TWO county Limerick social enterprises are among the first in Ireland to achieve People and Planet First Verification — a globally recognised quality mark for social enterprises.
Ballyhoura Development CLG announced the honour for ACM Castleconnell and Friars’ Gate Theatre, Kilmallock.
Adding to this success, Ballyhoura Development itself is one of only 18 social enterprises in Ireland to receive the accreditation in the first round of the pilot initiative.
People and Planet First is a verification mark that ensures social enterprises are putting social and environmental impact before profit. Recognised in over 130 countries, it is fast becoming the global benchmark for quality in the sector.
The verification is based on five standards: Purpose, solving a social and/or environmental problem; Operations, prioritising purpose, people, and planet in decision-making; Revenue, sustaining operations through earned income; Use of Surplus, reinvesting the majority of profits into their mission; and Structure, locking in their purpose legally and financially for the long term.
Jo O’Donovan, manager of ACM Castleconnell, said: “This recognition reflects the dedication and hard work of our committee, volunteers and ACM over the years. It affirms our commitment to high-quality practices and meaningful, positive impact within Castleconnell and surrounding communities”.
Ciara Moloney, Friars’ Gate Theatre managed, spoke about what the accreditation means to their community-based arts programme, saying: “For us, this accreditation validates the work we do at Friars’ Gate with disadvantaged groups including the Travelling community, the Ukrainian community, service users from St Joseph’s Foundation, and elderly people in our community.”
