The eight finalists in the 2013 Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (SEI) Awards, have been. The Awards celebrate and support Ireland’s brightest and most ambitious entrepreneurs with game changing ideas to solve the social problems facing Ireland.

Social Entrepreneurs Ireland is an Irish not-for-profit organization that helps people with big ideas to change Ireland.

The finalists are; John Evoy of Irish Men’s Sheds Association, Krystian Fikert of MyMind, Natasha & Toby Haslam Hopwood of The Galtee Clinic, Peter Johnson of Jobnet, Graham Jones of Solas Project, John Kearney of Irish Community Rapid Response, Brian McCormick of Adtruism and Mags Mullarney of Move4Parkinson’s.

Each of the eight social entrepreneurs head young organizations that are employing innovative approaches to help effectuate major social change in Ireland in areas as diverse as healthcare, local emergency services, unemployment, charity fundraising, the children’s care systemEach of the eight social entrepreneurs head young organizations that are employing innovative approaches to help effectuate major social change in Ireland in areas as diverse as healthcare, local emergency services, unemployment, charity fundraising, the children’s care system and the prison and probation system.

The finalists will now embark upon a three month program of support and evaluation, designed to help them to clearly define the problem they are trying to address and refine their solution. They will receive in depth support and professional consultation before the announcement of the 2013 Award winners in October.

Three Social Entrepreneurs will be awarded the top level “Impact Award” and €130,000 in direct funding with over €70,000 worth of support over two years. A further five will receive the “Elevator Award” and €22,000 in direct funding with over €10,000 worth of support over one year.

At the announcement of the finalists, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland’s CEO Seán Coughlan said,

“There is no denying that Ireland is in need of profound change, but the huge number of quality applications we received for the SEI Awards gives us firm hope that there is a vibrant and growing community of social entrepreneurs in our country coming up with brilliant ideas for social change and working tirelessly to put those ideas into action.”

“We look forward to playing a role in helping them reach their full potential and make a profound impact on Irish society.”