Minister Buttimer Launches New Solutions Social Innovation Hub and Announces Funding for Scaling Up Initiatives
Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Jerry Buttimer, launched the New Solutions Social Innovation Hub at an event in Cork. The Minister also announced funding for nine social innovations projects from the New Solutions Scaling Up Grants Scheme.
The overall objective of New Solutions Fund is to enhance the social innovation ecosystem in Ireland and is co-funded through the European Social Fund + 2021-2027 (ESF+), a European initiative aimed at reducing the risk of poverty and social exclusion, with an emphasis on disadvantaged groups.
The New Solutions Social Innovation Hub will play a key role in developing the social innovation ecosystem in Ireland. The Hub will provide capacity building supports and grant funding to social innovation projects at all stages – from ideas to pilot scaling up.
Funding of €2.8 million has been allocated to the Hub which will be delivered by Rethink Ireland in partnership with Dublin City University, the Local Development Companies Network, Údarás na Gaeltachta, the Western Development Commission and The Wheel.
New Solutions Scaling Up Scheme
The Minister also announced funding of over €2.5 million for nine social innovation projects from the New Solutions Scaling Up Scheme. The New Solutions Scaling Up Scheme provides funding to proven social innovation projects that are ready to grow and achieve greater impact. The successful grantees include:
- Sailing into Wellness, allocated funding of €295,734.
- Spraoi agus Sport, allocated funding of €300,000.
- Junior Achievement/Young Enterprise Ireland allocated funding of €299,396.
The New Solutions Innovation Hub will work closely with the projects to provide capacity building and support.
Full details here