Category: Uncategorized

We are inviting you to attend our short Zoom Webinar event on Thursday 24 June from 12 noon to 12:30pm. You’ll hear from our Associate Directors Phelim Sharvin (Northern Ireland) and Emmett O’Hara (Republic of Ireland) as well as our two guest speakers Conor McGale (Membership and Training Officer for Rural Community Network) and Larry O’Neill (CEO of South Dublin County Partnership).

The theme of this event is The Road Back Offers Opportunities and the panel will discuss these opportunities and how our new £/€10 million All-Island Recovery Loan Fund can support those opportunities.

Our Guest Speakers

Conor McGale (Membership and Training Officer for Rural Community Network) 

Conor is the Membership and Training Officer for Rural Community Network, a membership organisation representing around 300 rural groups across NI. Key elements of his work includes the delivery and sharing of fundraising and community development training and good practice.

Conor has over 25 years’ experience working in the community/voluntary sector in Northern Ireland. This has included managing an Advice Centre, project management of a large community facility capital build project, co-ordinating of a cross border training programme, and the delivery of a multimedia oral history project based on the border and in rural areas of NI. He has extensive experience in fundraising, impact measurement, social media, project management, staff/volunteer management, project evaluations, strategic & business planning, and group facilitation. Conor graduated from the University of Ulster with a BSc Hons in Occupational Psychology and has achieved the Diploma in Community Development Practice, PRINCE 2 Project Management Qualification, ILM Level 5 in Management and a Diploma in Digital Marketing.

Larry O’Neill (CEO for South Dublin County Development).

Larry O Neill is the CEO of South Dublin County Partnership CLG and has been employed by SDCP and CPLN since 2005.

Larry commenced his career in community development in the early ‘90s as CEO of Wicklow Rural Enterprises. He was a founding director of Horse Sport Ireland and served as Director/Chair of ILDRA CLG the national governing body for endurance riding in Ireland.

Larry is a graduate of UCO (MBA) and has been involved in Social Enterprise in the South Dublin Area for over 15 years; has served as Chair of Oakfield Trust; Chair and founding Director of Recreate and director of Recycle IT CLG. Larry is a member of the National Social Economy Implementation Oversight Body Established by the government and chairs the Irish Local Development Network Social Economy Committee.

Register Now

To reserve your place, simply click here to register.

€12 million investment into one of our first clients in the Republic

Today was a very good day. It brought to mind the fact that some things are worth waiting for and that as often happens with our clients and in our business, ideas start small and with the right attitude, resilience, plus the combination of physical and human assets, “continued” progress can and does happen – you simply need a few change-makers to get together and dream a little.

Today, the team of change-makers that I met in Fort Dunree over 17 years ago are having a “Whoo-hoo” moment. Everyone in the team and in the county will be swelling with pride and embracing a renewed focus on the next chapter of their unique visitor centre. Situated in what many rightly believe is among Ireland’s most naturally beautiful spots, there has always been something special about this place.

But whatever your own personal views, the team at Bord Failte and Donegal County Council believe that this project, which started small and with social finance as a core support, is worth believing in. That this same belief is matched with €12 million (9.2K Bord Failte plus match funding 3.2k Donegal City Council ) tells us something about the people of Donegal and the volunteers who are behind this project.

The money will bring renewed confidence, local employment, pride and the ability to welcome further visitors to buy local food or artisan products, sleep in local beds, walks across the greenways and beaches and all snapped for Instagram; with their photos and experiences shared with the world.  Fort Dunree will be ready to make the most of new visitors and a bigger capacity to say welcome –  for welcome is what the team have always had in their minds.

My personal ambition is to have every community across the island of Ireland have the benefit of social finance – to build a team that “speaks finance but hears people” and to understand that social impact can be felt, not just dreamt

It’s projects like this one and their success story today that helps me and my team continue to do what we do.

As Bord Failte and Donegal City Council invests in Donegal, we made a further investment recently too. Anne Graham joined our team as a dedicated client executive for the Donegal and Connaught region. Anne is a native of Donegal and she too believes in the ability of Donegal and other communities across the island of Ireland to re-charge and recover.

As Anne said on her appointment

“I’m excited about working with social enterprises and community projects across Donegal and Connaught. As we gradually recover from the impact of Covid, early client conversations suggest that many believe that with disruption comes great opportunity. I am here to help the sector make the most of the opportunities and social impact ambitions they see ahead”.

I share her sentiment as I too hear, when talking to clients , that recovery and opportunity are hand in glove.

In fact, you will hear more from us later this month, as we launch our €10 million All Island CFI Recovery Loan package, built with projects just like this one in mind; Making social finance loans available for those amongst us who want to help communities thrive not just strive.

Donal Traynor

Group CEO Community Finance Ireland

Ends.

And Community Finance Ireland are on hand to help administer it.

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced today (11.03.2021) the release of over £7.5 million of awards to support charities facing financial difficulty as a result of the pandemic.

Over 300 charities are being offered the funding after successfully applying to Phase 2 of the Covid-19 Charities Fund. The money is awarded to support unavoidable costs and eliminate deficits accumulated by charities from 1 October 2020 to 31 March 2021, with individually tailored awards of up to a maximum of £75,000 per charity. 

Minister Hargey said: “This funding is vital for charities who have lost income from fundraising and trading activity as many are still facing unavoidable costs, even if they are not currently operating or have reduced services.

“Along with £8.8m awarded in Phase 1 of the Covid-19 Charities Fund, this will bring the total disbursed by my Department to support charities during 2020/2021 to £16.3million. The Executive allocated my Department with £15.5m in May 2020 and I secured additional funding to ensure that all local charities’ needs could be met in full.

“I want to thank Community Finance Ireland for helping my Department deliver the much needed Covid-19 Charities Fund. I also want to thank NICVA for promoting the Fund and the support they provided to applicants to ensure local charities had help to apply.”

Phase 2 of the Fund is being delivered by Community Finance Ireland, following successful delivery of Phase 1 by The National Lottery Community Fund who disbursed £8.8million to over 500 charities to support them in the period up to 30 September 2020.

Donal Traynor, Group Chief Executive of Community Finance Ireland said:  “We are delighted to help deliver Phase 2 of the Covid-19 Charities Fund on behalf of the Department for Communities. We delivered £9.25m on behalf of the Department through the Covid Social Enterprise Fund last autumn and are well aware of the importance of this type of support to the sector.

“Our approach to the Fund has been to bring our team’s skills and sectoral knowledge to aid a fair and swift assessment of a charity’s specific needs and make an award which meets those needs in full.

“We encourage all applicants, who receive a letter of offer over the coming weeks, to return their acceptance note as soon as possible so that our team can move to payment stage.”

Ends.

Audrey Murray, MBE, who spent her career as a champion for marginalised communities in Northern Ireland has been recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award for services to the social enterprise sector in Northern Ireland. 

Audrey, who spent over thirty years in the sector, most recently as Business Development and Contract Manager with LEDCOM, retired in 2020.  She continues to serve on a small number of voluntary boards, including Community Finance Ireland (formerly known as UCIT) and Ballyclare High School. 

When Audrey began her career, working in Newtownabbey, Rathcoole and Monkstown just outside Belfast to stimulate private enterprise, the sector didn’t have an official name.  She said:

“I just knew I wanted to help people.  Back then there was a scheme call ACE, aimed at getting the long term unemployed into work, that included a paid work placement.  I asked to meet some of teenagers involved, specifically, a girl who was a hugely talented artist.  I’d been to art college but I knew this girl was so much better than me and had so much potential to make a living from her talent.  But when I asked her what her dreams were, she just wanted a year in the ACE scheme.  She hadn’t been shown how to dream big for herself.”

Audrey struggled with dyslexia as a child and left school unable to read or right properly.  The only career options presented to her and her classmates were, “stitching knickers or slaughtering pigs or moving to England to find work” and none of those options appealed to her. With a diagnosis of the condition in her teens and encouragement from her older sister, she took up a place in art college, which she loved.  While she never formally worked in the arts sector, she used her creativity to develop solutions to business challenges, of which she faced many throughout her career.  

Working with many communities at grass roots level, she sometimes found herself the only female in a room full of ex-prisoners and community representatives.  Never one to be intimidated, Audrey was always focused on what she wanted to achieve.   “I have empathy with people who are being limited.  People need a champion to fight for them and I wanted to be that person, to make a difference.” While it is difficult to pinpoint just one highlight in such a long and diverse career, Audrey notes that in her role at LEDCOM she oversaw the creation of over 600 new social enterprises.  “Social enterprises are a fantastic business sector and the word ‘business’ is a deliberate term, as they make money but they do good.  They meet both social and economic needs, that other private and public organisations sometimes don’t even touch.”

Referring to her award, Audrey quipped:

“They don’t give you a lifetime achievement unless you’re old!  I’m retired now, but it was a wonderful recognition of all the people who I worked with throughout my career and the difference they made.” 

Dónal Traynor, Group Chief Executive at Community Finance Ireland said:

“We’re delighted that Audrey received this award, which is a testament to her tenacious attitude and determination to always make a difference.  We’re lucky to have had Audrey involved with our Board, as she mirrors our own values of Empathy, Integrity and Quality. She brings a direct way of working, attention to detail and a compassionate and forthright approach to doing good for those who need it most in society.”

Colin Jess, Director, Social Enterprise NI said:

“As the foremost support agency for Social Enterprises across Northern Ireland I was very pleased to present Audrey with this award on behalf of our agency. She has had a tremendous impact on the support and visibility of those in our communities who need it”.

Ends

Dónal Traynor pledges social finance solutions for every community across the island of Ireland.

Community Finance Ireland, the fastest-growing social finance provider in Ireland and the UK, has announced the appointment of Dónal Traynor as the organisation’s new chief executive officer. He replaces Harry McDaid who retired last month after seven years at the helm.

Community Finance Ireland offers finance products specifically tailored for the community sector including sports clubs, community projects, faith-based groups, and social enterprises.

Originally from Cavan, Mr Traynor (44) is the youngest CEO in the organisation’s 25-year history, and the first to come from a non-banking background. He served as Associate Director with Community Finance Ireland since 2014.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Traynor said,  

“My qualifications in economics and business, and my accreditation from the Institute of Bankers could have easily paved the way to a traditional banking career but after 16 years working in social finance, I have seen the incredible impact that it can have on communities, particularly in rural areas where grassroots organisations can be a lifeline for the community.

Since 2004, I have driven the length and breadth of the island to meet the staff and volunteers who are changing their communities for the better.  From local GAA clubs, to mountain rescue teams, and after-school groups, we worked together to develop new projects or start new building works.

At the heart of every single project, we have supported, is the dedication and capacity of the staff and volunteers. They have the commitment and the energy and often they just need the right funding to get an idea off the ground or take the next step. I believe that affordable, innovative and sustainable social finance solutions should be as accessible and common-place as local cooperatives or credit unions.

This year we have seen the incredible things that can happen when communities pull together, whether it’s rising to the challenges of unprecedented times or taking an opportunity to create something new for their community.

For me, local community has always been about sport. I’ve played GAA and soccer since I was a kid and now my own children are involved in our local club in Meath. I know what these organisations – whether it’s a sports club, a faith group or a community farm – mean to their communities and the positive impact that they have. That’s why Community Finance Ireland are here, to provide the practical support and advice that communities need to make a change or a dream come true.”

Donál Traynor Group Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Traynor has worked closely with grassroots organisations on both sides of the border and managed Community Finance Ireland’s first cross-border community business mentoring programme ‘netWORKS’ between 2004 to 2008, the only programme of it’s kind on the island of Ireland.

Welcoming the appointment, Damian McAteer, Chair of Community Finance Ireland said, “2020 marks a new chapter for Community Finance Ireland with our new all-island brand launching earlier this year and a renewed focus for us to operate on an all-island basis. Dónal has led our team in the Republic of Ireland with ambition and vision for the last 16 years, and I welcome the wealth of experience and commitment he will bring to communities from Ballymena, Co. Antrim to Ballyhea Co. Cork.

Ends.