Health and Wellbeing Growth Fund 2023
Rethink Ireland’s Growth Fund seeks to support proven social innovations to achieve widespread impact and transformative change in Ireland.
Through this year’s Growth Fund, we will provide bespoke support to health & wellbeing projects that are ready to secure significant growth capital to grow and deepen their impact over several years.
The Health and Wellbeing Growth Fund is made possible through support from the Department of Rural and Community Development.
Awardees
Helium Arts
Helium Arts is a children’s charity committed to improving the well-being of children and young people living with lifelong physical health conditions. Through their free creative workshops offered in communities, hospitals, and online, they provide safe spaces where children navigating health conditions can come together, create new friendships, have fun, and discover new skills. Utilising the transformative power of creativity, they instil children with confidence and resilience, equipping them with the necessary tools to overcome adversity. 100% of parents reported that their child had an improved quality of life after engaging with the Helium Arts Community Workshops.
Rethink Ireland has previously supported Helium Arts through two different funds, Through the backing of the Arts to Impact Fund 2019 -2023, Helium Arts went from supporting 300 children to 3000 children today. Rethink Ireland’s Growth Fund aims to support Helium Arts to achieve a widespread impact and transformative change in Ireland.
The Health and Wellbeing Growth Fund will support Helium Arts to scale their presence from 4 to 8 hospitals, from 8 to 16 community locations, and grow their reach from 3,000 to 6,000 children annually.
Spraoi agus Spórt
Spraoi agus Spórt is a social enterprise in Carndonagh, Inishowen, Co. Donegal. They have grown from a parent & toddlers’ group in 2010, to providing services for 700+ participants a week today. Rethink Ireland have previously supported Spraoi agus Spórt through the Social Enterprise Development Fund 2019.
They offer a range of services and activities that are affordable and inclusive, for all ages across 5 key pillars – Child & Family Hub, Childcare, Coworking Hub, Circular Economy Hub and Digital Creative Lab. They work to address disadvantage, strengthen the community and enhance opportunities in the region.
Through the support of the Health and Wellbeing Growth Fund, they are planning to double their turnover and create at least 10 new staff roles over the next three years. It will also allow them to double our reach, to over 1,500 participants weekly.
