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SpunOut.ie Blog
SpunOut.ie October digest
Blog: What we were up to during October.
As part of our efforts to let everyone know what goes on behind the scenes here at SpunOut.ie HQ we’ll be posting a brief monthly digest for each month.
A little belated but here’s a quick snapshot of what we were up to in October.
All the usual
We were busy as usual answering queries, zillions of emails, accounting and administration, meetings, filing reports, managing the office, fundraising...all that exciting and not so exciting stuff that comes with running a growing organisation.
Managing and developing SpunOut.ie
Over 20 new youth written articles, action opportunities, true-life stories and factsheets were uploaded to SpunOut.ie during October. Most exciting was the spOOooooky revamp of the SpunOut.ie frontpage to celebrate Halloween, along with a focus on party survival and alcohol awareness.
A brand new Gallery section also went online this month, featuring pics and videos showcasing some of the SpunOut.ie adventure to date! Also in October, SpunOut.ie Youth Board member Marie Duffy reported back from her travels with the European Youth Press in Macedonia.
We continue to moderate the SpunOut.ie discussion forums on a daily basis, to review the service database, and to link in with young people via Bebo and MySpace.
Fundraising success
October was a biggie for us in terms of fundraising. We succeeded in securing a major 3 year philanthropic investment and finalised terms with the Health Services Executive towards a 3 year partnership. This signalled a breakthrough after 3 years of development without any core investment. With this funding and the many other opportunities that are on the horizon, the future is well and truly lookin’ bright for SpunOut.ie.
More good news: awards
We received news that we have been selected as a European representative at the prestigious Global Knowledge Partnership Conference in Malaysia this coming December and we also got news that we’ve been short-listed for an Eircom Golden Spider award. Fingers crossed for October 22nd at the Golden Spider awards ceremony.
Developing our team
As well as bringing on board several new SpunOut.ie youth contributors we ran a recruitment campaign for a new Administrator to come in and manage the growing admin needs of our Galway office. We also put out tenders for freelance discussion forum moderators with a background in youth health and support.
Partnerships
We held the first meeting of our new National Advisory Network. The meeting was attended by representatives of over 15 national organisations and projects. This new network lets us share ideas and learning that will help make SpunOut.ie much bigger and better. We also took part in positive discussions and meetings with the National Centre for Technology in Education, the Action on Suicide Alliance, the Technology for Wellbeing group, MediaForum, the SPHE Support Service, Ogilvy, the NOSP Mental Health Campaign Steering Group and Samaritans amongst others. Meanwhile, we continued to set-up and explore international links with like-minded groups.
Promotion
We fired off dozens of promo packs to schools, colleges and youth clubs throughout the country, Youth Editor Paddy Duffy appeared on the RTE Ryan Tubridy show and Ruairí McKiernan was interviewed on Spin FM. We also did lots of research into developing our new marketing strategy. We were a partner in the new HSE ‘your mental health’ Mental Health Awareness Campaign that featured a TV and radio advertising campaign as well as billboards and online marketing.
Out and about outreach
The team were out and about a fair bit in October with presentations and workshops:
- by Anna, Susie and Andrew at the Youth Work Ireland conference in Dublin
- by Ian Howley at the Mental Health Ireland seminar in Athlone
- by Ruairi and Marie at the Teaching Council of Ireland conference in Galway
- by Susie, Anna and Orla at the Union of Secondary School Students day in Dublin
- by Jessica McArdle and Marie Duffy at the European Youth Press gathering in Macedonia
- a guest marketing lecture NUIG and a presentation to the Western Family Resource Centre Network by Ruairi
- a stall at the National Youth Council of Ireland ‘meangingful consultation’ conference in Dublin and
- representation at the European Conference on Public Health in Finland by one of our board.
Youth participation
Youth Board representations included Paddy Duffy on the RTE Turbidy Show, Andrew Gibbons at the Youth Work Ireland conference, Orla Price at the USS day, Marie Duffy at the Teaching Council of Ireland conference and with Jessica McArdle at the European Youth Press gathering in Macedonia and finally Ian Howley at the Mental Health Ireland day in Athlone.
