Carndonagh charity up for national accolade

Spraoi agus Spórt has been nominated in The BIG Christmas Giveback, which aims to give back to the people and organisations who are powering local communities.

The person or organisation with the most nominations in the competition will win a €1000 Town & City Gift Card, such as the Carndonagh Gift Card, with one person who nominated them winning a €500 gift card.

The charity was initially founded by friends Helen Nolan, Louise Grant, Ailbhe Hickey, Helen Doherty and Kathleen Gallagher in 2010 as a permanent home for the toddler group, progressing to offering social and recreational activities to meet the needs of children with a disability and their families across Inishowen.

Today, Spraoi agus Spórt provides affordable childcare, after school and holiday clubs and groups. The charity also provides the Slí WorkAbility programme supporting people aged 16 and over who identify as having a disability on their path to employment through education, training, and professional development. Spraoi agus Spórt’s enterprise offering includes a digital creative lab, Síoraí preloved shop and Siopa Spraoi, selling items made in Carndonagh.

Helen Nolan from Spraoi agus Spórt said: “Spraoi agus Spórt is a charity that is totally immersed in our community’s needs, supporting over 700 people each week. One of our key aims is making sure that all of our young people have the same opportunities. Our Saturday respite care for children with additional needs gives children the chance to take part in the same activities as their peers while providing their parents and siblings with daytime respite.

“Our digital creative lab is about showing our young people that there is plenty of opportunity in rural Ireland, helping them to develop digital and team working skills. We also have a new bus that is breaking down transport barriers.

“For ordinary working families, we’re providing affordable childcare so they can go to work. Our enterprise offering is about powering the circular economy in Carndonagh encouraging people to donate, reuse and buy local. We even have a garden centre and the money we raise at the shop and centre is reinvested in the charity.

“We buy the Carndonagh Gift Card for our volunteers each year. It’s a brilliant initiative for the community, supporting a range of local businesses and powering the circular economy. If we won The BIG Christmas Giveback, we’d use the card to support our activities, such as keeping the bus full of diesel for many months.”

The Carndonagh Traders’ Association launched the physical Carndonagh Gift Card in 2021 with a digital version of the card added in 2023. Cards can be spent with over 40 shops, cafes, restaurants and more in the town.

Tina O'Donnell, chairperson of the Carndonagh Traders’ Association said: “It’s wonderful to read this nomination for Spraoi agus Spórt, a charity that is a force for good in Carndonagh, positively impacting the lives of many people, from toddlers to teenagers and adults. Please take a moment to nominate Spraoi agus Spórt in this national competition.”

The Carndonagh Gift Card is part of the award winning Town & City Gift Card concept from fintech Miconex active across Ireland.

Colin Munro is the CEO of Miconex and said: “Since its launch, the Carndonagh Gift Card has consistently given back to the community, making support for local simple. The BIG Christmas Giveback is also about giving back, and shining a light on the positive work happening in our local communities. Congratulations to Spraoi agus Spórt for the nomination.”

Nominate Spraoi agus Spórt , or another person, charity or community group in The BIG Christmas Giveback at: www.lovelocalwin.ie

The competition closes on November 28.