Entrepreneur in the running for SEI Awards
By William O'Connor
Social entrepreneur, Lucie Cunningham from Lucan, is among the 12 finalists announced for the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (SEI) Awards programme.
The prestigious nine-month programme, worth €40,000 to each project, provides vital funding and mentorship opportunities to high-potential social entrepreneurs to enable them to develop highly effective, sustainable, and scalable organisations.
Lucie Cunningham is delighted her company is shortlisted for the SEI Award
Ms Cunningham has been announced as a finalist for her organisation, The HomeShare which matches unrelated people of different generations to live together to help combat the housing crisis, and build stronger intergenerational ties in communities.
Commenting on the announcement, Ms Cunningham said: “The HomeShare is delighted to be named as a finalist for SEI Awards programme in recognition of our dedication and commitment in offering affordable choice for people in need of housing or support at home.”
The 2019 Awards programme attracted 120 applications from all corners of Ireland with 12 making it through to the finalist stage.
The finalists pitched their projects at the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland to a panel of judges drawn from the SEI community. Of the 12, six will go on to win a place on the programme. The Awardees will be announced at SEI’s Awards celebration in October 2019.
Also announced as finalists were: AgriKids (Alma Jordan), Carers of Traveller Children (Catherine Joyce Collins), Evocco (Ahmad Mu’azzam and Hugh Weldon), Grow Remote (Tracy Keogh), Hugh’s House (Ade Stavk and Maria Brennan), jumpAgrade Equality of Education Initiative (David Neville and Padraic Hogan), Property Marking Ireland (James O’Neill), Reach Out Turn2me Youth eMental Health Service (Jennifer Griffin), Helping Hands Project (Maria Garvey), The Ease Project (Boris Hunka and Caithriona McCarthy) and waytoB (Robbie Fryers and Talita Holzer).
Commenting, CEO of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, Darren Ryan, said: “This year’s Awards programme finalists have displayed great courage, insight and innovation throughout the selection process, and we want to congratulate them on making it this far.
“Their projects have the potential to change Ireland by providing solutions to pressing social problems. The decision to choose the top six will be one of the most difficult we have to make this year, but we look forward to helping the 2019 Awardees fulfil their potential through the Awards programme.”
The successful Awardees will each receive €20,000 in direct funding, in addition to training and supports worth €20,000.
They will be provided with 1:1 support from a mentor and strategic advisor and will have access to more than 150 pro-bono supporters and coaches. Awardees will also join SEI’s community of social entrepreneurs, the largest community of social entrepreneurs in Ireland.
