SAILING INTO WELLNESS reached a significant milestone this month, when it was selected as one of nine awardees to receive a ‘Scaling Up’ grant from the New Solutions Social Innovation Fund. Officially launched by Minister Jerry Buttimer, Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, his announcement for funding of over €2.5million for established social innovation projects with scaling potential was warmly welcomed by all. Collaboration and creating ‘better outcomes’ for our participants have always been at the heart of our ethos and this is a further stepping stone to continue fostering social inclusion, empowering people to reach their full potential and, together, build positive social change in our communities, across Ireland.
What is the main objective?
The primary goal of the New Solutions Social Innovation Fund is to enhance the social innovation ecosystem in Ireland by fostering active inclusion, promoting equal opportunities, non-discrimination and active participation, and to improve employability for disadvantaged groups through the social enterprise business model.
What are the 3 core elements of the New Solutions Social Innovation Fund?
- The development of a new “Social Innovation Hub”, to raise awareness and provide advice and capacity building support to social innovation initiatives at all stages of the Social Innovation Development Curve in Ireland. The ‘Hub’ is led by Rethink Ireland in partnership with Dublin City University, the Local Development Companies Network, Údarás na Gaeltachta, the Western Development Commission and The Wheel.
- The fund consists of “Scaling Up Grants” which were launched in November 2025 and will run until 31 March 2028.
- The other grants available, via the fund, are “pilot grants”; a 2-year scheme aimed at supporting social innovation initiatives in the Republic of Ireland, to trial or test new products, services, practices or models to deliver better outcomes based on specific social inclusion themes. Up to €4million is available to support a minimum of 40 social innovations in earlier stages of development. Applications close on 13 March 2026.
CREATING BETTER OUTCOMES TOGETHER
Ní neart go gur le chéile !
The New Solutions Social Innovation Fund is co-funded by the Government of Ireland, through the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, and the European Union, through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) EIST 2021 – 2027 Programme, and is overseen by Pobal.
https://www.new-solutions.ie/