Fingal social enterprises to benefit after securing special grant funding

Ten local social enterprises in Fingal have been awarded over €37,000 in funding by the Department of Rural and Community Development to help them with their capital costs.

The small grants were announced by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD as part of a €1 million fund to support 247 Social Enterprises across Ireland. The Fingal Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) will be distributing the funding to the ten Fingal social enterprises on behalf of the Department.

Money from the Social Enterprises Capital Grants Scheme (SECGS) can be used by the successful recipients to assist them in carrying out renovations or repairs to their premises, or the purchase of equipment such as outdoor seating and canopies, playground equipment, machinery, laptops, iPads and printers.

Social enterprises are businesses that work primarily to improve the lives of people. Their core objective is to achieve a social, societal, or environmental impact. Like other businesses, social enterprises pursue their objectives by trading in goods and services on an ongoing basis.

Welcoming the announcement, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council AnnMarie Farrelly said: “Social Enterprises have a positive effect on society and play an important role within the local community. They are helping to develop solutions to some of Fingal’s most pressing social issues by creating jobs, tackling disadvantage and supporting community development. 

“The grants under this scheme will particularly benefit smaller or start-up social enterprises who do not have ready access to essential funding that can help them to upgrade or purchase additional equipment in order for them to help deliver services to those most in need.”

Minister Humphreys said: “This funding will assist almost 250 Social Enterprises with specific costs in relation to their facilities. In some cases, it will cover the cost of fixing a leaky roof or putting in a new kitchen. Other organisations will use the funding to purchase the likes of new furniture or IT equipment. The grants may be small in nature, but I know they will greatly assist Social Enterprises the length and breadth of the country who have continued to serve their communities through the Pandemic.”

Those Fingal organisations who have received funding via SECGS are: