Organised by the Irish Local Development Network (ILDN), a new Summit for Social Enterprises, SocialiSE, will take place on Wednesday, 29 June 2022 at the F2 Centre in Dublin 2. SocialiSE is specifically focused on raising awareness and supporting social enterprises, through workshops and discussion on a range of topics from funding and finance, digital promotion, community development and social innovation.
“Social enterprises do incredible work in Irish communities, providing much needed services while also creating employment in the local area. The SocialiSE Summit 2022 celebrates social enterprise and encourages more development in this sector by raising awareness of the model” said Joe Saunders, CEO of the ILDN. “Information on the benefits of social enterprises as well as advice on overcoming the set-up challenges will freely available” he added.
As business models set up to tackle social, economic or environmental issues, social enterprises engage in commercial activities to pursue these objectives and produce social and community gain. Some are also referred to as Work Integration Social Enterprises, supporting disadvantaged people or minorities to prepare for, and participate in, the labour market. In Ireland more than 30,000 people work in over 1,400 social enterprises.
Many of these social enterprises will be attending the SocialiSE Summit, to talk to those interested in establishing similar enterprises in their region. Organisations like Galway’s An Mheitheal Rother (Bike Shop), Clondalkin’s ACE Enterprise Park & WALK and the nationwide Paint Reuse Network are among the case studies that will be discussing their models for success in their sectors. Topics such as access to funding, as well as governance, marketing and digital media will be covered by subject matter experts on the day.
“We are delighted to be supporting SocialiSE as a key event in the social enterprise calendar. Rural and Community development can be fuelled by the innovative, varied and vital work that social enterprises do in regions around Ireland. We look forward to communicating further with potential and existing social enterprises on 29 June at the F2 Centre for SocialiSE,” said John Ryan, Higher Executive Officer at the Social Enterprise Unit at Department of Rural and Community Development.
Socialise Summit 2022 is free to attend, thanks to the support of the Department of Rural and Community Development, who are supporting this initiative through the ARISE programme, as well as Pobal and the Dormant Accounts Fund.
For more information, see www.ildn.ie or register at https://socialise_summit_2022.eventbrite.ie
Pictured In Main Image: John Ryan, Dept of Rural & Community Development pictured with Jack Crowley, Paint Reuse Network, Kerrie Kavanagh, ACE Enterprise Park, Colm O’Connor, IRD Duhallow Furniture Revamp and Donie McGrath, ILDN at the launch of the Summit for Social Enterprises, SocialiSE. Pic: Naoise Culhane
