Social Innovation will ensure the development of a fairer, stronger Ireland.

Conference hears from An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD, Baroness Thornton of the Young Foundation, Paul Stanley, interim CEO of Ulster Bank and Sister Stanislaus Kennedy, co-founder of Young Social Innovators on the importance of embracing a culture of social innovation across communities.

L-R: Baroness Thornton, The Young Foundation; Paul Stanley, interim CEO, Ulster Bank; An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD; Sister Stanislaus Kennedy, co-founder Young Social Innovators.

Young Social Innovators and Ulster Bank have announced a new partnership at an event in Dublin. Over 150 people gathered to hear from speakers including An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD who spoke about the important role that social innovation has to play in developing an economically stronger Ireland. The event was emceed by Diana Bunici, TV presenter and author.

Through the new relationship, Ulster Bank will provide financial support to YSI and its participants, ensuring that social innovation in Ireland continues to be fostered from a young age. A record breaking 444 innovation projects have been entered into this year’s Young Social Innovators of the Year Awards by over 6,500 students nationwide, an increase of 8% from 2015. Across its programmes, YSI is currently accessed by approximately one in ten students throughout Ireland whilst it works to grow its interest and activities in Northern Ireland, Canada and Zambia.

Addressing guests at the event, An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, TD said: “There has never been a greater focus on innovation as an important driver of economic progress. Social innovation also has an important role to play in shaping the future of Ireland to be a country that is not only economically prosperous but that is a more inclusive and fairer society to live in. By engaging our young people in programmes such as Young Social Innovators we are not only creating more caring and engaged citizens but those with the skills to tackle the very serious issues facing us at local, national and global levels. I would like to see all young people in Ireland given the opportunity to participate.”

Emcee Diana Bunici panels a discussion of former YSI students on their experiences of the programme.

Also speaking at the event, Sister Stanislaus Kennedy, co-founder of Young Social Innovators, called on companies not to forget their social responsibilities as they focus their energies on innovation for economic growth.  “Innovation for its own sake is not enough. We have seen all too often in Ireland and elsewhere innovations which benefit a few but are harmful or are out of reach, to many. We need social innovation to be an integral part of innovation so that we build a more equal, inclusive and sustainable society – that is what social innovation can bring to us.”

Commenting on the partnership, Paul Stanley, interim CEO of Ulster Bank said: “Ulster Bank is proud to be embarking on this new partnership with YSI, an organisation that over the last 15 years has shown that the future of our society can be shaped through questioning the status quo and education.  We share a goal with YSI to enable growth through innovation, whether it is support for our business customers or for the communities where we live and work, in what matters to them.”

Ulster Bank is also committed to providing participants with access to support for their projects, many of which have the potential to be developed into a social enterprise and sustainable business. One such example, Greener Globe, was conceived by a team of students from Tullamore College in Co. Offaly including Jack Dooley who was speaking at today’s event.  They patented their energy free Aquacica showerhead which uses a traffic light system to encourage users to reduce the length of time they spend in the shower, from an average of eleven minutes to seven minutes, therefore leading to reductions in water use and energy costs. 

To launch this new relationship between Ulster Bank and Young Social Innovators, a short video was commissioned, which paints a picture of what this partnership will mean to the 20,000 young people participating in the YSI programme today, and the many more who will benefit from the programme over the coming years. Watch the video below.