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3 nominations from readers

• Media Ireland should win this award as they have successfully established a sustainable social enterprise in a highly competitive commercial sector – operating a radio and TV station in less than 12 months.

  During this short operational period, they have promoted active local participation and provided free accredited training (META Europe Standard) to almost 70 volunteers, the volunteer broadcasters come from a wide range of backgrounds with various abilities, including physical disabilities and special learning needs who work alongside able bodied volunteers as equals. These volunteers now run the stations with some staff support, contributing to the longest provision of broadcast in the region with the greatest variety of content.

  Media Ireland also provides short and longer-term placement opportunities for students, which has a major impact on their skills and experience in the practical production, editing and presenting of radio and TV programmes.

  The support they have given to other Social Enterprises and the sector generally, through programming and airtime has been substantial.

  Media Ireland was the catalyst, which led to the establishment of the Community Media Council for Northern Ireland, representing the sector to the regulator and to government, it now has a significant local impact in terms of challenging local politicians and holding local bodies publicly to account.

  While the enterprise places an emphasis on working with young people and those at risk of being marginalized or socially excluded, it is not at the expense or exclusion of any other person or group and provision of broadcasting airtime to ethnic minorities groups is also taking place. (Polish & soon to be Latvian, Lithuanian & Portuguese)

  The voluntary directors are operationally totally committed to the sustainability of the enterprise and willingly give substantial hours to the enterprise free of charge. They are an excellent example of a business that considers its double bottom line having both financial and social benefits, particularly at a time when Northern Ireland is emerging from its troubled past, as Newry had the highest casualty rate per capita during the conflict.

  Nominated by Pauline Coghlan, 09 April 2008

• Sean Og MacBraoin has devoted most of his adult life championing the social economy sector as a method of addressing disadvantage and community deprivation. He motivates others by the example of his own dedication and enthusiasm.

  The founder of Media Ireland, he works fulltime for the social enterprise in a wholly voluntary capacity. Indeed, his commitment is such that he went back to university as a mature student in 2003, studying Community & Youth Work simply to enhance his knowledge of the sector, returning at weekends and holidays to volunteer for the charity. At Durham he wrote his dissertation on “The Impact of Community Radio for Community and Youth Work Practice in the UK” and his study of community media throughout Europe led to him founding the Community Media Council. This is now the representative organisation for all community radio stations in Northern Ireland, bringing together British Forces radio (BFBS) alongside stations from traditionally Republican areas.

  Recognising the transition of media to the digital world he expanded Media Ireland’s work from community radio to on-line/on-demand community television, the income of which is used to fund local charities and projects in Africa.

  While the private sector media industry is contracting, Media Ireland has expanded year-on-year by diversifying and embracing developments in digital technology showing that social enterprises can out-perform private sector companies. In 2009 alone Media Ireland will recruit, train and provide industry placements for over 300 volunteers of varying abilities/disabilities.

  This summer he brought a US political delegation to Belfast, gaining support for the community media sector and creating a volunteer exchange programme between Belfast and New York.

  Today Sean relishes devoting time to passing on his experience to other organisations, giving talks on Social Enterprise Corporate Governance and Self-sufficiency for Charities through the Social Economy. He continues to inspire.

  Nominated by Desy McKevitt, 30 September 2009

• Media Ireland is a social enterprise which makes a real difference in our community, both directly in the volunteers it trains in new skills and indirectly to the local community and economy in promoting the work of community & youth organisations and supporting the growth of local indigenous businesses.

  The members of Media Ireland work democratically together to achieve our goals and we bring together people of all ages, abilities/disabilities, faiths and socio-economic backgrounds so breaking down traditional sectarian and inter-generational barriers. In 2008 we had 75 volunteers and this is set to expand to more than 300 in 2009 with the launch of a new community radio station in Belfast to serve students and young people, again on a cross-community basis.

  At Media Ireland all training is provided free in all aspects of Media and Broadcasting, from community journalism and presentation to recording and editing using professional equipment and our volunteers range from those who want to develop a career in broadcasting to those who simply want to create a better community for all.

  Media is a great leveller and our most rewarding experiences come when we visit schools and youth clubs and work directly with children of all abilities/disabilities. Our latest project is the conversion of an ex-Red Cross Ambulance which has been donated to us and which we are converting into a mobile Community Media Unit with Radio & TV production equipment to enable us to increase this work.

  In the future we want to share our experience and help other communities develop their own media projects to tackle disadvantage and deprivation in their own communities. By sharing, we all grow.

  Nominated by Desy McKevitt, 30 September 2009

3 comments from readers

• Great Social Enterprise which has been an inspiration to the community, voluntary and social enterprise sector locally and regionally. They're work has just been recognized by the private sector winning the inaugural Greater Newry Business Award for social enterprise 2008. Good luck & well done.

  Submitted by Stephen McClelland, 06 June 2008

• Media Ireland are based on the same estate on which I work. In the space of less than a year I have witnessed the Iúr FM arm of project grow from nothing to a fully fledged local radio station the output of which is enjoyable, varied and interesting. I am constantly impressed by the drive, enthusiasm and ‘can do’ attitude displayed by the staff and volunteers.

  Submitted by Colin Hanna, 06 June 2008

• Media Ireland which includes Iúr FM is an innovative, energetic and inclusive initiative which is making waves locally withn all sectors. This project is helping to put this new media format on the map. The best of luck to them.

  Submitted by Seán Maguire, 07 June 2008