Top award for
Spraoi agus Spórt
27.02.25
CARNDONAGH based social
enterprise, Spraoi agus Spórt, have emerged as 'Best
Business in the Community' at the All Ireland Community
& Council Awards 2025.
The awards were held in Cork at the weekend, and saw
Donegal scooping two other wins: Council of the Year and
Best Communications Initiative for #LoveDonegal Day
2024. |
 |
|
L to R: Cllr Albert
Doherty; Cllr Fionán Bradley, Cllr Joy Beard; Cllr
Martin Farren; Inishowen Cathaoirleach, Cllr Jack
Murray; Spraoi agus Spórt CEO, Helen Nolan; Cllr Ali
Farren; Cllr Martin McDermott; Director of Roads Donegal
County Council (DCC) Brian Cannon; DCC Inishowen Area
Manager, Una Cresswell; and DCC Manager of Roads,
Michael McFadden. |
Chief executive of Spraoi,
Helen Nolan, said: "It’s a huge honour to be recognised
for the contribution we make in this area. As a social
enterprise, we are more than a charity, because we
ultimately strive to create profits we can invest back
into our community-based business. So, this award means
a lot to us. We work hard to create new revenue streams
which meet our sustainability goals, provide local jobs
and support our community and local economy.”
“The opening of our Síoraí Clothing and Síoraí Home
stores have allowed us to do all of these things. In
addition, the recent launch of our new Community Garden
Centre and Café aims to create revenue while providing
training and employment opportunities for those with
disabilities.”
Helen says the award also recognised their level of
engagement with the local community, and that they are
very proud of this record: “We now run 21 programmes at
our Child and Family Hub - that’s almost doubled over
the past four years. The number of community visits to
our Child and Family Hub reached an astonishing 5,548
visits last year.”
The Digital Creative Lab aims to level the playing field
for disadvantaged areas by offering up to date digital,
science and engineering skills and programmes for
children and young people. Participation in these
programmes almost doubled last year to over 1,700
children and young people last year.
Their community childcare service now provides places
for over 110 children, at 4 locations, supporting local
families. The jobs generated by this growth jumped to 27
last year, says Helen. She adds that they now offer
places at their Remote Working Hub to over 50
co-workers, up 14% on the previous year.
Spraoi agus Spórt’s work is ultimately about tackling
disadvantage in our rural region, says Helen Nolan. “So,
we work to strengthen our community, and boost
opportunities and economic growth in the region. We do
this by offering services and activities for young
families, children, young people, and adults, including
those with disabilities and/or autism.”
“Securing this award reflects our ambition to see Spraoi
agus Spórt lead, as an example of best practice in the
rural regeneration space. It also recognises the high
quality of the work delivered by our board, our staff
and our volunteers.”
Cllr. Jack Murray, Cathaoirleach of Inishowen Municipal
District also welcomed this major recognition for Spraoi
ang Spórt on winning in the category Best Business
working with the Community saying: “I pay tribute and
congratulate all involved for your contribution in
strengthening our local community, stimulating economic
growth in the area, and most of all creating a better
place for our community to live and work. With Donegal
County Council also receiving the top award of 'Council
of the Year', we should be very proud of our County, and
all that we have achieved through collaboration between
the Council, the community, our volunteers and
stakeholders”. |
|
