Galway duo make shortlist for Social Entrepreneur Ireland Award

Business partners, authors and psychologists, Lorraine Lynch and Arlene Naughten, who received an innovation award from SCCUL Enterprises in the Ballybane Enterprise Centre earlier this year, have now been nominated for a national award for their innovative child-centred programme.

Arlene from Ballinasloe and Lorraine from Portumna have made it through to the final of the Social Entrepreneur Ireland 2015, which will be held in Dublin next month.

Arlene and Lorraine have shown dedication and passion over the past year since the opening of Arlene’s business, Sugru Child Development and Contextual Play Therapy Services in Athlone.

Sugru, which specialises in promoting well-being for children and families, has now expanded its services from Athlone to Athenry’s Primary Care Centre, where services include contextual therapeutic play, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and family interventions, as well as individualised therapy for children with neuro-developmental disorders, such as Dyspraxia and ASD.

The women also deliver professional, education and health workshops to organisations and schools around the county, including mindfulness and positive mental health programmes.

Earlier this year, Lorraine and Arlene launched their book #100happydays4kids in Charlie Byrnes Bookstore in Galway City. It has received acclaim from professionals, children’s organisations and parents alike and earned them the SCCUL innovation award. #100happydays4kids is a parenting book, which guides readers through 100 effective steps to increasing familial well-being and attachment. Readers can register their details on the secure online site and share photos, or blog about their experiences alongside a community of parents from all around the world.

Social Entrepreneurs Ireland have chosen Lorraine and Arlene’s approach to positive parenting from over 180 applicants from across Ireland after they participated in a business boot-camp in Dublin. Judges at the event included Gavin Duffy from Dragon’s Den and RTÉ newsreader Bryan Dobson.

It is part of the Elevator Programme, a national competition which identifies Ireland’s most innovative business start-up endeavours and awards €20,000 to the top candidates. The award ceremony will take place in Dublin’s Mansion House in early July.

For more information on Sugru services, visit www.sugru.ie or call 090-64-99144.

They are also running psychologist-led Well-Being Retreat Summer Camps and Dyspraxia Summer Camps in Athenry and Athlone.

For more information on these, email lorraine@sugru.ie