The Atlantic Social Lab project in Cork held its first “Ask & Advise Evening” for Social Enterprises in Nano Nagel Place, Cork on the 18th of  October 2018.

The Centre of Social Studies (CES) of the University of Coimbra (Portugal) was able to approve the project - TIMES (Institutional Trajectories and Social Enterprise Models in Portugal), which is on the coordination and leadership of Professor Sílvia Ferreira (Researcher at Atlantic Social Lab project at CES).

A new programme aimed at developing and promoting creative thinking around local social issues for young people has been launched this week by Enterprise North West in partnership with the North West Regional College in Derry.

Santiago de Compostela City will host the 5th Coordination Meeting and study visits of the ATLANTIC SOCIAL LAB project that will take place the next 30th and 31st October 2018.

As part of the Atlantic Social Lab Project, Cork City Council in cooperation with the Irish Social Enterprise Network is launching a series of training and advisory events for Social Enterprises. These events are open to Social Enterprises from all over Cork City, will provide training across a variety of areas and opportunities to share problems, solutions and experiences. The following outlines the events planned.

Cork City, October 2018 to April 2019

To celebrate its 40th anniversary, the Centre for Social Studies is organizing an international conference at the University of Coimbra, which is also intended as a tribute to  Boaventura de Sousa Santos, the founder, scientific director and spiritus rector of the Centre.

It will take place from 7th to 10th of November at the Centre of Social Studies (FEUC & UC Rectory Auditorium, Coimbra).

In order to sensitize and socialize society on disability and the rights of people with disabilities, IncomodArte presented three themes - Sexuality, Independent Living and War - on September 21, 22 and 23 for three consecutive days of exhibition and debate that combined film screenings and Q&A sessions on these themes with guest commentators. It took place at  Parque das Nações in Lisbon.

The analysis of social needs of the city of Pau, widely shared as part of the Atlantic Social Lab project, has placed the fight against isolation as a priority issue. In response to these challenges that can affect all publics, the Mayor of Pau François Bayrou, presented in a participatory way, the first lines of reflection to citizens, associations, institutions and elected officials of the territory. The ambition is to bring all isolated publics in the heart of the city by personally involving them in the process.

One of the key actions stemming from the ASL project in Cork is the organisation of training and networking events for Social Enterprises in the city where participants can access advice, learn about the supports that are available whilst also being able to speak about the issues they are facing and the help they need.

Through one of these events we have been able to map the social enterprises in Cork City – this map can be viewed here.

Enterprise North West facilitated their first networking event as part of the Atlantic Social Lab project in Belfast during September 2018.