Solas Business Community Final (Part 1!)

Solas Business is one of 3 programmes we run in (15) local schools as part of our Solas @ School programme. Based on the concept of Dragons Den, each group of students are paired with local corporate mentors to come up with a concept over 5 weeks in the classroom with the final week taking place in the businesses boardroom where they face the 'dragons'. A winner from each school then goes on to take part in the Community Final. This programme helps build confidence, self-worth and character in the young people. They gain a glimpse into the business world and what it would be like to work in a local business. 

Last Thursday we had the first of our 2016 Solas Business Community Finals where 6 schools finalists battled it out to take the ultimate prize. It is no easy job standing up to present to a big room of over 150 people and we are incredibly proud of each and every young person who took part. 

Our M.C. for the day was Solas Project Head Gardener Graham Jones:

Schools taking part were: Marist Primary School, St Brigids Primary School, Warrenmount Presentation, St Endas Primary School, Scoil Treasa Naofa and Brunswick St National School with each class coming along to support their finalists with some fantastic posters. 

Corporates mentors were from: Quantcast, Web Summit (2 schools), State St, McCann Fitzgerald, Maples & Calder

We had some fantastic ideas, (with the Poover being a personal favourite!) and it was a tough decision for our judges but ultimately it was the Phablet from the Marist Primary School together with their mentors from Quantcast Dublin who won out in the end. (pictured below)

We were delighted to have Lord Mayor Criona Ni Dhalaigh join us to kick off proceedings. 

Thank you to all our judges (pictured below), Rev. Craig Cooney, Ray Murphy (Chairman of Solas Project), Derek Tynan, Mary Lynch (Dublin City Council) and Karen Healy (Hilton Hotel)

A big thank you to St Catherines Church for providing the venue - and especially Lara for all her help.

Last but not least, a huge well done to Amy Ryan who kept the show on the road!

If your company is interested in taking part in Solas@School more information can be found here or contact Clodagh@solasproject.ie

We're going to Web Summit!!

We have some really exciting news to share!

As part of Solas Business, 5 students from St Audeons School will pitch on the Web Summit stage this evening!

The group from St Audeons who won Solas Business last year have been working hard with their mentors Boys and Girls to further develop their idea - BullyBug. 

BullyBug is a wearable tech wristband, which when pressed , sends a message to the BullyBug App on a teachers phone.

This evening they will take to the stage at Web Summit together with Pat Stephenson from Boys and Girls and Graham Jones Head Gardener of Solas Project to look for support to take their idea to the next level. 

Stand by tomorrow to hear how it went & stay tuned to the RTE Six One news this evening to catch a glimpse!

Graham & Pat (pictured below) were at the speakers welcome evening last night last night to meet with all the other speakers.

You can own Brian O'Driscolls Boots! - Terms & Conditions

We are delighted to have a pair of Brian O'Driscolls boots from Irelands win over Australia in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

-          Winner will be selected randomly

-          Closing date & time – 22nd October at 5pm

-          Eligibility criteria (All entrants must be over 18)

-          Winners will be contacted on 23rd October & announced on our facebook page

-          Texts cost €6 a minimum of €4.88 will be paid to the charity

-          Contact likecharity helpline: 0766 80527 

Closing date is 22nd October 2015 at 5pm, winners will be contact via their mobile phone and must be available to take our call.

Winners names will be announced on our facebook and website on 23rd October 2015.

Winners will be selected at random & independently by 'Like Charity' 

No alternative prizes will be offered

Winners will be required to participate in promotional prize collection photo for post event publicity

Solas Project Tag Blitz

Waking up at 5.40am and leaping out of bed to check the weather, is believe me - not a regular occurrence for Solas Project staff, however - when you are expecting over 250 5th & 6th class students for an outdoor event, it's mandatory!

Despite a shakey start weather-wise, Terenure Rugby Club became the centre for our annual Tag Rugby Blitz. With young people coming from 9 local schools and corporate volunteers from Google, Web Summit, Savills and Maples & Calder it was a hive of activity.

Building up confidence pre-match

The Solas Project Tag Blitz is the final part of our Solas Sports programme. Over the course of the year, Solas Project run 6 week Solas Sports programmes for 5th & 6th class students in the local area. Starting off with basic skills and fun games, we move onto introducing the tag belts (this is a great week for the kids) and we end the final 2 weeks teaching them about the dreaded "backwards pass".

Throughout the weeks, alongside sports, the young people take part in sessions on teamwork, the power of words, courage, identity, choices & commitment.

6th Class match

We teach the kids the value of team-mates, that we should always try and say things that build people up and not knock them down, that we are all different, but we embrace the fact we all bring different talents and abilities to our team, that choices have consequences, and that with commitment comes reward.

We never keep scores at these matches, it is all about taking part and the tag blitz was no different. The young people played 4 matches each, no winners, no losers just fun!

Our wonderful volunteers play such an important role on the day, they are someone of good character, good example, a good sportsman/woman, an encourager, a motivational player when the team is feeling down and someone who watches out for the kids that aren't getting involved and brings them in. We are so grateful to all our corporate volunteers that helped us on the day.

There was a final game between Google and WebSummit volunteers, where the pressure was on for performance, as you know we don't keep score so we can't tell you who won (ahem it was WebSummit).

A huge thank you to: All the Principals & teachers we worked with through the year, Simon Bewley, Dylan and Stuart from Irish Tag Rugby Association for reffing & providing the equipment on the day, Terenure Rugby Football Club, John Bourke & Will O'Reilly our wonderful photographer who generously volunteered his time, Sam Whelan-Curtin our videographer & Dublin Bus for transport! Takes a lot to get 250 young people together!

Horse riding!

Yesterday our Transition after school Club were delighted to be taken down to Killegar Stables by a group from our Charity Partners Hilton Hotels.

Horse-riding is a real treat for our young people and we were blessed with the fantastic sunshine, a perfect day!

Combined with a picnic and treats, our young people got the chance to take on a new challenge and enjoy a new experience.

We are so grateful to all at the Double Tree Hilton for sharing this great adventure with us!