Social enterprises help to ‘glue communities’
OVER 200 people gathered at Sligo Folk Park in Riverstown on Friday for the annual National Social Enterprise Forum and Expo which this year was hosted by Sligo LEADER.
Social Enterprises create jobs in rural and city locations across Ireland, giving people workplace skills and they can lead to permanent careers.
The sector is responsible for at least 25,000 jobs in Ireland and €1.4 billion of economic activity, helping to tackle social issues and contributing to a fairer and more inclusive society. The 2019 event was organised by Sligo LEADER in association with the Irish Local Development Network (ILDN). Sligo Folk Park in Riverstown is a 30-year-old social enterprise that celebrates Irish heritage and rural life.
The Expo was designed to give advice and best practice to help groups get notfor-profit social enterprises off the ground. These can breathe new life into a village or town, creating jobs and training opportunities. The Social Enterprise Expo 2019 featured workshops, breakout sessions as well as tips, insights and social enterprise inspiration from guest speakers including PJ Rigney, the founder of the Shed Distillery in Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim.
His firm began life in the Food Hub, Drumshanbo. The Shed now has 22 fulltime local employees, many of whom were previously long-term unemployed.
Also speaking was Andrew Forde, Department of Rural Affairs and Development who is responsible for implementing the Action Plan for Rural Development. He spoke about the future direction of social enterprises in Ireland.
In his opening remarks Sligo LEADER CEO Chris Gonley said: “Social Enterprises provide work and purpose for many people who might be lonely or unemployed. They can help to glue communities together.”