Community
Tait House Community Enterprise wins National Enterprise Town Award
Tracey celebrating with her team after winning the National Enterprise Town Award
Tait House Community Enterprise wins National Enterprise Town Award
Tait House Community Enterprise (formerly known as Southill House) is a community development co-operative whose mission is to generate enterprise, employment, and training opportunities through the provision of services for the people of Limerick based at Collins Avenue, Roxboro Road.
Recently, Tait House won the Bank of Ireland National Enterprise Town award for the town’s initiative, which recognises enterprising set-ups. Staff from the centre won the prize at a gala ceremony at the Lyrath House Hotel in Kilkenny. Tait House won the award after teaming up with the Limerick Enterprise Office, Limerick City and County Council and the Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership. They called their application “Southside Regeneration’ and they were the only company to win from Limerick.
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Tait House gave a short presentation to three high-profile judges last summer after being put forward by Limerick Council. Chief Executive Tracey Lynch said, “We got to tell them about the different things we do across the community services and the social enterprise programmes, and that symbiotic relationship between both.”
Tracey Lynch, CEO Tait House (2nd left) pictured accepting the award with Sean Mc Glynn, Limerick City & County Council, Maria Kelly, Bank of Ireland, Gordon Daly, Limerick City & County Council, George Lee, Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership and Eamon Ryan, Limerick Enterprise Office.
Tait House is a not-for-profit social enterprise that employs 160 staff. A key part of the development of the centre is the progression of social enterprises and currently, they have 20 in operation. Any surplus funds are put back into various social projects such as the community creche and after-school club, a café, and a hairdresser and beauty salon.
A huge number of community services are offered at the facility, including retrofitting of houses to make them warmer, community programmes and horticulture courses and a befriending service based on HSE referrals.
Tracey Lynch said, “ We are so honoured to have won this award. Its great to know they work we are doing is making an impact in the wider community. I think it’s because what we do is real and it’s meaningful. We are able to give people who not have entered into the labour force in a long time, an opportunity to shine. The process through gaining some confidence to lift your shoulders and head to getting onto education, clocking in and out, getting some work experience and interacting with people.”
Tracey adds, “There are big plans for Tait House, including an exciting landmark project for the city, an urban farm, and even a snail farm and we are also moving from energy installation to energy generation. Watch this space!”
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