TY Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year - County Winners, Overall Winner & Lenister House Award Ceremony, Dec 2025

To quote a Transition Year student "you never know what opportunities could arise from stepping outside your comfort zone and believing in your vision. There is no age limit on success. You can be the next big innovator”.  The award ceremony, held in Lenister House, brought together standout county winning projects from Westmeath, Roscommon, Offaly and Longford, with students who showcased their ideas to each other, an audience of regional politicians and senior civil servants.  The Lenister House Award Ceremony in December 2025 was a vibrant celebration of youth led social enterprise and fresh thinking.

The overall prize was presented by the Minister with responsibility for Social Enterprise from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Minister Jerry Buttimer to Study Den, the Regional Overall Winner of the TY Young Social Entrepreneur 2025.  Study Den, a student led social enterprise created by Drishika Gujjaru and Thamizhini Nalin Kumar Balaji of Bower Secondary School, Athlone, Co. Westmeath. 

Study Den - Westmeath County Winner: the project is an eco-friendly café style study hub offering secondary school students an affordable, supportive space to study, collaborate and access academic support outside school hours.

The Giving Tree 365 - Roscommon County Winner:  from Castlerea Community School the concept proposed a year-round community initiative focused on kindness, inclusion and practical support for those in need.  Project Promoters: Cara Gill, Emma Larkin, Kate Hawkshaw, Katelyn Daire.

The Community Hub - Offaly County Winner,  from Tullamore College: this project proposed a student designed space that brings people together through learning, well-being and shared community activities. Project Promoters: Clodagh Scally, Clodagh Rigney, Rachel Bracken.

Teen Threads - Longford County Winner, from Meán Scoil Mhuire: proposed a sustainable fashion project promoting clothing reuse while raising awareness around fast fashion and waste.  Project promoters:  Aoife Smyth, Emma Darby, Olivia Johnston, Isabelle Boylan, Emily Quinn.

Judges also awarded a Highly Commended Distinction to Knot Wasted, from Tullamore College, a creative project tackling wood waste by repurposing materials into practical and marketable products.  Project Promoters: Michael Gal, Aaron Mooney, Rory Gill, Alan Meredith.

Each county winning team will receive a 250 euro prize sponsored by their local authority, Westmeath County Council, Longford County Council, Roscommon County Council and Offaly County Council, while the overall winning team will be awarded a trip to the European Parliament, generously sponsored by Maria Walsh MEP.

TY Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year - 2025

For this inaugural competition - we engaged with 500 TY students and Teachers throughout the year in the Just Transition Region, including Laois, Offaly, Longford, Westmeath and Roscommon.  This engagement was with the support of the individual local authorities, the Leader copmanies, the Just Transition Officers from each council, and the 4 Judges, Steve Dolan Galway Rural Development, Deborah Tierney, Triest Press, Roscommon, Liam Ramsbottom, Laois Partnership, and Cahal Mahon, Accounting Matters, Roscommon. 

Did you know?  2025

Social Enterprise Facts - Social Enterprises are the backbone of our communities, employing 85,000 people and contributing €2.3 billion to the national economy. They fulfill local needs, supporting marginalised people, creating local opportunities or responding to climate change.  Women make up two thirds of all social enterprises.  The sector thrives on innovation, creativity and sensitivity to the needs of our communities.

Why Get Involved?

The Young Social Entrepreneur of The Year competition is much more than a competition. It presents an opportunity for the young population to engage with transition to the new economies. It will provide an unforgettable experience for their school time for students who take part. The process is about embedding a gateway for social enterprise in the region. As pilot we are focusing on Transition Year second level students in the region. This competition will aid students about their future careers in Transition Year.

Examples are:

• A coffee shop for teenagers that opens in the evening, offering alcohol-free board-game nights.
• A group of friends that want to set up an upcycling furniture and fashion business.
• A bicycle service and parts recycle and upcycle business.
• A car-pooling app.
• A resource sharing app for business' eg. logistics accounting or TY work experience candidates.
• A voluntary befriending service buys local newspapers for elderly neighbours or does odd-jobs for community neighbours.

Students will learn vital skills for setting up a modern business, including conducting a feasibility study, project management, working with a budget, creating a communications plan writing a business plan.

The winning entry for each county will present their proposal in Leinster House.

For more details follow the links below