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At the Social Enterprise Development Fund Showcase were George Jones Chairman IPB Insurance with Rosaleen O’Reilly, Sean Canney T.D, Minister of State for Community Development, Natural Resources and Digital Development with Courtney Sheehy and Junior Locke of Foodshare Kerry and Deirdre Mortell, CEO of Social Innovation Fund Ireland. Picture Jason Clarke
TRALEE-based social enterprise, Foodshare Kerry, was the winner of €10,000 at the Social Enterprise Development Fund Showcase Event to help support their fantastic work in helping local charity groups combat food poverty.
Courtney Sheehy of Foodshare Kerry pitched in front of an audience of over 100 attendees comprised of her peers and fellow social enterprises who took part in the first year of the Social Enterprise Development Fund run by Social Innovation Fund Ireland.
Following a live online vote at the event last Thursday, the innovative Kerry-based project came out on top.
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FoodShare Kerry is an initiative of North & East Kerry Development and Saint Vincent de Paul and is an not-for-profit organisation set up to help local charity groups combat food poverty.
They rescue quality surplus food from supermarkets and food producers and make it available to organisations who know how best to redistribute it to those in need.
The €1.6M Social Enterprise Development Fund was set up last year by Social Innovation Fund Ireland, and Local Authorities Ireland and over two years, will provide funding and supports to social enterprises from across the country.
The fund is financed by the Department of Rural and Community Development from the Dormant Accounts and IPB Insurance.
The eight social enterprises who received funding in 2018 also showcased at the event just how much impact this fund has had on their inspiring projects.
These enterprises are proactively tackling some of the biggest social issues facing Irish society including homelessness, mental health, social inclusion and obesity.
Each social enterprise has expanded their impact as a direct result of the funding from the Social Enterprise Development Fund and participation in Social Innovation Fund Ireland’s Accelerator programme.
