by each social entrepreneur

e4.64Additional funding raised for every

e1 invested by Social Entrepreneurs Ireland

121Number of people in paid employment with

these 10 social entrepreneurs

nAture OF ImPACt(Primary focus of the 10 social entrepreneurs

we worked with over the last 12 months)

Provided a model that others can replicate

Created awareness of an issue

4

Provided a new service or facility

irish men’s sheds Association2013 impact AwardeeHaving increased the number of Sheds from 170 to 226 in the last 12 months, the Irish Men’s Sheds Association has expanded its work to support over 6,500 men, with the organisation now operating in every county on the island of Ireland.

Neuro Hero2012 impact AwardeeThe past year has seen Neuro Hero expand their operations into the UK, Spain and the USA. With over 4,500 customers served so far this year, the organisation continues to provide life changing support to people living with communication difficulties at home and abroad.

mymind2013 impact AwardeeWith two centres now open in Dublin, and one centre each in Cork and Limerick, MyMind has worked with over 5,200 clients in the past 12 months, up from 4,400 the previous year. MyMind’s work is made possible through a team of over 75 mental health professionals.

soar2012 impact AwardeeThe numbers participating in Soar workshops have jumped dramatically from 1,475 to 6,700 in the past 12 months. The organisation is now operating in 19 counties across the island of Ireland, delivering early intervention emotional well-being programmes to young people in Ireland’s schools.

CoderDojo2012 impact AwardeeDespite the departure of James Whelton as CEO, the CoderDojo Foundation continues to go from strength to strength with 20,000 individuals impacted in the past 12 months, up from 7,500 in 2013. Operating at a global level, the organisation is now active in over 50 countries around the world.

ImPACt uPdAtes

irish Community Rapid Response2013 impact AwardeeInitially based in Cork, Irish Community Rapid Response has expanded its work into Donegal, Mayo and Wicklow in the last year. Having responded to more than 300 callouts in the past 12 months, the organisation continues to save lives, operating as an additional support to our emergency services.

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‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has’. So said the American anthropologist Margaret Mead. Like so many of the organisations it supports, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland did not start out with defined grand plans or a clear route map. It started with an idea, a powerful one at that, to support a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens. These citizens would, however, have a particular edge; they would have the distinctive characteristics of being entrepreneurs with broad visions and a deep passion for systemic social change.

What we see as Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (SEI) today, is the result of an evolutionary process, one that has examined the context in Ireland, designing a route map strategically along the way. Ten years on, as a movement of social entrepreneurship has taken shape in Ireland, SEI has become a pivotal player in the arena. Making an array of daring decisions and with a belief in the impossible, SEI has managed to ride the wave of one of Ireland’s deepest recessions. In doing so it has supported 179 social entrepreneurs to date and laid a solid path for more to come.

the early days

The idea emerged in an unusual context. It was 2004. The Celtic Tiger was on the prowl, giving Ireland the veneer of a prosperous, rapidly growing economy. But behind the scenes, for those working on the margins of society and at the coalface of social change, the picture was not so promising. Poverty, social inequality, unequal educational standards, the lack of adequate health services and the poor understanding of mental health in particular - to name but a few - were problems which the Tiger was so easily bypassing and which were clearly not going away.

Declan Ryan and Deirdre Mortell from The One Foundation knew this all too well. As a business entrepreneur, Declan had a hunch that a business mindset could be used to address these systemic challenges. He could also see that a local, community response was required in tackling them. ‘I think it would be remiss to say that we had this wonderful idea that was going to become the powerhouse that SEI did’, explained Declan, ‘but one thing we did feel was that there was something community based that we should look at’.

taking a chance to look back on the past ten years, we asked 2007 seI Award Winner, author and social entrepreneur Clare mulvany to provide a retrospective portrait of our journey. Here are her words.

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seI at 10 Years - the Journey

to date

The next step was to hire Seán Coughlan to help investigate the landscape. They quickly realised that an indigenous response, one which takes in the unique circumstances and conditions of Ireland, was needed. ‘We came to the conclusion that the best way to do that was to roll up our sleeves and to do it ourselves’, explained Seán, who would soon find himself to be driving the first ever social entrepreneurship initiative in Ireland. To him, one thing was plainly clear, ‘We would never get to a depth of understanding sitting in the side wings and writing cheques’.

It was indeed time to roll up their sleeves. Thus began the hard work of building a support programme for social entrepreneurs from scratch. What’s more, the term ‘social entrepreneur’ was little known in Ireland and required both explanation and, to an extent, a justification that the concepts of entrepreneurship and social change were compatible. The justification came quickly by way of the first round of Awards that were made in 2005. ‘The first Awardees were so good that it caused a ripple effect’, said Declan, ‘There were loads of risks but when you have a success they don’t feel like risks’.

early Key decisionsEarly on, some key strategic decisions were also made which set the course for the shape and pace of the support programme. As Seán explained, firstly, investments would be made to individuals and not necessarily formal structured organisations. ‘I critically think that this engendered a very deep relationship of trust between ourselves and our social entrepreneurs. We were making big statements about the integrity, passion and belief that we saw in our social entrepreneurs’.

There were other key early stage decisions, one being that substantial funding, in the region of €80,000, could be invested. Seán again elaborated, ‘If you have a new solution it requires investment early on, when you don’t have the credibility, track record or the evidence. We were supporting organisations before other funders would consider them. So providing that significant seed capital was one of the more helpful things we could do’.

George Boyle. Social Entrepreneur. Independent Architect. Founder of The Fumbally Exchange.

seán Coughlan. Former CEO of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (2004-2014).

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LeverageProviding an Award also proved to be a significant move, with many of the social entrepreneurs reporting that the backing from SEI meant they could rally additional funding, supporters and credibility. ‘Getting an Award from a body which was quickly seen to be a national level body and having Declan Ryan behind it, also helped’ explained Colman Farrell, who was one of the first Awardees for his work with Suas. Niamh Gallagher from Women for Election reported similar leverage potential from the Awards. ‘After we got the SEI Award, The Joseph Rowntree Foundation and The Ireland Funds funding came through. They could see, “here is one strong pillar, we will not lose by backing these guys’”, she said.

Building CapacityAlongside the financial investment, SEI – which set up as an independent organisation outside of the One Foundation in 2007- went on to develop a capacity development programme for all of the Awardees and organisations they invested in. For Krystian Fikert from MyMind this form of support was pivotal. As a clinical psychologist it helped him transition into the role of an effective leader. He explained that it taught him, ‘how to structure, how to develop an organisation and how to execute strategy’.

For Niamh Gallagher this capacity development piece was also crucial. ‘It was kind of gruelling, but really important’, she laughed, knowingly. ‘They really helped us put the right building blocks in place to be a proper functioning professional organisation’.

social Entrepreneurship EcosystemAlongside the Awards Programme SEI set out on a path to strategically develop an ecosystem of social entrepreneurship in Ireland and to bring the terminology of social entrepreneurship into mainstream media and to government. ‘I don’t think that we would have the level of social entrepreneurs or the visibility of social entrepreneurs without SEI’, said Niamh. George Boyle, founder of The Fumbally Exchange, is in agreement. ‘SEI has brought the concept of social entrepreneurship to the living room.

They have taken it from the fringe’. SEI’s role in building the social entrepreneurial sector has undoubtedly been aided by the volume of support, funding and strategic alliances they have been able to engage with organisations like The Iris O’Brien Foundation, KPMG and PEI.

The Ireland Funds is one such example, which, as their Director, Caitriona Fottrell explained, has been tracking the progress of SEI since its origins. ‘I think that SEI has taken some very traditional organisations or problems and helped people to find a more entrepreneurial way, and I think that was crucial’. The Ireland Funds has been investing in SEI from the early days and this year they have committed a significant investment. Why? ‘Because of the impact they are making. I think they are so professional. I have never met a person who I have thought wasn’t hugely committed and smart. In ten years of knowing them, they have never failed to impress me. I think they are brilliant and I can’t be neutral on that. I think this is the One Foundation’s finest legacy. From the Ireland Fund’s point of view, there is just a real synergy for us’.

synergiesSynergy is a good word to describe some of the additional alliances that have emerged over the years. As a law firm, for example, A&L Goodbody represents many entrepreneurs and start-ups, and so, when the opportunity to engage with SEI emerged, there were ‘a lot of resonances’, according to Paul White, who has championed the partnership. For Ann Keenan from DCC plc, the flagship sponsors of the SEI Awards Ceremony since 2011, the value lies in realising that they too benefit from connecting with the social entrepreneurs, ‘We operate in a challenging commercial environment’, said Ann, ‘Our involvement with SEI has added a different and rewarding dimension to our working life’.

Many of the Awardees however would go beyond the word synergy to explain the impact that the Award has had on them. For Niamh Gallagher, it has been ‘completely life changing’. For her, the recognition at the early concept stage, when she was working from her kitchen table, affirmed her decision to set up the organisation and gave her the confidence to push

‘throughout history we have needed torch-bearers, or luminaries, to help light and lead the way’

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‘What we see as social entrepreneurs Ireland today is the result of an evolutionary process’

through the initial hard times. ‘You are asking people to buy into this idea - it is a notion, it is nothing more. But then when an organisation like SEI says, “we think what you are doing is worthwhile”, then the spur it gave to me personally was enormous’.

Part of building the ecosystem of social entrepreneurs has also been the building of a network of Alumni and wider supporters. For George Boyle it was the network which SEI introduced her to which has been vital. ‘First it is the community it introduces you to - I think that the alumni they have gathered is where the real gold is’.

risk takingIt would be remiss too in writing a review of the last ten years not to mention the challenges and the risks taken. Of all the projects that were invested in, many are still operating, but some are not. But that is the risk when taking on early stage projects, there will be an inevitable ‘failure’. For Caitriona Fottrell, this is an indicator that they have stayed true to their mission. ‘I hope that they have a bucketful of failure. That will show that they were willing to take risks’. Seán Coughlan puts it a slightly different way, ‘You can not generate innovation unless you are ready to invest in new ideas at some level. The ones that create real value, grow, and the ones that don’t, die out’.

Key LearningsFor the Awardees and the team in SEI there has been huge learning along the way too. As Seán highlighted, keeping focus has been critical to both the growth of SEI and for the organisations which it has supported. One of his own key learnings was about keeping this focus clear, and adapting it as you go.

For Declan Ryan, some of the learning has been about the importance of investing in the team. There is an almost paternal tone in his voice when he speaks of the success of Seán Coughlan, and an equal fondness in speaking of the team of ‘rock-stars’ which were hired subsequently including Lynda Stopford, Annalisa O’Carroll and Darren Ryan. ‘I think it is all about the team. The risks were the team’. For Declan, the risk paid off and the dividend was trust in them, especially around the times when new strategies were being developed and subsequently implemented.

Niamh Gallagher. Social Entrepreneur. Co-Founder of Women for Election.

Krystian Fikert. Social Entrepreneur. Psychologist. Founder of MyMind.

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Caitriona Fottrell. Director of the Ireland Funds.

‘the opportunity is for government to really engage and harness social entrepreneurial thinking’

10

Colman Farrell.Co-Founder of Suas and Co-Founder of The School for Social Entrepreneurs.

Onwards And so, 10 years on, it is fair to say that, yes, a lot has been done, and yes, there is a lot more to do. For Declan Ryan, his gaze is still on the future, ‘10 years is great, but it is a marathon. I understand why it is good to look back at the 10 years, but I think when you are 10 years old, you look at your teens quicker than looking backwards, so I would hate SEI to get stuck in history’. Darren Ryan, the newly appointed Chief Executive, shares a similar view ‘We’re taking this opportunity to reflect on the past ten years, but we’re not patting ourselves on the back just yet. We know there is such a huge task ahead of us and that the first ten years was just the beginning’.

For the Awardees, the future also presents some very interesting challenges, and with their patent-worthy optimism, exciting opportunities.

For Awardees like Niamh Gallagher, George Boyle and Krystian Fikert, part of the opportunity is for government to really engage and harness social entrepreneurial thinking. Social entrepreneurs can offer new skill sets and insights to government, from getting involved in key policy decisions and in strategic planning for long-term problems, to seeing task forces populated with social entrepreneurs. Social entrepreneurs also offer exceptional value for money and a strong return on investment, often finding solutions to problems at a much lower cost than traditional methods and models.

For Colman Farrell the field of social entrepreneurship, and the work it engages in, touches upon a very deep, philosophical and fundamentally human question: ‘it is about choosing our destiny, choosing where we want to be in a conscious way and taking responsibility for the world we have inherited’.

Choosing consciously and taking responsibility are undeniably enmeshed in determining a positive future. There will undoubtedly be dark and challenging times. There will be successes and there will be failures. Throughout history we have needed torch-bearers, or luminaries, to help light and lead the way. Could those torch-bearers be the social entrepreneurs of this generation, thoughtful and committed, guiding us forward, innovating and adapting each step of the way? It is unlikely that Margaret Mead would doubt this. Nor do Social Entrepreneurs Ireland. And with that conviction they are willing to invest and roll up their sleeves. Ten years on the marathon has commenced. Now the work really begins.

Clare mulvany

“We in DCC are proud to continue with our support of the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Awards. It is a great privilege to play a role in supporting Ireland’s brightest and most ambitious entrepreneurs working to have a positive impact on our society”.

Tommy Breen, CEO, dCC plc

Ann Keenan and Tommy Breen at the 2013 Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Awards.

DCC plc is an international sales, marketing, distribution and business support services group headquartered in Dublin with revenues of €13 billion and employing 10,000 people in 13 countries. DCC, a public company since 1994, is listed on the London stock Exchange.

Awards sponsor - dCC plc2014 will be the fourth year that DCC plc has sponsored the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Awards. The journey began five years ago when a number of the DCC team attended the 2009 SEI Awards. Impressed by the social entrepreneurs they met and looking for new ways to become actively involved in supporting positive social change in Ireland, DCC began a collaborative and mutually rewarding partnership with SEI.

‘As business people, entrepreneurship is at the core of our DNA’, Ann Keenan, Head of Group HR, (pictured left) explains. ‘So when we first met the team from SEI we immediately felt a close affinity with them’.

Alongside significant financial support, DCC staff have also applied their skills and talent to support SEI and their social entrepreneurs. They take part in all stages of the Awardee application process and have also had the opportunity to offer expertise and advice through the Social Entrepreneurs Exchange.

‘We operate in a challenging commercial environment’, said Ann, ‘and we have been inspired by the commitment and tenacity of the social entrepreneurs we have worked with. Our involvement with SEI has added a different and rewarding dimension to our working life’.

Following the success of the initial three years of investment, last year DCC decided to extend its sponsorship by at least a further two years, maintaining its strong support for and commitment to social entrepreneurship in Ireland.

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2004 2006 2008 20092005 2007One Foundation supports the social entrepreneurship theme which in time leads to the foundation of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland.

SEI commits to a 5 year partnership with Ashoka Ireland to support an Ashoka - SEI Fellowship programme.

Launch of the first ever SEI Awards programme and the first SEI Awards event is held in DCU.

SEI leaves the One Foundation, sets up as an independent organisation, moves to new offices on St. Stephen’s Green.

First SEI Board Meeting held.

The Iris O’Brien Foundation, comes on board as the first funder outside of The One Foundation.

NTR comes on board as SEI Awards Sponsor in a 3 year partnership.

SEI partner with Diageo on developing a new social entrepreneurship fund, the Arthur Guinness Fund, committing a €2.5 million investment into social entrepreneurs in Ireland.

The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese is guest keynote speaker at the SEI Awards held in The Exchange.

179 sOCIAL entrePreneurs suPPOrted sInCe 2004. e5.82 mILLIOn Invested In tHeIr PrOJeCts.

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SEI has now supported over 25 Awardees

SEI supports 2 Awardeesand hires its first full time

employee

SEI has nowsupported over 100 Awardees and now has4 employees

SEI has now supported over50 Awardees

and has 2 employees

10 Years - Highlights

2010 2012 2014

Looking forward to a bright future2011 2013

Major 3 year new strategic plan agreed, signalling significant changes and enhancements to SEI’s support for early stage social entrepreneurs.

SEI helps to bring the 8th European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA) Annual Conference to Dublin.

Seán Coughlan steps down as Chief Executive after 10 years and passes the baton to Darren Ryan.

School for Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Incubator Programme is launched with the support of SEI, JP Morgan Chase Foundation and The Atlantic Philanthropies.

SEI partners with The Atlantic Philanthropies to support the launch of Wave Change to support socially-committed and civic-minded under 25s.

DCC plc comes on board as SEI Awards Sponsor in a multi-year partnership.

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, attends the SEI Awards in The Exchange.

Minister with responsibility for social enterprise announced.

President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins is guest keynote speaker at SEI Awards held in Christ Church Cathedral.

Over 290,000 PeOPLe ImPACted.Over 970 emPLOYment OPPOrtunItIes CreAted.

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SEI has nowsupported over 150 Awardees

SEI has now 8 employees

A record 217 applicants apply for this

year’s support Programmes

At social Entrepreneurs ireland, we believe it is very important to recognise and celebrate the work of our Awardees. Each year we bring the impact and Elevator Awardees together at the annual Awards Ceremony to celebrate their achievements and introduce them to the incredible network of supporters of social Entrepreneurs ireland.

This year we celebrate the 10th annual Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Awards. At this event, we took time to look back and celebrate the social entrepreneurs who have carried the torch for social change in Ireland over the last decade. As we look forward with great optimism to the next 10 years, we congratulate the new Awardees who are ready to start the next chapter of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland’s journey.

This year’s Awards Ceremony took place on 12th November 2014 in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin with the keynote address delivered by Tony Griffin, 2012 SEI Award Winner & Co-Founder of Soar.

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15

2014Awardees

‘Children deserve a better future’

16

Karen Leigh

sensational Kids

A child development centre helping children with additional needs to improve their skills and maximise their potential.

the ChallengeA lack of affordable support services for children who are experiencing developmental delays, or those that have special educational needs, means that too many children in Ireland are struggling to reach their full potential. The figures themselves are startling; 1,940 children waiting more than a year for speech and language assessments, 2,090 children waiting more than a year for occupational therapy services, and more than 18,900 individuals, most of them children, still waiting to receive an appointment for speech and language therapy. Identifying and treating these difficulties at a young age will give a child a much better quality of life, but with lengthy public waiting lists, often the only alternative for families is expensive private sector care.

the IdeaExperiencing these difficulties first-hand, Karen became frustrated with the lengthy waiting lists her family faced in Ireland, not to mention the €120 an hour fees they had to pay for private occupational therapy. Determined to make a difference, she set out to create an affordable and accessible service that families like hers could benefit from. Established in 2007, Sensational Kids operates as a child development centre, providing three key offerings for children and their families; subsidised services for children in need of additional support, a child development and learning store providing a range of skill building toys and therapy products, and development training workshops for professionals working with children with special needs. Collectively, these services are ensuring that the children benefitting from them can improve their skills and maximise their potential.

the ImpactTo date Sensational Kids has worked with more than 2,250 children in their Kildare town centre, with an average of 180 children availing of their services every month. Thanks to the fantastic work of Karen and her team, these children are now being given the opportunity to excel. With their online store and retail shop helping to subsidise their services, Sensational Kids has already saved families in Ireland over €500,000 in therapy fees alone, providing a practical, accessible, and affordable service for those in need. Planning to expand its work over the coming years, Sensational Kids hopes to become Ireland’s leading non-profit child development and learning centre.

www.sensationalkids.ie @SenKidsCharity

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‘no good food should be wasted where people are hungry’

18

FoodCloud

An online platform that matches businesses that have too much food with charities that have too little.

the ChallengeIreland generates approximately 1 million tonnes of food waste annually, making us the 5th largest waster of food in the EU. What makes this problem even more alarming is the reality that 1 in 10 Irish people currently live in food poverty. Supermarkets, restaurants, cafés and caterers contribute significantly to the problem, but they are not solely to blame, with uncertain demand from consumers resulting in food often going unsold. This is perfectly good food that, as a consequence of the modern food system, fails to reach those that need it the most. With 450,000 Irish people going hungry, and businesses keen to improve efficiencies and reduce costs, Ireland is missing an exciting opportunity to resolve these two complementary challenges.

the IdeaDetermined to find a solution, Aoibheann and Iseult came together in 2013 to establish FoodCloud, an organisation committed to bringing the business community and charities together to reduce food waste and food poverty in Ireland. Using a smart phone app and website, FoodCloud makes the redistribution of surplus food as easy as possible, matching businesses with too much food, with charities that have too little. Retailers and businesses use the FoodCloud app to upload the details of their surplus food, with local charities receiving a text message notifying them of the availability of the donation. The charity can then collect this donation and distribute it to the individuals they support.

the ImpactSince its foundation, FoodCloud has rapidly expanded operations. Following a successful pilot programme with 38 charities and 18 stores, the organisation signed a partnership agreement with retail giant Tesco, allowing for the rollout of the FoodCloud app to their 145 stores nationwide. Tesco Ireland expect this partnership to be cost neutral, cancelling out the costs traditionally associated with the disposal of their surplus food. To date, FoodCloud have facilitated the redistribution of 123 tonnes of surplus food to a growing network of charities right around the country. Motivated by a desire to ensure that no good food goes to waste, Aoibheann and Iseult are perfectly positioned to become leaders in the fight against food waste not just in Ireland, but around the world.

www.foodcloud.ie @Foodcloudire

Aoibheann O’Brien &

Iseult Ward

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‘education lifts whole families out of poverty’

20

elizabeth Waters

virtual Community College

Bringing transformative education to communities struggling with poverty through a 21st century virtual learning environment.

the ChallengeEducational inequality remains a significant and substantial problem in Ireland, with research showing particularly high levels of educational disadvantage in communities struggling with poverty. With more than 750,000 people now living in poverty in Ireland, the economic crisis threatens to isolate an entire generation from the opportunities of a quality third-level education. While cost can often be a deterrent, other factors such as childcare and location of educational institutions all play a role in preventing an individual from engaging with the system. Although education continues to be revolutionised by technology, those with a poor history of education struggle to access learning online without the structure of a facilitated learning environment. As a result, the technological revolution in education has failed to improve the outcomes for those that need them most.

the IdeaAs CEO of An Cosán, Elizabeth has always recognised the power of education to lift whole families out of poverty. Having overseen a major period of development for the organisation, Elizabeth is stepping aside after 13 years in charge to commit herself full-time to the development of the Virtual Community College, a new initiative that combines the tailored support of community education with the low-cost of online learning. Making the curriculum available through an online platform, the Virtual Community College provides local facilitators to deliver the coursework in a community setting, no matter where in the country that might be. This approach doesn’t just provide increased access to educational opportunities for disadvantaged communities, but actually improves the quality of learning outcomes for those who participate.

the ImpactThe Virtual Community College has already completed a Special Purpose Award (Level 7) in Transformative Community Education, providing tutors with the skills they need to facilitate a virtual education. Spread across three centres in Dublin, Limerick and Longford, the 27 students involved have all completed their coursework successfully. With this early success under her belt, Elizabeth is now ready to scale this solution to the national level. Aiming to work with over 150 students in an additional 6 centres over the coming 12 months, Elizabeth is on course to provide an information-age solution to one of Ireland’s most entrenched social problems.

www.ancosan.com @an_cosan

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‘Adventure can change lives’

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raymond Burke

Active Connections

Providing support to young people at risk and their families through adventure based activities.

the ChallengeEvery year in Ireland around 21,000 young people receive some type of social work support, usually in the form of foster, residential or secure care. With many of these young people in care suffering from mental health or behavioural difficulties, additional services are often provided in an effort to improve outcomes. These services can range from art and drama therapy to traditional psychotherapy, but regardless of the type of intervention provided, they are not always effective. It’s estimated that 31% of young people leaving our care system are still suffering from a mental health problem and 53% are still struggling to cope with behavioural difficulties. All of this means that despite significant state investment, many people are still leaving Ireland’s care system with lifelong issues that are extremely difficult to overcome.

the IdeaFrom an early age Raymond was motivated to do something meaningful with his life. Having travelled to the United States in 2000 to take up a leadership role at an adventure based therapy company, Raymond witnessed the profound impact that this therapy can have in helping participants develop the life skills they desperately needed. Determined to bring his learning back to Ireland, Raymond founded Active Connections in 2011, offering young people in care the alternative option of adventure therapy. Adventure therapy involves the combination of physically and psychologically demanding activities, often in a group setting. This type of therapy involves high levels of engagement, challenging participants to confront their negative behaviours and to address their thought processes.

the ImpactTo date Active Connections have delivered their adventure therapy programme to 30 young people, with each participant needing to address a specific issue, ranging from attention deficit disorder to suicidal behaviours. With a 92% success rate amongst this initial group of participants, the organisation has helped the majority of these young people to reach their goals and reduce referring behaviours. As a result, more care placements have been maintained, eliminating the need for long-term, more expensive interventions. With so much promising work done to date, Raymond believes that Active Connections is well positioned to become Ireland’s number 1 adventure therapy provider by 2016.

www.activeconnections.ie @Actconn

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‘so everyone with Autism can live and succeed “as they are” ’

24

Adam Harris

AsIAm.ie

Promoting inclusion and challenging perceptions of autism in Ireland.

the ChallengeDespite affecting approximately 1 in 100 people, autism remains a relatively misunderstood condition in Ireland. Presenting significant challenges with issues such as communication, imagination, interaction and sensory processing, autism impacts the lives of individuals in various ways and to varying degrees. Despite its prevalence, those with the condition frequently feel isolated and disconnected. Parents who receive a diagnosis for a child often don’t know where to turn, and those living with the condition find it hard to come to terms with the challenges they face. While there is undoubtedly a responsibility on the medical and political professions to provide for this community, there is also a need for society at large to change how they see those with the condition.

the IdeaAdam was born with Asperger’s Syndrome, a condition on the high-functioning end of the autism spectrum. He considers himself extremely fortunate, having benefitted from early intervention, allowing him to lead an extremely full life today. Despite this positive outcome, he remained conscious of those that were unlikely to receive such support, and felt that he had a duty to give back. AsIAm.ie was established in 2013 with the goal of encouraging a society of inclusion. The organisation does this in four ways; Education, Empowerment, Advocacy, and Community Participation. The online platform allows the autism community across Ireland to communicate with each other, sharing knowledge and advice. In addition, AsIAm.ie is working with schools and businesses nationally, supporting individuals in these sectors who are committed to improving inclusion standards.

the ImpactAsIAm.ie is already impacting the autism community in Ireland. In the past 6 months alone the website has received over 17,000 visitors. Having recently launched its ‘Back to School’ Awareness Handbook - a tool for parents and teachers to deliver more effective lessons - AsIAm.ie is soon to rollout a workshop to over 200 schools across the country. Adam has also recruited 20 local liaison officers to help carry out the organisation’s mapping of national and local services for those in need. This combination of practical support and information sharing provides AsIAm.ie with the opportunity to substantially impact the lives of thousands of individuals and families around Ireland.

www.asiam.ie @AsIAmIreland

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‘every young person should have theopportunity to flourish’

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mairead Healy

Future voicesIreland

Providing young people from the most marginalised and dysfunctional backgrounds with the tools and knowledge they need to build their self-esteem.

the ChallengeDespite the various economic and educational improvements in Ireland in the last 30 years, a simple fact remains – your place of birth and where you live continue to dictate the scale of your opportunities. A young person growing up in the postcode of Dublin 6, for example, is over 6 times more likely to participate in third level education compared to their counterpart in Dublin 17, despite the fact that they are living less than 10km apart. Often young people growing up in these most marginalised backgrounds experience low self-esteem, poor support networks and have little hope for the future. This type of inequality severely diminishes their ability to identify the opportunities they have to build a better future.

the IdeaGrowing up in Derry, and raised in a turbulent household, Mairead and her siblings had a difficult childhood. It was this upbringing, in part, that later led to her brother’s suicide, a life-changing event that inspired Mairead to establish Future Voices Ireland, an organisation committed to empowering and supporting young people in disadvantaged communities. Giving a voice to the voiceless, Mairead hopes to level the playing field, providing those from the most marginalised and dysfunctional backgrounds with the tools and knowledge needed to build their self-esteem. Delivering programmes aimed at young people between the ages of 13 and 18, Future Voices Ireland provides participants with weekly interactive debates and talks from inspirational figures and prominent Irish leaders, reinforcing the learnings from these discussions through summer work placements.

the ImpactSo far, Future Voices Ireland has worked with 45 students from some of Ireland’s lowest performing schools. Already, programme participants have begun to demonstrate enhanced leadership capabilities; securing positions on government advisory panels, and producing award winning human rights documentaries on the challenges facing their communities. Future Voices Ireland has established an impressive 85% completion rate with those participating in their programmes, and is hoping to increase the number of students involved significantly over the coming 12 months. Ultimately, Mairead is working to ensure that Ireland is a truly inclusive society, valuing the voices and views of all of its citizens, irrespective of their socio-economic backgrounds.

www.futurevoicesireland.org @FutureVoicesIre

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‘I want a fair place for families living with disabilities’

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Joan Henderson

sólás

Delivering practical supports to enable families of disabled children to cope and feel supported.

the ChallengeA special needs diagnosis can have a life changing impact, not just on the young person involved, but on their entire family. In most cases a lack of affordable childcare options for children with special needs results in a parent or loved one having to step away from full-time employment. The stress that comes with this burden can often be too much to handle, with parents of children with special needs 40% more likely to experience mental health difficulties. Additionally, without tailored support and guidance, a child’s academic performance can suffer. Across Ireland, 24% of all children in mainstream primary education will have additional needs, but only 1 in 5 will actually receive extra support from the state. By not investing in children at this early-stage, Ireland runs the risk of exacerbating the problem further.

the IdeaGrowing up, Joan recognised the difficulties that families face when trying to provide the best for their loved ones. Having a sister with Downs Syndrome gave Joan a passion for ensuring that more services and supports are made available to families. This belief led Joan to quit her job with Queen’s University, and set up Sólás in 2010. Sólás provides three key supports to these families; additional education support to children with ‘mild’ needs, an after-school care service for those with more serious difficulties, and a range of parenting and family supports that aim to protect the mental health of those caring for their children. A key success factor for Sólás is their use of highly trained retired teachers, who volunteer their time, ensuring that the children involved are interacting with experienced professionals.

the ImpactCurrently operating in Belfast, Sólás is serving over 400 children and young people weekly through their education and after-school care programmes. In addition, 40 carers and parents are benefitting from their family support services. With Sólás programmes currently oversubscribed, Joan is keen to grow and scale their work even further, ultimately planning to expand their operations into the Republic of Ireland. Confident that Sólás can lead the way, Joan is committed to ensuring a fairer Ireland for all those with special needs.

www.solasbt7.com @solasbt7

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‘every cause has a story to tell’

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Jean O’Brien

Irish Charity Lab

An innovation and knowledge sharing lab dedicated to working with Irish charities on digital projects.

the ChallengeThe closure of Ireland’s two largest philanthropic funds means that the charitable sector is facing a severe financial shortfall in the coming years as they attempt to maintain the service levels currently being delivered. In addition, government funding cuts, economic pressures, and an increasing demand for transparent practices means that some smaller organisations are struggling to keep their head above water, stretching their financial resources to breaking point. Within this context, not-for-profits continue to struggle in their efforts to harness the power of digital technology to inspire, engage and mobilise resources. A recent study carried out by The Wheel, Ireland’s representative body for the charity sector, shows that 49% of charities feel that they struggle to utilise social media in pursuit of their mission. All of this amounts to a missed opportunity, one that would help these organisations to thrive.

the IdeaPassionate about digital communication, Jean became increasingly frustrated by the shortage of specialised digital expertise available in Ireland. Additionally, she believed that digital communication as a discipline was largely under-valued and under-represented in Ireland’s charity sector, despite the incredible stories that so many organisations have to tell. This combination of frustration and determination saw Jean establish Irish Charity Lab, an organisation committed to becoming a national hub for information, data, and expertise on digital communication for Irish charities. Offering charities ways to enhance their digital presence and power, Irish Charity Lab is helping organisations utilise case studies, access relevant toolkits, and to identify research updates in their field, while also providing general mentoring and support.

the ImpactAlthough still in its infancy, Irish Charity Lab already has a community of over 140 active members. Assisted by a highly qualified team of experts, Jean expects Irish Charity Lab will be in a position to support many of the 8,000 charities of all shapes and sizes registered in Ireland. The services on offer have the potential to help organisations across the country maintain and expand the important work they are already doing, ensuring that the non-profit sector as a whole makes the most of 21st century innovative technologies.

www.irishcharitylab.org @IrishCharityLab

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‘no child should be bullied’

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Jennifer ryan

my Life solutions

Equipping young people with skills for life.

the ChallengeBullying continues to be a significant problem amongst Irish children today, with 40% of school children experiencing bullying at some point in their lives. Despite the prevalence of this problem there have been no noticeable improvements in the levels of bullying over the last 10 years. Aside from the direct and obvious impact that bullying has, there are many other longer-term effects of bullying such as low self-esteem, aggression, anxiety and depression. Traditionally, bullying takes place when a lack of empathy is met with a lack of assertiveness, with most children who are bullied being either too passive or too aggressive. In many cases a child simply does not have the necessary communication skills to overcome the bullying they experience. Untreated, the situation can get progressively worse, leaving the child isolated from their peers.

the IdeaAs an experienced psychologist and post-primary guidance counsellor, Jennifer witnessed first-hand the real effect that bullying can have on a child. Spurred on by this, Jennifer established My Life Solutions in 2013 to provide holistic and therapeutic empowerment programmes led by psychologists who are equipped to observe, diagnose, and treat those affected by bullying. To achieve this Jennifer secured the exclusive franchise license for the successful UK ZAP programmes delivered by Kidscape – a UK charity with an 86% success rate in reducing bullying amongst its participants. Working with children on a one-to-one basis, the programme provides children at risk with a toolbox of practical skills and responses to disarm traditional bullying situations.

the ImpactHaving conducted several pilots in Ireland, Jennifer is now ready to launch My Life Solution’s course to a wider audience, and expects to cater for over 150 children who are dealing with the most severe cases of bullying. In addition, the My Life Solution’s schools programme intends to work with over 2,500 children in the coming 12 months, allowing the organisation to reach a broader population of children experiencing bullying to varying degrees. With 98,520 children in primary school currently impacted by bullying in Ireland, the potential for My Life Solution’s programme to make a positive difference to a significant portion of our children is immense.

www.mylifesolutions.ie @MyLife_solution

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‘I really enjoyed Bootcamp, if I don’t get any further well it was an inspiring day. I felt so humbled to be among such “givers” ’.

2014 Applicant

‘I so look forward to the whole process over the coming months regardless of the outcome. Of course if I am selected I might just do a jig on the green but in the meantime I welcome the learning on all of this and I feel privileged to be part of the process’.2014 Applicant

We’re all about delivering the maximum impact possible through the social entrepreneurs we support, and to do so we have implemented one of the most competitive and intensive selection processes in Ireland. At each stage of selection, we provide social entrepreneurs across the country with the opportunity to pitch and present their new solutions to us, highlighting the potential that they have to make a positive difference to the island of Ireland.

217 ApplyA record number of social entrepreneurs applied to this year’s selection process, with 143 applications submitted for our Elevator Programme, and 74 applications submitted for our Impact Programme. These applications were reviewed by a team of 177 reviewers to select the applicants with the highest potential.

50 BootcampThe top 30 Elevator applicants and the top 20 Impact applicants were invited to take part in a full day of workshops at Social Entrepreneurs Bootcamp. While there, each entrepreneur is asked to pitch their project to a panel of judges.

20 evaluation ProcessOver the course of July and August, 12 Elevator applicants and 8 Impact applicants participated in our Evaluation Process, providing us with an opportunity to learn a little bit more about their projects, while offering some support and advice on how best to refine their solutions.

Final InterviewsThe remaining applicants were asked to present their solution and strategic plans to a final interview panel, laying out their vision for their project under a Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Award.

9 Awards3 Impact Awardees and 6 Elevator Awardees were selected to take part in the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Awards Programmes.

selection Process

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Our Purpose Our Elevator Programme offers support to social entrepreneurs in the earliest stages of their projects. Through this 12 month programme we help refine ideas and implement the required structures to build a sustainable and scalable organisation.

6 social entrepreneursFor social entrepreneurs setting out on the early stage of a journey, it can be very difficult to find the support and funding they need to develop their projects. We find up to 6 early-stage projects with high potential to create positive social impact.

Funding & supportThe Elevator Programme provides €20,000 in direct funding. In addition to this funding, Elevator Awardees will receive direct support from the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland team valued in excess of €10,000. All Awardees of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland are also entitled to receive a series of pro-bono supports from several partner organisations, ensuring that each of our social entrepreneurs receive the best professional services available at no cost to them. Awardees are also provided with access to numerous free/low-cost training courses and workshops to help develop both themselves and their organisations further.

12 month ProgrammeThe Elevator Programme runs for 12 months, allowing our Awardees the necessary time to implement a detailed action plan to further develop their projects. Upon completion we provide our Elevator Awardees with guidance on key next steps for them and their organisations.

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SUPPORTED BY

‘the credibility that being part of the seI process has given us has opened opportunities that might never have otherwise been possible’.Mags Mullarney, Move4Parkinson’s - 2013 Elevator Awardee

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3 social entrepreneursEach year we look for up to 3 social entrepreneur led projects that are already delivering an effective solution to some of Ireland’s greatest social and environmental challenges, but have yet to scale that impact effectively.

Funding & supportWith €100,000 in funding, the Impact Programme acts as a substantial source of capital for the projects it supports. In addition to this funding, Impact Awardees will receive direct support from the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland team valued in excess of €40,000. All Awardees of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland are also entitled to receive a series of pro-bono supports from several partner organisations, ensuring that each of our social entrepreneurs receives the best professional services available at no cost to them or their organisations. Awardees are also provided with access to numerous free/low-cost training courses and workshops to help develop both themselves and their organisations further.

2+ Year ProgrammeThe Impact Programme runs for 2-3 years (depending on the exact needs of each Awardee) allowing Awardees the necessary time to not only develop a robust growth plan but to begin the process of implementation as well - all of which results in a substantial increase in the positive social impact of their organisations.

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‘the Impact Award is a powerful endorsement toour vision of saving lives’.John Kearney, Irish Community Rapid Response - 2013 Impact Awardee

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Our Purpose Our Impact Programme looks to support social entrepreneurs with established and effective projects that have the potential to scale significantly - creating widespread and long term social impact.

Bringing ireland’s leading social entrepreneurs together to collaborate, support and learn to maximise their impact.

The focus of the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Alumni Network for 2014 has been on building a strong, meaningful and forward thinking network; a network that is really valuable to its members, delivering much needed support, training and connection in many new and different ways.

The relationship with Ulster Bank, the continuing partner of the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Alumni Network, has gone from strength to strength over the past year. With numerous Ulster Bank staff giving up many hours to help the network, from hosting events, giving talks, to supporting engagements, they are always willing to lend a hand.

This year’s summer Alumni Network event gave the Alumni members the opportunity to come together for an energising afternoon of brainstorming and idea generation. This unsurprisingly resulted in a long list of great ideas. The Social Entrepreneurs Ireland team are extremely excited to see how the Alumni Network continues to grow and mature in the coming months.

The Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Alumni Network now consists of:• 179 past and current Awardees of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland• Winners of the Arthur Guinness Fund• Winners of the Vodafone World of Difference Programme• Students from the Science Gallery ‘Idea Translation Lab’• Winners of the Social Enterprise category of the

Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards

An inspirational, energetic, powerful collaborative community, who are all committed to thinking big, acting now and changing Ireland.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

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Social Entrepreneurs Ireland is all about scaling great new solutions for social problems in Ireland. In addition to an annual Awards Programme, we also host a series of themed speaker events entitled “The Impact Series” with the support of the JP Morgan Chase Foundation. These events engage a wide audience of leaders from the business, public and non-profit sectors along with many of Ireland’s leading social entrepreneurs. The events are designed to inspire innovative ideas and to spark discussion and debate around key social issues and the role that social entrepreneurship can have in addressing these issues. To date we have held five speaker series events and during 2014 we hosted two events which focused on “The power of entrepreneurship to create opportunities in 21st century Ireland” and “Innovation in health”.

the minnovation Fund We realise there are lots of people with innovative early stage ideas to change Ireland but who need help to get these ideas off the ground. At each Impact Series event, the Minnovation Fund (which comprises of all ticket proceeds) is presented as a seed fund to the social entrepreneur who pitches the best early stage, high impact idea to the audience on the night. This year’s Minnovation winners included ‘The Think Academy’, an innovative maths education programme, and ‘Sober Sessions’, an exciting alternative to the pub scene which promotes non-drinking events.

Inspiring Ideas to Change IrelandWe truly believe that social entrepreneurs can change Ireland and every year we are inspired by the fantastic work that is being done all over the country to address our greatest social and environmental problems. So, by taking a step back and looking at the broader ecosystem in which social entrepreneurs exist, by engaging leaders from all sectors of society and by giving start-up social entrepreneurs a chance to get their ideas off the ground, The Impact Series provides a new platform from which real and lasting social change can grow. We encourage people with ideas to connect with us through SEI Connect and The Impact Series to help us to continue to build a strong and sustainable ecosystem from which we know social entrepreneurs can learn and grow. #impactseries

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This year saw the continued success of the Social Entrepreneurs Exchange, a recent addition to our Awardee support programme. Thanks to support from the JP Morgan Chase Foundation, the Exchange provides our Awardees with access to the wealth of experience that exists within our network of partners and supporters.

The Social Entrepreneurs Exchange consists of several events throughout the year where Awardees and Partners meet behind closed doors for an in-depth, hour-long discussion. These meetings discuss both broad ‘big picture’ issues as well as immediate challenges facing an organisation, and they offer Awardees an opportunity to engage with the most senior individuals in some of Ireland’s most successful organisations.

Each meeting concludes with a brief reception offering Partners and Awardees an opportunity to mingle in a more informal and relaxed environment. The Exchange isn’t simply about strategic planning, but about learning, connecting and socialising with a fantastic network of partners, peers and friends.

So far Leinster House, the Fumbally Exchange, KPMG, the RTE Studios, and A&L Goodbody have played host to one of our Exchange events, and to date we’ve engaged a total of 162 individuals through this initiative. Issues discussed at these Exchanges have ranged from financial planning, fundraising efforts, company registration, marketing of certain products, and governance challenges facing newly established charities and social enterprises.

‘It was an incredibly supportive and helpful session, and these things are not always thus. So, if you can somehow manage to take all that you did and bottle it, then you have something very special!’.SEI Awardee

‘Very worthwhile exercise and I think all of the ‘experts’ enjoyed the opportunity to help and relay the benefits of the respective experiences’. SEI Partner

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At Social Entrepreneurs Ireland we support up to nine social entrepreneurs each year through our Awards Programme. This programme allows us to work intensively with the entrepreneur and their project, ensuring that their ideas are implemented as effectively and efficiently as possible. However, we know that for every social entrepreneur we support, there are dozens more with great ideas and enormous potential to change Ireland for the better.

We know this because we hear from these individuals on a regular basis – people seeking advice on their projects or the opportunity to have a quick chat with somebody from our team about how we can help them increase their impact. Like all organisations we often struggle to find the time to accommodate all of these requests, and so we miss the opportunity to hear more about the great work being done outside of our Awards Programme.

That is why this year we launched a new initiative, SEI Connect.These events are a chance for up and coming social entrepreneurs to meet with members of the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland team in an informal and relaxed environment. SEI Connect provides social entrepreneurs outside of our Awards Programme

with the opportunity to hear more about our work, how our support programmes might be of use to them in the future, or just to get our advice on some of the challenges they might be facing in their own organisations.

To date we’ve held two SEI Connect events in Dublin, and have had the opportunity to meet with more than 45 organisations looking to grow and expand their work in Ireland. While none of these organisations are current SEI Awardees, we recognise the outstanding contribution they are making to Irish society, and hope that initiatives like SEI Connect can play a small part in helping them to grow and scale the fantastic work already being done.

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A new organisation delivering action-based, practical learning programmes for entrepreneurial individuals who have an idea for a business that will benefit their community and who want to build and grow their ventures.

‘Social entrepreneurs on the programme learn by doing, gaining a range of practical business skills that they can apply directly in their ventures’.

Lynda Stopford, Co-Founder of School for Social Entrepreneurs Ireland

This year we were delighted to support the launch of a great new initiative to support early stage social projects in Ireland - the School for Social Entrepreneurs Ireland.

With support from the JP Morgan Chase Foundation and The Atlantic Philanthropies, SEI has incubated the SSE Ireland for the first year of its existence.

The first SSE Ireland Incubator programme brought together 28 early stage social entrepreneurs over 19 direct contact days, between April and November with a range of two-day workshops, action-learning sets and networking opportunities. Participants were also able to avail of focused-mentoring and expert advice from experienced social entrepreneurs and business people as well as from the SSE international network.

Ventures ranged from Jared Huet’s Internet College of Ireland, delivering education for parents on the use of social media and internet safety for children, to Allison Roberts’ Clonakility Chocolate, an ethical bean to bar chocolate factory in West Cork.

The School for Social Entrepreneurs believes that social entrepreneurs and their ideas, successfully implemented across communities, can change Ireland as well as contribute in their own right as business owners and employers to the social and economic well-being of the country.

SSE Ireland is based in the dynamic Fumbally Exchange in the heart of Dublin city centre and is part of a global network of 12 schools located across Australia, Canada and the UK.

www.sseireland.org @ssE_ireland

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Join us

‘Having been involved with SEI since its inception, we have seen its evolution and growth first hand. As SEI has gone from strength to strength, so too has the organisation’s ability to support the development of the social entrepreneurship sector in Ireland.

At A&L Goodbody we have a strong and embedded corporate social responsibility programme and also a belief in the power and potential of entrepreneurship. So we believe it has made continued sense for us to invest in SEI, both financially and by offering pro-bono legal and advisory supports.

We’ve seen how SEI has introduced the country to social entrepreneurship and has made the early hard yards. It has had good will behind it, but I also believe it needs more investors and more supporters, across a range of sectors, for it to increase its impact and reach.

We would highly recommend people to just reach out to SEI and see how they can get involved. We are consistently impressed and indeed motivated by the energy, commitment and focus of the people that come through the SEI programme and it is a personal privilege to have the opportunity to offer them support. We look forward to seeing the organisation grow and thrive as it leads this important sector in the years ahead’.

Whether you are an individual with a passion for social change or an organisation looking to get your staff involved in using their skills to make a big difference, we’d like you to join us. We provide a unique opportunity to support Ireland’s leading social entrepreneurs to address some of the most challenging social issues we are facing today. We want you to roll up your sleeves and get involved.

Your support will help our social entrepreneurs to increase their impact and change lives all over Ireland. In return, you and your company will experience the infectious excitement and optimism which is generated when there’s a social entrepreneur in the room.

paul White, Chairman, A&L Goodbody and long time social Entrepreneurs ireland supporter.

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Our Partners

We couldn’t do what we do without the support of our incredible network of partners and supporters. To each and every one of them we’d like to say a huge thank you.

If you would like to join us on this journey, please contact lucy@socialentrepreneurs.ie

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social entrepreneurs IrelandDarren Ryan - Chief ExecutiveAnnalisa O’Carroll - Head of ImpactLucy masterson - Head of DevelopmentCiara O’toole - Interim Head of ImpactEamonn Fitzgerald - Impact AssociateSiobhan O’Keeffe - Impact AssociateClodagh sheridan - Awards Coordinatormaria Flanagan - Development AssociateOrla O’Connor - Office Manager

ChairpersonGerry Kearney

directorsJulian Davis - Director, Fleishman HillardJohn Duffy - Vice Chairman, Keefe, Bruyette & Woodsteresa Harrington - Partner, PwCmaurice Healy - CEO, The Healy GroupClodagh Hughes - CEO, Motive8Brian macCraith - President, Dublin City Universitysharon Vard - CEO, Anam Cara

Contactsocial Entrepreneurs irelandt: +353 1 631 6200info@socialentrepreneurs.iewww.socialentrepreneurs.ie @sEireland

Design: Stephen Smith - www.bossanova.ie2014 Awardee Photography - www.laurencejphotography.com

the team

Registered Charity Number CHY 17524

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“There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come.”Victor Hugo

www.socialentrepreneurs.ie