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Tomorrow morning 11 November you have a chance to jump aboard a virtual tour of three fantastic local social enterprises.
Newry and Mourne Enterprise Agency in partnership with Work West is 'virtually' taking to the road with their 'Go Social' Virtual Bus Tour visiting Bolster Community, Made in Mourne and Harry's Place.
All are welcome to join the session tomorrow from 10.30am - 12pm. To join register at WWW.EVENTBRITE.CO.UK
These three examples of social enterprises are working to support their local economy right in the heart of their community. The three social enterprises will provide an insight into their social enterprise journey to date, the social impact they deliver for the local area and the contribution they make on a daily basis to the enrichment of the lives of local people in Newry and Mourne.
Bolster Community (previously known as SPACE NI) is an award winning social enterprise and charity that offers practical support for individuals and families across Newry and Mourne. They are practical, hands-on charity that works alongside individuals, families and communities to help them get through and get ahead. Since 2004, they have been helping countless individuals reach their full potential. From early years right through to later years, they support and strengthen people facing life’s tough challenges.
Ability services are dedicated to connecting children and young adults of mixed ability, helping them reach their full potential. Services include Youth Up Front a Youth Leadership programme for individuals aged 13-15 and the Award winning Acorn Candles Acorn Candles offer a limited number of supported work/training opportunities for young adults with a learning disability through our social enterprise at Bolster Community, making soy wax candles and hand poured luxury soap. Participants are supported in learning a range of skills including, Candle making, Soap Making, Merchandising, Packaging, Retail, Team work and personal Independence.
Practical and therapeutic support services for families provide practical and therapeutic support for parents and children, in the home, in the community and through evidence-based world class training programmes. Services include The Incredible Years® Series which provides is training for parents of babies to school age children.
Signposting and practical support for the older members of the community is delivered through their Seniors services including an award winning Home from Hospital Service and Comfort Zone is a weekly get together for older people and those new to the area to meet and enjoy company.
Bolster Community Impact in 2020 included 1,859 hours of support was provided for children and adults with disability, there were 24,000 support engagements with participants and £39,000 in Financial Support to benefit 366 families, older people and homeless
Made In Mourne is a Social Enterprise providing facilities, knowledge, and support for local entrepreneurs in the rural coastal Mourne region to launch and sustainably grow their businesses. They are helping small businesses counteract the lack of opportunities, poor internet connectivity, and physical isolation in an economically deprived rural area while enabling people to remaining working from home and raise their families in the beautiful Mournes.
The story of MADE in Mourne began, when a local Entrepreneur Jenna Stevenson found herself moving a successful business from the bright lights of Belfast City, to her home town in the heart of the Mourne Mountains where she wanted to raise her growing family. In 2017 the group found the perfect property and began a community crowd collaboration, where local businesses and individuals played their part by donating materials, labour and services to help deliver the project from inception to realisation in just 100 days!
Made In Mourne provide a fresh and stimulating environment to support and celebrate over 70 Mourne based talented creatives to carry out and showcase their work without barriers. There is a funky shop displaying the work of the makers, a business hub and co-working space, meeting rooms and incubation units. There is a regular series of events and workshops including Make the Artist and Maker, Digital Tuesdays, Mourne Business Networking, Silversmith, Candle making and Paint and Procesco Workshops, as well as a range of business support workshops.
The 70 + high quality makers export to over 60 countries world-wide via Made In Mourne’s online shop and a second specialist Original Art and Fine Jewellery Made In Mourne shop with additional incubation space will open before Christmas.
Harry's Place C.I.C. is the home of The Little Bearded Baker and all his Mates! In 2018 Gareth Little and a group of volunteers in Ballynahinch identified a gap in day-care provision for adults with learning disability and immediately identified thirty individuals who were lacking substantive educational, training or economic support and who faced multiple barriers to rewarding and sustainable employment.
In response to this Gareth initially established Harry’s Mates, which has a social and recreational emphasis, providing opportunities for the target group to interact socially with one another and with the volunteers to participate in events and outings contributing to their sense of well-being and to being valued members within the local community.
Based in Ballynahinch, the social enterprise has a Bakeria, Café, Zero Waste Shop and Social Hub.
The Social Hub – this provides a safe, welcoming and practical area for Harry’s Mates, adults with learning disability. Providing a range of technological facilities it allows the users to develop skills in use of computers and activities such as video and music production. It will also provide for the promotion of crafts and creative activities, art, writing and self-expression. There will be a range of activities aimed at raising awareness of self-worth and confidence within the user group enabling them to play a full and active part in their local community.
The Café is seen is a social space for the local community and Harry’s Mates to meet and socialise. It also provides work experience and job opportunities for Hary’s Mates. The Café offers a unique range of vegan food produced by the Bearded Baker. Harry’s Mates have the opportunity to improve their employability within the wider community with training including, potentially, BTEC City & Guilds Level 1 in Hospitality &Catering as well as Hospitality Customer Service.
Gareth has also established the Little Bearded Baker a Bakeria which specialises in 100% Vegan savoury pies and sweet treats that are homemade and fresh. Produce is sold in the Bakeria and orders are also delivered across Belfast, Cookstown, Banbridge, Donaghcloney, Dromore, Holywood, Lisburn, Portadown, Craigavon, Lurgan, Magheralin, Moira, Coalisland, Moygashel, Dungannon & Ballynahinch.
