While the Covid Years badly impacted many social enterprises around Dublin City, a series of wonderful social enterprises entered the 2021 Awards. Along with Inter7s (linked here) and Mendicity Workshop (linked here) the Awardees were:
Bees8 (linked here)
Bee8 is an environmentally and socially sustainable social enterprise based in Dublin 8, in areas where green space allocation, education attainment and employment levels are particularly low. It seeks to enhance biodiversity, increase green space and provide education and employment opportunities for local people. Their various activities including managing beehives across a number of locations, delivering beekeeping classes and working with local schools and organisations on projects that enhance the local natural environment.
Clean Slate (linked here)
Clean Slate Property Services provide comprehensive property clearance, cleaning and maintenance services in a safe and environmentally responsible way. It trains and employs people who have obtained criminal convictions and are thus typically marginalised from employment opportunities. Clients of Clean Slate include local authorities, housing associations, community organisations, charities and private sector property managers in the Dublin area.
Connections Arts Centre (linked here)
Connections Arts Centre seeks to empower members of the disability community to develop their skills and share their experiences with others. Its mission is to support and connect the disability community through the arts. Through providing various accessible, online arts and lifestyle programmes, classes and events, it enables participants to learn, grow and interact. To date, programmes provided include arts and crafts, watercolour, murals, comic books, yoga, music, aromatherapy and drama.
Dignity Partners (linked here)
The vision of Dignity Partners is of a country where refugees and asylum seekers have the opportunity to develop their skills and talents with a sense of autonomy and better mental wellbeing. In order to realise this vision, it provides various supports for self-employment and training that focus on developing a proactive and entrepreneurial mindset among participants. The various supports provided are tailored to the needs of members.
Pocket Forests (linked here)
Pocket Forests collaborates with local communities to regenerate soil, plant small native forests and create resilient ecosystems by using locally sourced recycled waste materials. The methods that are used produce fast-growing multi-layered forests which enable the people and communities that plant them to enjoy results quickly. The urban forests become sources of awareness, well-being and habitats where they are created. They also inspire those involved to implement similar ideas in their own gardens or in other communities.
parkHIIt (linked here)
parkHIIT provides a range of programmes focused on resistance exercise in welcoming, community-based settings while removing financial and accessibility barriers. It currently operates regular sessions in 5 parks across Dublin which are volunteer-led and free to attend. Through the programmes and activities, parkHIIT educates participants on exercising, builds community, removes barriers and helps people to engage in their local environment/ parks which also discourages anti-social behaviour.