28/02/2007
Social Economy Newry and Mourne Launch,

Some 30 local Social Enterprises and 60 supporters of the social enterprise sector lent their support to the launch of Social Enterprise Newry and Mourne today, 28th February 2007 at WIN Conference Centre. The Newry & Mourne Co-operative & Enterprise Agency led initiative, marks a step change in support to the local social economy.

Speaking at the launch the Mayor of Newry & Mourne Michael Carr, said “the community sector is indeed vibrant throughout Newry and Mourne and this programme has the potential to harness this continuing demand for community participation and empowerment at a local level.”

This new initiative offers social enterprises in Newry & Mourne free access to a wide-ranging and flexible menu of support to enable them to become more sustainable and competitive, and to generate greater added value, earnings and wealth within their host communities in Newry & Mourne.

Welcoming the new initiative Newry and Armagh MP Conor Murphy said “The social economy includes cooperatively owned and managed businesses and community-run projects. It is increasingly recognised throughout the EU that the social economy has an important role to play in society, particularly by enhancing the economy within socially and economically excluded communities. It is essential that in order to build a strong and equal economy, it is necessary to have continued growth in the social sector which needs and deserves active government support”

The guest speaker Frank Dolaghan of Mentor Economic Developments Limited, a serial social entrepreneur and founder of one of the most innovative and successful social enterprises in these islands, Newry and Mourne Co-operative, gave a moving insight into the 40 year history of community led social enterprise in the area. He pointed out the lessons learned in those 40 years and recommended that social enterprises present focus on the “Critical success factors: of research, planning, funding, and skills.”

Encouraging communities in Newry & Mourne to have the courage to work together building local solutions to local social needs, Mr Dolaghan stated “I hope you will not to be afraid to go forward and build social enterprises which are sustainable, provide essential services, make innovative products, address special needs, make lots of money and above all, employ lots of people.”

Social Enterprise Newry and Mourne is an initiative of Newry & Mourne Local Strategy Partnership funded by the European Union Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland 2006 – 2008 (PEACE II) Extension. Priority 3: Locally based regeneration and development strategies. Measure 1: Local economic initiatives for developing the social economy.

Chairman of Newry & Mourne LSP Tom Moore stated the Local Strategy Partnership saw “a particular role for social enterprises and our ambition is for many more social enterprises to be established and for many more voluntary sector organisations to be able to deepen their independence and strengthen their enterprise activities.”

Mr Moore continued, “The Local Strategy Partnership wants to see social enterprises playing an even more important economic role in helping to encourage productivity and competitiveness, in bringing people back into the workforce who have in the past given up on the hope of ever getting a job, and in contributing to socially inclusive wealth creation. We want to see social enterprises providing vital services to the community, so that individuals and communities can work towards regenerating their areas.”

Social Enterprise Newry and Mourne will be delivered by a strategic partnership of service providers drawn from the private, public and the community / voluntary sectors who support the social economy. It has come together to maximise resources, improve service provision, influence policy and create opportunities for growth in the social enterprise sector. The support includes networking and trade events, social business to social business trading, public procurement opportunities, business growth clinics, technical support, advanced business coaching, and best practice visits in the UK and Ireland.

Contact details: Maeve McParland on 028 302 67011 or email mmcparland@nmea.net