Three social entrepreneurs were awarded funding of €420,000 between them under awards made by Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (SEI) last night.
Claire Brady of Lakers; Susan Quirke and Niall Breslin of A Lust for Life; and Dara Connolly of ReCreate will each receive €140,000 to develop their business ideas as winners of SEI’s Impact Awards.
Lakers intend to roll out a nationwide programme of sporting, social and recreational activities to help children and adults with intellectual disabilities build skills and self-esteem. A Lust for Life raises awareness of mental health and suicide prevention through grassroots advocacy, their website and work with the media.
ReCreate provides affordable arts supplies for schools and community groups made from materials salvaged from businesses.
Six other companies in the early stages of their work were awarded €20,000 each in the Elevator Awards category, and will receive additional support valued at €10,000 from the SEI team.
The winners were Sam Synnott and Judith Ashton from Buddy Bench Ireland, Alex Cooney and Cliona Curley from CyberSafeIreland, Shane McKenna and Killian Redmond from DabbledooMusic, Noelle Daly and Stephen Cluskey from Mobility Mojo, Barry Grant from Problem Gambling Ireland and Francis Cleary from Step Out Ireland. The awards are sponsored by DCC plc, an international support services group based in Dublin.