Tag: groups

Walter Walsh Launches New Digital Platform SocialTies

Today, SocialTies, a new free digital platform co-founded by three-time All-Ireland winner Walter Walsh, has officially launched. Built for community groups, such as schools, and grassroots organisations, SocialTies brings everything – from fixtures and results to ticketing, training resources, messaging, and exclusive content – into one unified, branded space. Designed around the real needs of today’s communities, the platform puts connection, identity, and community impact at its core.

Walter and his team have addressed a common frustration faced by organisations, relying on multiple disconnected tools to manage day-to-day communication and operations. Instead of navigating between group chats, outdated websites and scattered emails, SocialTies brings everything into one streamlined, purpose-built environment, finally offering a digital solution tailored to how real communities work.

“We built SocialTies because communities deserve better,” said Walter Walsh, CEO and Co-Founder of SocialTies, “For too long, they’ve been expected to make do with outdated websites, scattered group chats, and platforms that were never built for them. This isn’t about adding more noise, it’s about giving community groups, schools and grassroots organisations the digital infrastructure to connect, grow, and take ownership of their space online.”

Walter Walsh Launches New Digital Platform SocialTies – techbuzzireland

SocialTies is built on a new advertising model that delivers value to both communities and businesses. The platform is completely free to use both for individual users and the organisations themselves, with revenue generated through its Community Shared Advertising Model. Businesses gain targeted access to engaged, local audiences in a trusted environment, while 50% of all ad revenue is returned directly to the organisations and communities using the platform.

Brendan Kavanagh, Co-Founder of SocialTies, said: “Too many community platforms fail because they rely on goodwill, not good models. With SocialTies, we set out to create something that’s commercially robust and genuinely useful – it is a platform where local advertisers can reach engaged audiences in a meaningful way, while directly funding the communities they care about. It’s digital advertising that delivers real ROI.”

The first live platform built on SocialTies is Kilkenny Cats Social, created in partnership with Kilkenny GAA. As the pilot rollout, it demonstrates how the platform can be adapted to reflect the identity and structure of any organisation, in this case, one of Ireland’s most iconic sporting communities. Beyond content and communication, the partnership highlights SocialTie’s mission of community engagement at all levels – 50% of all advertising revenue generated on the app goes directly back to Kilkenny GAA, supporting grassroots development and major projects like the new Centre of Excellence.

Walsh, a former Kilkenny Senior hurler added “Kilkenny has given me so much, on and off the pitch, so launching our flagship product here means a huge amount to me. We built Kilkenny Cats Social to reflect everything this county stands for: pride, purpose, and community. I’m proud that we’re starting in Kilkenny, and even prouder that every tap, every ad, and every message on the platform gives something back to the place that shaped me.”

Microsoft launches Community Fund for South Dublin organisations

Microsoft is unveiling a new fund to support individuals, community groups, schools and non-profits that want to deliver impactful community projects in South Dublin.

The Microsoft Community Fund for South Dublin, managed by non-profit ChangeX, is dedicated to helping support thriving and sustainable communities near the company’s data centre campus in Clondalkin – funding projects related to environmental sustainability and digital skills.

As part of this year’s €100,000 fund, communities will be able to choose from a portfolio of exciting, proven ideas that have already had a positive impact in other communities around the world including a citizen science monitoring scheme to protect water sources, a programme to support the development of school gardens and local biodiversity, and a project aiming to tackle plastic pollution through turning waste into valuable materials.

Applications for funding are open to individuals, groups, schools and non-profits across the South Dublin County Council area. Funding of up to €4,500 per project is available, with a simple step-by-step application process in place to support groups to secure funding. Funding is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, with all applicants required to complete a 30-day challenge to unlock funding, which includes establishing a clear project action plan.

The launch of the Microsoft Community Fund for South Dublin builds on the support Microsoft has already provided to local communities. Sixty community projects, focusing on the development of digital skills and empowering local sustainability, have benefitted more than 16,000 community members since 2021 alone. Moreover, since 2008, Microsoft has invested more than €4 million in initiatives that support thriving, sustainable communities in the vicinity of its data centre operations in Clondalkin.

Commenting on the launch of the fund, Lavinia Morris, General Manager of Microsoft data centre operations for EMEA, said: “Last year, Microsoft unveiled our Data Centre Community Pledge, highlighting our commitment to local economies and communities where we operate. As we build and operate a global network of advanced data centres, we recognise the crucial role communities play in this ecosystem. The latest Microsoft Community Fund for South Dublin, announced today, will help deliver on the key pillars of this pledge, advancing community prosperity and well-being, while contributing to a sustainable future, and operating responsibly as a good neighbour.

“Over the past 17 years, Microsoft has invested more than €4m in empowering communities close to our data centre operations in Dublin, helping to enhance people’s digital skills, fostering sustainability and advancing community prosperity and well-being. As part of this investment, Microsoft has directly benefited more than 16,000 local people in communities in South and West Dublin and supported the local organisations that help them thrive. We look forward to witnessing the continued positive impact we can make in creating vibrant and sustainable communities through the roll out of the latest South Dublin community fund.”

Commenting on the initiative, Sandy Hazel, who received support by way of the Fund in 2021 and started an Open Orchard project, said: “We wanted to grow more food but buying fruit trees is expensive. When we heard about the funding provided by Microsoft, we realised it was perfect because it allowed us to get the idea off the ground. The idea behind adding fruit trees and berries to our community garden was to give local children the chance to pick their own fruit and have that experience, which is hard to access when growing up in an urban environment. Spending the funding in local nurseries also helped to support small businesses in the area and give back to the local community.”

Niamh McKenna, co-founder and head of impact at ChangeX, said: “Our partnership with Microsoft has already empowered tens of thousands of local changemakers around the world, and we’re excited to continue that work in Dublin this year.”

To find out more and apply, visit this link: https://bit.ly/3VMcLkr

Tesco Ireland redistributes 20 million meals to 350 charitable groups in 10 years

Over the past decade, almost 20 million meals, or 7,900 tonnes of food, have been redistributed to people living in food insecurity across Ireland, thanks to Tesco Ireland’s Surplus Food Donations Programme. On average, Tesco Ireland redistributes and donates up to 40,000 meals every week to over 350 charities across the country.

New research commissioned by FoodCloud, a social enterprise with a mission to transform surplus food into opportunities, shows that families with children are the single largest group of people accessing donations from Tesco Ireland’s Food Surplus Redistribution programme.

According to the study, conducted in July of this year, families with children make up almost half (47%) of all those accessing food donations, while three quarters (75%) of community groups, who distribute surplus food, report that they have experienced an increased demand for food in the last six months.

In ten years of partnership, diverting this surplus food from going to waste to those in Irish communities who need it, Tesco has significantly reduced emissions associated with the processing of this waste.

Working with FoodCloud and Olio, as well as over 350 local charitable and voluntary groups nationwide, Tesco redistributes surplus food at the end of each day to those who need it most in our communities. This food is perfectly edible but because it is nearing its use by date, it will be removed from the shelves in store. Typical donations comprise fruit and vegetables, bakery goods, meat and more.

In 2013, Tesco Ireland became the first retailer to partner nationally with FoodCloud, and this year the two organisations are celebrating 10 years of working together. The programme, which began in one Tesco Express store on Talbot Street in Dublin city, is now in operation across Ireland, and has since expanded into the UK, Czechia, and Slovakia.

Marking this important milestone, Tesco Ireland Communications Director, Rosemary Garth said: “We are very proud of what has been achieved since we launched our national Surplus Food Donations Programme 10 years ago. As a grocery retailer we have no time for waste and are absolutely committed to ensuring that no good food goes to waste when there are people in our communities who need it.

Since we launched this programme, which is powered by our partners FoodCloud and Olio, we have provided almost 20 million meals to the most vulnerable in our communities. This has enabled the charitable and voluntary sector in Ireland to reduce their food bills by over €23 million, which, according to FoodCloud, has empowered them to invest in providing an even greater level of support services in towns and cities nationwide”.

Co-founder of FoodCloud, Aoibheann O’Brien said: “Tesco’s commitment to eliminating edible food waste from their stores has positioned us as a global leader in tackling food waste. Through our strong partnership with Tesco, we have continued to grow our impact, innovate, and push boundaries around what is possible around food redistribution. We have worked together to reduce food waste for 10 years, expanding across four countries.”

SSE Renewables donates €1.1 million to almost 400 Irish community groups

SSE Renewables, Ireland’s leading developer, owner, and operator of renewable energy has donated over €1 million to almost 400 local charities and community groups across Ireland in the last year, once again demonstrating the company’s ongoing commitment to supporting the economic and social wellbeing of those local communities which host its wind farms. 

The contribution is revealed in SSE Renewables’ 2022/23 Community Investment Review for Ireland, which has been published today. 

In total SSE Renewables has invested €1.1 million this year from its wind farms into 382 community-based projects across the country. The funding generated for the SSE Renewables Community Fund comes from revenues earned by its wind farms across Ireland, including the Galway Wind Park Community Fund, which is Ireland’s largest community benefit fund. This year’s €1.1 million investment contribution is one of the largest-ever annual investments made by SSE Renewables into local communities from its wind farms. 

SSE Renewables’ funding helps support local groups, sports organisations and schools among others in rural Irish communities to develop their facilities with energy efficiency and sustainability upgrades as well as social and environmental projects that enable community development. 

The SSE Renewables’ 2022/23 Community Investment Review marks 20 years of wind powered funding by the company into Irish communities. Since it first launched its Community Fund programme in 2003, SSE Renewables has invested over €11.4 million into almost 4,500 community-based projects located closest to its wind farms. This funding is awarded to community groups near wind farms located in Cork, Cavan, Donegal, Wexford, Monaghan, Sligo, Limerick, Kerry, Tipperary and Galway. 

Stephen Wheeler, Managing Director of SSE Renewables said: “With the climate emergency and energy security at the top of the agenda, we’re proud at SSE Renewables to be playing our part in helping Ireland’s transition to renewable power. In the last year we’ve continued to produce huge amounts from our onshore wind farms across Ireland, while progressing the next wave of industry leading projects, both onshore and offshore. 

“We recognise that an integral part of a just transition is sharing value with the local communities in which we operate. We’re committed to investing to ensure Irish communities have what they need now and for the future. That’s why in the last year SSE Renewables has donated over €1 million to local projects to invest in issues as diverse as inclusive sport to biodiversity centres. In doing so, we’re aligned to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring the investments we make into local communities help deliver affordable and clean energy, take climate action to reduce emissions, and support the creation of sustainable cities and communities. 

“As we build more renewable assets across Ireland, we’re ensuring the country benefits from local, clean, resilient energy with a commitment to local supply chains to boost our economy. As part of this commitment, we’ll collaborate with communities to help them achieve their ambitions and support thriving, robust and prosperous communities across Ireland.” 

In addition to providing funding support to local groups and organisations, this year’s Community Investment Review details the education funding support SSE Renewables is providing to young people from its ongoing scholarship programme. In the last year, the Galway Wind Park Scholarship Fund has provided just over €50,000 in scholarships for 16 young students who live near Ireland’s largest wind farm and wish to attend their third level college courses of choice. This brings the total number of young scholars supported financially by the Galway Wind Park Scholarship since it was launched in 2019 to just over 80. 

Alongside funding contributions across local communities, 2022/23 has been a year of growth and development for SSE Renewables’ Community Funds. In County Donegal the company worked with development partner FuturEnergy Ireland to undertake an extensive community consultation with local representatives and community members in the design and key priorities of a new community fund for the Lenalea Wind Farm, which is due to open next year. 

This year also saw a significant increase in applications from communities across Ireland looking for measures and projects designed to support the delivery of low carbon infrastructure in rural areas, and so support a greener future and tackle the climate emergency. 

In County Galway, €110,000 was presented to Comhairle Ceantar na nOileán from Galway Wind Park to establish the Low Carbon and Sustainability Centre of Excellence in Casla. The centre is creating new sustainable economic opportunities to support the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of the region by supporting the re-skilling of workers and supporting homeowners to complete retrofit improvements. The centre is providing skills training in emerging retrofit technologies including solar PV, external wall insulation and ventilation. The project plans to train 280 professionals per annum and support the energy improvement of up to 10,000 local homes. 

Patrick McHugh, Director of Comhairle Ceantar na nOileán, said: “In Galway, the waiting list for energy efficient home upgrades is nearly two years. Through the development of this training centre in Galway, timeframes for upgrades will be reduced with the project having the potential to impact over 30,000 individuals and in excess of 10,000 homes, so contributing towards Ireland’s net zero goal.” 

In the community of Bunnoe, County Cavan, where the next nearest publicly available electric vehicle (EV) charging point is over 10km away, SSE Renewables’ funding totalling €2,500 has supported the installation of a first-ever EV charger at the Bunnoe Community Enterprise Centre. Visitors to the community centre, GAA club and football club can now charge their electric vehicles while visiting the local amenities. 

Patsy Fitzpatrick, Volunteer at Bunnoe Community Enterprise Centre, said: “In a rural area like Bunnoe, people have to travel at least 10km to access an EV charging point. The provision of this charger has improved efficiency and reduced cost for our locals, it has attracted people to the area to avail of the charger and use other resources whilst waiting, and most importantly it demonstrates our commitment and support towards achieving net zero.” 

SSE Renewables will continue to support Ireland’s green recovery and it hopes to continue the same level of successful support to communities in the coming year. In the coming year it will continue public consultation on the design and priorities for a community fund for Yellow River Wind Farm in Rhode, County Offaly, which it is currently constructing. 

In the offshore wind energy space, SSE Renewables is continuing to develop plans for Ireland’s 2030 offshore targets, including delivery of its flagship Irish offshore wind project, the 800MW Arklow Bank Wind Park II which is expected to generate a community benefit fund of around €6m annually should it become operational before the end of the decade. 

You can read the SSE Renewables 2022/23 Community Investment Review here.