Westmeath educator awarded €20,000 by Social Entrepreneurs Ireland

Local social entrepreneur Mary Moran, founder of DcodeDyslexia, has won a place on Social Entrepreneurs Ireland’s Impact Awards accelerator programme and secured €20,000 for her work upending traditional schooling.

DcodeDyslexia is an easy-to-use structured literacy reading programme for dyslexic students, their parents and schools.

The SEI Impact Programme identifies high-potential social entrepreneurs and supports them through significant funding and mentoring, as well as providing access to a network of support. Impact Programme Awardees receive training in areas such as fundraising, governance, leadership, and storytelling. The 2022 programme attracted more than 100 applications from all corners of Ireland with the successful applicants going through a rigorous interview process. The five Awardees were chosen upon showing how their programmes are shaking up the traditional ways of dealing with social issues and are providing innovative solutions.

One in five students in Ireland are dyslexic, and the current way students learn to read in Irish schools leaves dyslexic students behind. This is widening gaps in academic achievement, whilst also leading to poor confidence and lower mental health. DcodeDyslexia’s methods use colour-coded phonics to create a fun and engaging programme for students at any age. This reading method supports the student with dyslexia and can support to build neurological pathways in the brain to improve their reading skills.

Speaking about winning a place on the programme, Ms Moran, who is from Moate, said: “Being an Awardee of The Impact Programme feels like I have found my family. One that will help and support me through the journey I am on to ensure that every child is taught to be a fluent and accomplished reader.”

SEI are also delighted to announce the beginning of a three-year partnership with real estate investment company Kennedy Wilson, whose funding, as Major Programme Sponsor, in conjunction with other philanthropic donors, will support the Impact Programme from 2022 – 2025.

This year's Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Awardees include:

Hair Together – Eileen McHugh: A personal development programme, which uses the art of hairdressing and barbering to reach and engage with young people who have not yet reached their full potential through mainstream education.

Jiminy Eco Toys – Sharon Keilthy: A toy store shaking up the plastic-focused toy industry by retailing and distributing climate-neutral and minimal waste toys for children.

The B!G Idea – Kim Mackenzie: A creative education initiative programme for 15-16 year-olds bridging the gap between industry and education by having students work on projects solving social issues.

The Two Norries - James Leonard & Timmy Long: A podcast utilising personal stories, humour and sensitive down-to-earth advice themed around crime, mental health, addiction and social and health issues. s.

Commenting, Sophie Ainscough, LEAP Programmes Manager at Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, who will be leading the Impact Awards delivery said “It’s a really exciting time for us at Social Entrepreneurs Ireland to be working with a new group of amazing social entrepreneurs. Each one of them is working to solve an important problem in a unique way and over the next nine months I’m looking forward to getting to know them and helping to bring their organisation to the next level.”

Since its foundation in 2004, SEI has supported more than 500 social entrepreneurs across the country who are championing and driving solutions in areas such as mental health, homelessness, the environment, education, and unemployment. Alumni of SEI programmes include AsIAm, FoodCloud, Grow Remote, jumpAgrade, Ó Cualann Cohousing Alliance and The Shona Project.

For more information on this year’s Impact Awardees and the work of SEI, visit socialentrepreneurs.ie.