Funding scheme seeking social innovators

“PLEASE don’t let a good idea to waste”.

That is the rallying cry from Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (SEI), which has urged the next generation of budding businesspeople from across Cork to put their thinking caps on and come up with solutions to some of the country’s most pressing social issues.

Applicants have until March 20 to enter the SEI Annual Awards scheme, an initiative that has seen the organisation set aside a funding pool of €350,000 in order to attract the best and brightest ideas and projects.

The scheme is open to Cork people with new ‘early-stage’ ideas and those who have already begun the process of bringing their projects to fruition but require the funding and expert support needed to take them to the next stage.

With an excellent track record of championing ground-breaking initiatives, almost €7 million has been injected into the awards scheme since its inception 13-years ago supporting 221 social entrepreneurs along the way and helping to create 1,345 job opportunities.

Under the 2018 awards scheme applicants with existing projects aimed at solving a social issues will get a package worth €35,000 (including €10,000 in direct funding). A further 30 applicants new ideas will be enrolled in the SEI’s Academy for Social Entrepreneurs, where they will receive professional mentoring, support and the opportunity to pitch for seed funding to spark their brainchild into action.

For more about the scheme and the application process visit www.socialentrepreneurs.ie.