SICAP has won a 2022 UN Public Service Award for “Institutional resilience and innovative responses to the COVID-19 pandemic”. This prestigious award is a welcome recognition for the significant community support provided by SICAP during the pandemic, in Clare and across the country.
Welcoming the award, Doirin Graham, CEO, CLDC said ‘ For CLDC it is an important endorsement of our work and in particular of the dedication, capability and integrity of the SICAP team. It is a great credit to their work and their frontline SICAP colleagues around the country. Many congratulations to all the SICAP staff’
Read the Department of Rural & Community Development press release here
The Western Development Commission has launched a new interactive map for social enterprises operating in the western region covering Clare, Galway, Roscommon, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal.
To date they have identified 288 social enterprises within the region but believe there are a lot more to capture. If your social enterprise is not on the map, now is your opportunity to increase your visibility and highlight the services you provide.
We are encouraging all social enterprises in Clare to complete a short survey to register and confirm their details on the map.
The survey can be accessed here The map is available here
Read our May 2022 newsletter here
CLDC is developing a social enterprise development strategy for County Clare and has commissioned Method Consultants to work with us in undertaking the work.
The National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland 2019-2022 defines social enterprise as follows:
- An enterprise whose objective is to achieve a social, societal or environmental impact, rather than maximising profit for its owners or shareholders.
- It pursues its objectives by trading on an ongoing basis through the provision of goods and/or services, and by reinvesting surpluses into achieving social objectives.
- It is governed in a fully accountable and transparent manner and is independent of the public sector. If dissolved, it should transfer its assets to another organisation with a similar mission.
The consultation process has three strands:
- A survey and mapping exercise of social enterprises in County Clare
- A wide consultation process open to all interested parties in County Clare
- A more detailed consultation process, involving interviews and focus group discussion with key stakeholders with an interest or remit in developing the social enterprise sector in the county.
We are now inviting contributions and submissions from interested parties and groups, including community and voluntary organisations, state agencies, and other stakeholders to contribute to the strategic planning process.
Click here to download the submission form.
Read our February 2022 Newsletter here
ILDN WELCOMES GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT TO AWARD THE CONTRACT TO OPERATE NATIONAL SOCIAL ENTERPRISE CENSUS TO CONSORTIUM OF SERI, ILDN AND AMÁRACH CONSULTING.
The Irish Local Development Network the national body representing Ireland’s 49 Local Development Companies have today welcomed the decision by the Department of Rural and Community Development to award the contract to implement Ireland’s first National Social Enterprise Census to a consortium comprising SERI (Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland) ILDN and Amárach Consulting
ILDN members have a network of over 80 social enterprise support officers nationwide who deliver a wide range of supports to social enterprises through the LEADER, SICAP, Social Enterprise Regeneration Programme and the Community Services Programme.
Welcoming the announcement, ILDN CEO Joe Saunders said; “the significant benefit for Irish communities and society generally is that, for the first time, we will get a comprehensive picture of the impact of the sector that will allow for more accurate planning and resourcing. The Social Enterprise sector is a huge contributor to economic well-being and social justice in this country and ILDN welcomes the opportunity to play a further role in developing its future.”
ILDN Chairperson, Jim Finn, commented that “the Minister for Rural and Community Development and her officials are to be commended for recognising the need for this pioneering Census and for ensuring the resources to operate it.”
The National Social Enterprise Census will be completed in the second half of 2022.
