Community Creations
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| Community Creations | |
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| Founder(s) | Ruairí McKiernan Keith Corcoran |
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| Type | Charity Rgd. Charity No. CHY16212 |
| Founded | April 16, 2004 |
| Headquarters | 4th Floor, The Halls Quay Street Galway Rep. of Ireland |
| Origins | Ballyshannon Co. Donegal Rep. of Ireland |
| Key people | Ruairí McKiernan Anna Lally |
| Area served | Rep. Of Ireland |
| Focus | Youth Health, Media and Activism |
| Method | Website, Campaigning |
| Revenue | Private and Corporate Sector Grants and Donations |
| Volunteers | Over 200 Young People across Ireland |
| Employees | 5 |
| Website | www.community.ie |
Community Creations is a dynamic social change organisation founded in early 2004 by a group of young business, media and cultural studies graduates. They came together to develop innovative projects that promote positive social change in the community and have since grown into an award winning national organisation with a reputation for innovation, impact and professionalism.
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[edit] History
Community Creations was founded in January 2004 in South Donegal as a response to the need for a fresh approach to creating and promoting positive social change. Ruairí McKiernan, who was soon joined by Keith Corcoran and Anna Lally wanted to combine their skills and passions in youth work, health promotion, media and business to develop innovative and exciting initiatives.
The trio, who were all in their mid twenties, wanted to make a real difference to people’s lives and to help them become more aware and active in addressing and preventing health, social and environmental problems.
[edit] Youth internet study
Before setting up the organisation Ruairí had completed a health service led multi-agency feasibility study into developing an interactive support website for young people. The study provided a clear evidence base on youth health and lifestyle issues and pointed towards the urgent need for an accessible, youth-friendly, participatory initiative that helps, supports and empowers young people.
It highlighted that the internet was rapidly becoming part of mainstream youth culture and would be ideally suited, if harnessed correctly, to engaging and supporting young people due to the accessibility and privacy benefits it has over traditional services such as GPs and youth centres.
[edit] SpunOut.ie and other projects
The proposed website was put on hold due to funding constraints and health service reform. Subsequently Ruairí proposed that it could be developed, with the support of the original partners, as the Community Creations flagship initiative. The various partners came on board and SpunOut.ie was developed into what is now Ireland's leading online youth health and citizenship initiative.
From an initial home office to offices in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, Community Creations also launched a range of programmes including a Shared Heritage Initiative, a Community Media Programme and a Young Artists Scheme. Projects included youth magazines, community websites, an Asylum Seeker support programme, heritage campaigning, advocacy on ASBOS, art exhibitions, fundraising concerts and consultancy services to the HSE, Ombudsman for Children's Office and World Health Organisation.
[edit] A new beginning
In mid 2006, after 2 ½ years of development and successes and coinciding with the end of our the initial strategic plan, it was decided to take a step back and review the organisation’s vision, mission and strategic priorities. The result was an extensive one year strategic review and organisational overhaul that involved relocation to Galway City, establishing new offices, recruiting new staff and a new organisational plan.
[edit] Community Creations achievements and impacts:
- Coordination of the ‘Tough Times’ national youth mental health awareness and suicide prevention campaign reaching over 2 million people
- Outreach to over ½ million people via web, press, media and related PR
- Re-development of SpunOut.ie to meet top international standards
- National Health Service Innovation Award 2006
- Social Entrepreneur Ireland Award 2006 for Ruairí
- Barnardos’s volunteer of the year award for Youth Board member Tracey McGroary
- Addressing over a dozen national conferences including the inaugural President’s National Forum on Suicide
- Approximately €500,000 in non core funds raised over 3 ½ years
- Endorsements for SpunOut.ie from all major national youth agencies
- Features on national TV, radio and the national press
- Establishment of SpunOut.ie National Youth Board of 12 young people and National Volunteer Panel of 200+ young people
- Establishment of Staffing, Advisory Group and Management Structures
- Links and partnerships with national and international bodies including the HSE and WHO
[edit] Idealisms
[edit] Vision
The organisations vision is an Ireland where people are active and empowered in creating personal and social change in their lives, their communities and in the world.
[edit] Mission
Their mission is to empower people throughout Ireland with information, tools, resources and opportunities to create positive social change in their own lives, in their communities, and in the world.
[edit] SpunOut.ie
SpunOut.ie is a youth-led media initiative covering all aspects of youth info, health, lifestyle and activism. SpunOut.ie aims to guide young people through life with quality information, support and inspiration as well as providing a platform for young people to express their opinions, realise that they are not alone and get heard.
SpunOut.ie is developed and managed by Community Creations, and is endorsed by key youth, health and community bodies and receives funding from a range of public, private and philanthropic sources.
[edit] Awards
In 2006 SpunOut.ie received a HSE Innovation Award for 'Innovations in management, technology and communications' in 2006. The award was presented by Minister for Health Mary Harney at a ceremony in Dublin Castle on Wednesday October 11th. The annual awards scheme, which receives over 200 applications from throughout Ireland, recognises models of innovation and excellence in the health sector, and celebrates the quality systems and outstanding people behind them.
[edit] Tough Times Campaign
The 2007 'Tough Times' campaign was aimed at d-stigmatising mental health issues, encouraging young people to seek help and signposting them to help options. The campaign launch in Dublin’s Whelans music venue featured a range of young bands as well as famous Cork band The Frank and Walters.
The Campaign used a combination of television advertising, postering, online marketing and media features. Watch the Television advert. The television advert featured Ian Howley, a 22-year-old student who attempted suicide three times in his early-to-mid teens. He got involved in the campaign through SpunOut.ie, to help others learn from his experience.
The campaign was coordinated by SpunOut.ie and was commissioned and joint-funded by Console and Turning The Tide of Suicide (3Ts) and produced by Kairos Communications. The cost of airing the advertisement on RTÉ television was provided by Console and the National Office for Suicide Prevention.
[edit] Values
- Accessibility and inclusion
- Equality and diversity
- Participation and youth-leadership
- Holism
- Preventative
- Cooperation
- Agenda and 'spin' free
- Non-judgemental
- Creativity and innovation
[edit] Aims
- Young people have the information, support, space and resources to lead happy, healthy and fulfilled lives.
- Young people are motivated and resourced to create personal and social change.
- Young people participate in and influence decisions affecting their wellbeing and are listened to by decision makers.
- Young people are accurately represented in media.
[edit] Funding
Funding comes via programme grants and consultancy revenue. Part-funders include the HSE, The Department of Social and Family Affairs, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, ESB Electric Aid, The Dormant Accounts Fund, The Community Foundation for Ireland, The National Lottery and Donegal Local Development Company. The organistaion is actively seeking funders and sponsors.
[edit] References
About Community Creations. SpunOut.ie. Retrieved on 2007-06-28.
Ruairí McKiernan. Social Entrepreneurs Ireland. Retrieved on 2007-06-28.
National Health Service Innovation Award winner 2006. Health Service Executive. Retrieved on 2007-06-28.
New youth campaign against suicide. RTÉ (2007-06-19). Retrieved on 2007-06-28.
New suicide prevention campaign launched. Irish Examiner (2007-06-19). Retrieved on 2007-06-28.
