A new €250,000 social enterprise fund has been launched in South Dublin County – and is seeking applications from enterprises and entrepreneurs, focused on making a social impact in the community. The ‘open’ fund has been announced by Clondalkin based Oakfield Trust and is to the value of €50,000 per annum for five years. The fund will be released in two phases of €25,000 during each year, with the first application window open from March 30th until May 12th.
Oakfield Trust is a Clondalkin based social enterprise and registered charity which has been successfully supporting community organisations and social enterprises in the locality for 26 years. During that time it has provided a range of property-based supports to a number of projects in the Clondalkin area including: feasibility studies, start-up grants, business development supports, project loans, project management and capacity development. The new social enterprise fund is its first ‘open fund’ which any interested and relevant party can apply for. Applications will particularly be encouraged from the Clondalkin and South Dublin County areas, but projects which reach outside the locality or nationwide will also be considered.
Oakfield Trust Chairperson Aileen O’Donoghue said she was delighted to announce the fund – and looked forward to the progress, energy and positivity it will build within communities. “We are announcing the next phase in our work, which is open social enterprise funding rounds twice a year for five years totalling €250,000. We are committed to the social enterprise model of community development and want to play as strong a role as we can not just locally, but nationally.”
The open fund includes three categories which are:
- ‘Scale Up’ funding up to €10,000 for an established social enterprise or entrepreneur
- ‘Get Started’ funding up to €5,000 to develop a new social enterprise idea towards start-up
- ‘Explore Award’ to enable an applicant to explore an idea which addresses a social issue.
More information on eligibility, criteria and the application process available at www.oakfieldtrust.ie
Oakfield Trust is also delighted to announce that it will host an international conference this May. The conference titled Social Enterprise in Ireland: Achieving Real Social Impact and Developing the Social Enterprise Space will take place on Wednesday, May 24 at the Wood Quay Venue in central Dublin from 9.45am to 1pm. It will include a combination of international experts speaking, panel discussions featuring key figures in the sector, and established success stories presenting their experiences. Oakfield Trust is looking forward to some open and interesting discussion on what real and practical social impact looks like, and how those active in the sector can collectively grow social enterprise practice in Ireland. More information on the conference and registration is available on eventbrite, or via www.oakfieldtrust.ie
Pictured: ReCreate Creative Exploration Officer Jo May; ReCreate Creative Reuse Director Aisling Folan; Local Enterprise Office South Dublin Head of Enterprise Tom Rooney; ReCreate General Manager Louise Parsons; Oakfield Trust Social Impact Manager Gareth Ebbs; ReCreate CEO Emma Connors and ReCreate Creative Assistant Inga Ozolina.
