SpunOut

SpunOut is an independent national Irish youth organisation with a mission of empowering young people aged 16–25 to create positive personal and social change.[1] It was founded in Donegal in 2004 by Ruairí McKiernan who was later joined by friends Keith Corcoran and Anna Lally. It is based on a youth health study into young people's needs. SpunOut was previously based in Ballyshannon and Galway and is now based in the historic Seán MacBride House in Temple Bar in Dublin, SpunOut employs 6 full-time staff and works with volunteers over Ireland and abroad.

SpunOut is also a founding partner of the POSSIBILITIES social change initiative, which brought the Dalai Lama to Ireland.[2]

Online

SpunOut reaches hundreds of thousands of website users each year, providing thousands of pages of youth information and supportive factsheets on topics such as sexual health, mental health, politics and protest, equality, the environment, education and work. The website includes true-life stories from young people who have overcome difficulties in life, 100s of articles by young contributors on the issues that affect them and signposting to over 1000 services and organisations on the island of Ireland. SpunOut also runs regular media campaigns on issues such as youth unemployment, emigration, and mental health.

Youth Engagement

SpunOut runs the Academy of Activism, which provides practical skills training to support young people in taking action on a variety of social issues[3]

SpunOut also runs a ‘Super Heroes' mini grants scheme,[4] offering small grants to help young people get social solutions ideas off the ground.

Events and Forums

SpunOut organises events and forums that connect young people with decision makers, politicians and influential people. These have included the NESDO Futures Ireland Youth Forum, the Presidential Youth Forum with the 2011 Presidential Candidates,[5] and the POSSIBILITIES 2011 social change summit (with Afri and Children in Crossfire) that featured the Dalai Lama, Mary Robinson and a programme of music, theatre, poetry and inspirational speakers.[6]

Media

SpunOut has been featured in national media outlets in Ireland including RTÉ TV news, Nationwide, 360, iWitness, Seoige and O’Shea and TV3 news. It has been featured in the Irish Times Health Supplement and the Irish Times magazine and on RTÉ Radio’s Today with Pat Kenny, Today FM’s Ray D’Arcy Show amongst others.

Advocacy

SpunOut has made representations to Oireachtas (Irish parliament) committees and met the Irish President, Ministers, TDs, Senators and MEPs to advocate for youth participation in public life[7] and adequate investment in young people.

Outreach

SpunOut visits schools, colleges and community settings to do talks and workshops on youth and civic issues. SpunOut staff and volunteers also speak at youth, health, media and civic events and conferences.

SpunOut has published a range of publications including the ‘Our Stories’ journal of selected youth media, the ‘Be The Revolution’ social change booklet, and the ‘Youth Rising’ magazine, all of which have been distributed throughout Ireland.

Awards

SpunOut has won several awards including: Junior Chambers International, National Award for Social Entrepreneurship; Net Visionary Award,‘Social Contribution' category; Interactive Media Award (Youth); Irish Digital Media Award; Ulster Bank Business Achievement Award; Global Young Social Entrepreneur Award (nominated); HSE Innovation Award in Communications and Technology; Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Award ’06; Barnardos Young Volunteer of the Year Award. In 2012 SpunOut won the Bronze Award at the Nokia Digital Media Awards in the category "Best Charity/Non Profit Use of Digital Media".[8] In September 2013, following a redesign of the SpunOut.ie website, SpunOut.ie won two [9] Dot.ie Net Visionary Awards. Jason Coomey collected the "Most meticulous and cutting edge web developer (individual or agency)" and the organisation also won ""You Did Good" - Best Use of the Internet for Social Good" for its work with young people in Ireland. In 2013 SpunOut.ie also won an EU Youth Media Award for High Impact Digital Solutions in the Create your Culture! category.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "About SpunOut" (PDF). SpunOut.
  2. ↑ "Eoin Butler's Q&A - The Irish Times - Sat, Apr 09, 2011". The Irish Times. 2011-04-09. Retrieved 2011-10-29.
  3. ↑ "SpunOut.ie's 2nd Academy of Activism Set to Cultivate New Generation of Change Makers". Indymedia.ie. 2011-05-11.
  4. ↑ "SpunOut Inviting Applications for Superheroes Fund". Wheel.ie. 2011-07-23.
  5. ↑ "Video - SpunOut.ie Presidential Youth Debate". Indymedia.ie/. 2011-10-22.
  6. ↑ "Dalai Lama & Richard Moore in Dublin, Ireland 2011". SpunOut. 2011-08-19.
  7. ↑ "SpunOut encourages younger voters to inform themselves of Fiscal Treaty debate through series of interviews with Yes/No people (and Shane Ross)". politics.ie/. 2012-05-24.
  8. ↑ "Nokia Digital Media Award Winners 2012". Nokia. 2012-02-31. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ↑ http://www.netvisionary.ie/2013-winners-announced.html
  10. ↑ http://www.eu-youthaward.org/content/eya-winners-2013

External links

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