Objectives
The Saint Patrick's Trust has an innovative strategy to change the way people see social entrepreneurship. Whilst we are a registered charitable trust, we are committed to assisting the South African society to grow, from the grass-roots up. We aim to assist emerging entrepreneurs with support and mentoring, as well as actual cash.
Most emerging entrepreneurs find it almost impossible to access funding from conventional sources, and many are forced to give up on their dreams of becoming selfreliant. We bridge the gap between commercial funds and the entrepreneurs on the ground. This is done by co-funding with banks, private equity funds and SMME investors. By providing the entrepreneur with their own capital, it creates a far more feasible situation for a commercial funder to invest in.
Similarly, we integrate into this funding, skills transfer and basic financial education. This gives a strong measure of comfort to both the beneficiaries and the donors, with the confidence that the money will be well spent correctly and ultimately provide a sustainable return.
Objectives
Our mandate is:
- To fund projects that are, or have the potential to become, commercially viable
- To integrate mentorship and education into our funding so that beneficiaries have the know-how and confidence to be successful
- To support projects that aim to create enterprise in the long term through training and skills development
- Are a strong conduit to finance
- Provide entrepreneurs with an integrated skills-transfer service
- Provide a reliable post-funding support structure
- Support business growth, innovation and start-ups, value-chain entrepreneurship and sustainable development.
Our vision is to be the leading organisation for the implementation of effective and practical community-based sustainable development initiatives in South Africa working through a variety of partnership approaches to support organizations, charities and initiatives in South Africa we will:
- Initiate and support long-term projects.
- Campaign and also raise considerable funds for both our home based and international programmes.
- Hold events and functions that promote the objectives of the St Patrick’s Trust.
- Tackle ideas about difference and respect of other cultures amongst Irish people by promoting South Africa and gaining support from the wider community. We aim to inspire and educate a new generation to help build a world of mutual respect, compassion and social justice. The Trust educates against prejudice and empowers people to actively oppose it in their daily lives
- Strengthen the relationship and understanding between Ireland and South Africa through shared knowledge and understanding.
- Introduction of the St Patrick’s Corporate Founder program, a membership scheme, through which The St Patrick’s Trust can harness the support of socially responsible companies to raise funds in order to support the defined objectives forward. Active international recognition will be provided to all supporters of the program by means of both our website, which will house a donor “Thank You” component, and also via giant screens which we deploy during the course of fundraising activities.
