Oakfield Trust Launches New Grant Scheme for Social Enterprises

March 2023

Oakfield Trust are delighted to announce that a new €250,000 social enterprise fund has been launched in South Dublin County – which takes applications from social enterprises and social entrepreneurs, who are focused on making a social impact in the community.

The ‘open’ fund has been announced by Clondalkin based Oakfield Trust and is to the value of €50,000 per annum for five years, with the first application window open from today March 30th until May 12th.

Oakfield Trust is a Clondalkin based social enterprise and registered charity which has been successfully supporting community organisations and social enterprises in the locality for over 26 years.

During that time, it has provided a range of property-based supports to a number of projects in the Clondalkin area in the form of including: feasibility studies, start-up grants, business development supports, project loans, project management and capacity development.

The new social enterprise fund is its first ‘open fund’ which any interested and relevant party can apply for. Applications will particularly be encouraged from the Clondalkin and South Dublin County areas, but projects which reach outside the locality or nationwide will also be considered.

Oakfield Trust Chairperson Aileen O’Donoghue said she was delighted to announce the fund – and looked forward to the progress, energy and positivity it will build within communities.

“Today we are announcing the next phase in our work, which is open social enterprise funding rounds twice a year for five years totalling €250,000. We are committed to the social enterprise model of community development and want to play as strong a role as we can, not just locally, but nationally.”

The open fund includes three categories which are:

• ‘Scale Up’ funding up to €10,000 for an established social enterprise or entrepreneur.
• ‘Get Started’ funding up to €5,000 to develop a new social enterprise idea towards start-up.
• ‘Explore Award’ to enable an applicant to explore an idea which addresses a social issue.

More information on eligibility, criteria and the application process is available at www.oakfieldtrust.ie

ReCreate, Creative Exploration Officer, Jo May; ReCreate, Creative Reuse Director, Aisling Folan; Local Enterprise Office South Dublin, Head of Enterprise, Tom Rooney; ReCreate, General Manager, Louise Parsons; Oakfield Trust, Social Impact Manager, Gareth Ebbs; ReCreate, CEO, Emma Connors and ReCreate, Creative Assistant, Inga Ozolina.



Oakfield Trust, Social Impact Manager, Gareth Ebbs; ReCreate, CEO, Emma Connors and Local Enterprise Office South Dublin, Head of Enterprise, Tom Rooney.