Funded Projects
In November 2025, we announced the first projects funded through our New Solutions Scaling Up Scheme.
The Scheme supports social innovations that are already making a difference and have strong potential to scale their impact.
The funded projects include:
Bounce Back Recycling
Scaling Ireland’s only dedicated mattress recycling social enterprise through a national social-franchise model. The project led by Galway Traveller Movement will upgrade the Galway plant and fleet, hire a franchise manager and additional staff, develop a comprehensive franchise toolkit, and pilot two new regional partners. A new data dashboard will track social, environmental and financial impact, while a national communications campaign will build awareness and demand. The aim is to expand coverage to over 20 counties while reducing reliance on grant funding.
Education for Sustainability
Rolling out an eight-week climate literacy programme to 60 schools and youth or community groups nationwide over two years, reaching more than 1,200 young people. The project will bring climate education into non-formal settings as well as disadvantaged schools, using participatory, action-based learning that leads to tangible community climate projects and builds young people’s leadership and readiness to act.
Junior Achievement Finance Park
Expanding an immersive “Finance Park” experience so up to 15,000 students can practise real-world money skills in simulated towns. The project will grow delivery in existing schools, reach more rural areas, prioritise DEIS schools, strengthen teacher pathways linked to the national financial literacy strategy, and invest in digital infrastructure. It will also recruit and train a more diverse pool of business volunteers to co-deliver the programme with young people.
Spraoi Agus Sport
Deepening and scaling a community-led regeneration model in Donegal by expanding three interconnected hubs, the Child and Family Hub, the Garden and Circular Economy Hub, and the Tus Nua Innovation Centre. The project will increase access to childcare, disability supports, digital skills and employment pathways, while strengthening youth development programmes. New roles in communications, impact management and digital content will build the organisation’s capacity to grow sustainably.
The Rediscovery Centre
Transforming two decades of circular economy expertise into a replicable “circular hub” model that can operate in new regions. The project will pilot and refine community hubs in up to three locations, co-designing with local stakeholders, creating training materials and operational manuals, and building a national framework to double reuse activity. It will also create 12 to 18 Community Employment or TuS training placements and develop a community of practice to maintain quality and learning across hubs.
Citywise Education
Branching from Tallaght into four new Dublin locations, Ballymun, Crumlin, Clondalkin and Dublin City Centre, to deliver three integrated programmes. These include Clubs and Leadership to build confidence and engagement, STEAM programmes to develop technical and creative skills, and the Fast Track Academy which supports young people from primary through to third level with mentoring, study support and career guidance. Funding will cover staff, training, materials and venue costs to ensure consistent delivery across all sites.
Hygiene Hub Ireland
Extending a community-based model that tackles hygiene poverty into the areas of greatest need. Over three years, the project will open seven new regional Hygiene Hubs, deliver 100 hygiene education sessions in schools and youth clubs, distribute 10,000 youth hygiene packs, and support hygiene access in 50 youth spaces. A Youth Council or Ambassador Programme will be established, alongside a National Youth Toolkit for use in at least 250 schools and services.
Sailing into Wellness
Expanding a sailing-based wellbeing programme by establishing permanent local hubs in areas previously served only by a mobile unit, freeing up capacity to reach more participants. The project will also scale existing locations through a Train the Trainer pathway, building local skills and reducing reliance on central staff. The approach combines therapeutic sailing, personal development, and community connection to support people facing a range of social and wellbeing challenges.
Suas Educational Development
Taking a proven student social innovation incubator beyond Dublin into Cork and Galway. The project will deliver three regional bootcamps each year, a structured incubator with training, mentoring and seed funding, plus over 25 skills workshops annually. It will create spaces for peer learning, leadership development and alumni engagement, enabling more students, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds, to turn ideas into viable social impact projects.
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