WIN Business Park played host to 12 local social enterprise organisations this week when they gathered together to Pitch in the ‘Dragons Den’ for £800 of investment. The event was sponsored by the Ulster Community Investment Trust and Newry & Mourne Enterprise Agency and organised by Social Enterprise NI.
Centred Soul represented by Rosemary Deans, front right, was the winner of the Social Enterprise NI Pitching Event Newry and Mourne. Runner up was Davina' Ark represented by Ciara Jane Devlin, front left. Also included back from left are: Carol Cox, Social Enterprise Advisor, Newry and Mourne Enterprise Agency; David Arthurs, Business Development Executive, Social Enterprise NI; Phelim Sharvin, NI Assistant Director, UCIT and Amanda Johnston, Operations and Membership Manager, Social Enterprise NI. The event was sponsored by UCIT, O'Neill Developments and supported by NMEA. Photograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ie
The participating organisations were from across the whole Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area and were presenting their social enterprise and social innovation ideas to a panel of experts.
Participants and organisers of the Social Enterprise NI Pitching event Newry and Mourne. The event was held in WIN Business Park, sponsored by UCIT, O'Neill Developments and supported by Newry and Mourne Co-operative and Enterprise Agency. Photograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ie.
Phelim Sharvin Associate Director of Ulster Community Investment Trust was impressed by what he heard, he said ‘Newry Mourne and Down District has a vibrant social enterprise sector where Profit for Purpose organisations trade services for social good. These organisations presenting today have a powerful impact on issues of mental and physical health, autism, education, training, enterprise development, the arts and domestic violence.’
Rosemary Deans, Centred Soul making her pitch at the Social Enterprise NI Pitching event Newry and Mourne. The event was held in WIN Business Park, sponsored by UCIT, O'Neill Developments and supported by Newry and Mourne Co-operative and Enterprise Agency. Photograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ie.
The competition was a closely fought affair with the wining pitches coming from of Centred Soul Health and Wellbeing, who work in the area of perinatal mental heal and birth trauma and Davina’s Ark who work with individuals and families recovering from addiction.
Pictured with some of the candles donated by SPACE for the winners of the Social Enterprise NI Pitching event Newry and Mourne. The event was held in WIN Business Park, sponsored by UCIT, O'Neill Developments and supported by Newry and Mourne Co-Operative and Enterprise Agency. Included from left are: Carol Cox, Newry and Mourne Co-operative and Enterprise Agency; Amanda Johnston, Social Enterprise NI and Phelim Sharvin, UCIT. Photograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ie.
Rosemary Deans the founder of Centred Soul was delighted to win the event describing it as, ‘ a great opportunity to tell the story of the positive impact of their work on the wellbeing women and men suffering from mental health issues around child birth’
Closing the event Social Enterprise Programme manager Stephen McClelland said “he was grateful for the Newry, Mourne and Down District Councils support for social enterprise in the district as it enable local people with vision, passion and perseverance to made a tangible difference in the lives of excluded people and at the same time have a positive impact on the local economy.’
The panel enjoy a joke at the Social Enterprise NI Pitching event Newry and Mourne. The event was held in WIN Business Park, sponsored by UCIT, O'Neill Developments and supported by Newry and Mourne Co-operative and Enterprise Agency. Photograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ie.
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