Carndonagh community charity needs your help to win another national accolade

A charity set up by mums in Carndonagh to address disadvantage, strengthen the community, and enhance opportunities in the region is in the running for another national accolade.

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

The person or organisation with the most nominations in the competition will win a €1,000 Town and City Gift Card, such as the Carndonagh Gift Card, with one person who nominated them also winning an additional €500 gift voucher.

The Carndonagh 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's enterprise offering includes a digital creative lab, Síoraí preloved shop, and Siopa Spraoi, selling items made in Carndonagh.

Helen Nolan 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 teamwork skills. We also have a new bus that is breaking down transport barriers.”

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Helen added: “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.”

Meanwhile, the Carndonagh Traders’ Association launched the physical Carndonagh Gift Card in 2021, with a digital version of the card added in 2023. Cards may be spent in 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.”

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, 2025.