On an island divided by a line on a map but united by everyday challenges, collaboration isn’t a slogan. It’s a shortcut to progress. Cost of living pressures, volunteer shortages, digital inclusion, rural transport, youth services – none of these problems respect borders. The Shared Island Innovators Conference is about turning that reality into results.
On Tuesday, 2 December (10am–2pm) at Academy Plaza Hotel, Dublin 1, leaders from charities, community groups, and social enterprises will meet to swap what works, pressure-test what doesn’t, and build practical plans together. It’s free and open to all, but registration is essential.
Secure your place: Shared Island Innovators Conference
Why this conference matters
Ireland’s community sector is rich in ingenuity. Yet many projects stall because they’re forced to solve the same problem twice – once North, once South. Cross-border collaboration reduces duplication, widens talent pools, unlocks new funding routes, and doubles the learning per experiment.
This conference starts with a simple premise: if two communities face similar challenges, they should be able to borrow each other’s solutions in weeks, not years. Guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the day focuses on practical, transferable ideas that achieve social outcomes and withstand policy scrutiny.
The value you won’t get from a PDF
Anyone can read a case study. What you can’t read is the messy middle: the dead ends, the political realities, the “we wish we’d known this sooner” moments. That’s what gets shared when practitioners are in the same room.
Expect:
-
Real case studies of cross-border initiatives that delivered measurable impact.
-
Hands-on workshops on collaboration mechanics and the policy supports that make partnerships stick.
-
Direct insights from funders and programmes, so you can align your next proposal with what’s actually being backed.
You’ll leave with a shortlist of approaches to test, named contacts who’ve done it before, and a clearer sense of the support landscape on both sides of the border.
What “cross-border” looks like in practice
It’s not only formal partnerships between large organisations. The most effective collaborations are often small, agile, and relentlessly practical:
-
A youth organisation in Derry and a community hub in Donegal co-design a shared digital literacy kit that both can deploy with local tweaks.
-
Two social enterprises running reuse projects share logistics to move stock efficiently across regions rather than running half-empty vans.
-
Charity leaders pair up to run joint staff training, cutting costs while raising standards.
-
A cross-border evaluation cohort agrees common indicators so everyone can compare like with like – and make a stronger case to funders.
None of this requires new bureaucracy. It requires relationships, repeatable methods, and a shared language about outcomes. That’s what a day like this builds.
Three reasons to be in the room
- Copy what works, safely. Hear what teams would repeat, what they’d redesign, and why. You’ll save months by skipping known pitfalls.
- Find your counterpart. Chances are your “mirror org” already exists across the border. Meeting them could unlock joint funding, shared services, or simple knowledge swaps.
- Align to real funding priorities. Learn how programmes are now rewarding collaboration, evidence, and scale – then shape your 2026 plan accordingly.
Who will get the most from attending
-
Charity and community leaders seeking replicable models and credible partners.
-
Social enterprise founders and managers looking to scale impact without scaling overhead.
-
Policy and programme leads who want a ground-truth view of what’s helping or hindering collaboration.
-
Fundraisers and grant writers ready to align proposals with SDG-linked, cross-border outcomes.
If you touch strategy, delivery, or funding, there will be something in the room for you.
How to turn one day into a 90-day win
Arrive with a single challenge you’re willing to pilot. Use the conference to build a 90-day cross-border plan:
- Define a narrow outcome. One metric you can move in three months.
- Find a peer. Swap constraints and assets. Decide what each side will do.
- Agree shared indicators. Keep it simple and comparable.
- Draft the support map. Which policy tool or fund can smooth the path?
- Book the review. Set a public show-and-tell date now, so momentum sticks.
Do that, and you’ll leave with more than notes – you’ll leave with a timeline, partners, and the start of a fundable story.
A conference about possibility, not posture
The best sector gatherings avoid grandstanding and focus on what the next quarter of work should look like. Shared Island Innovators is built in that spirit: practical, SDG-aligned, and grounded in the day-to-day realities of community delivery. It’s a place to compare maps, not polish mission statements.
Be part of it
Collaboration is no longer a nice to have. It’s the only way to keep pace with the complexity of the problems we’re trying to solve. If you’ve felt the ceiling of working alone, this is your invitation to raise it – together.
Date & Time: Tuesday, 2 December, 10am–2pm
Venue: Academy Plaza Hotel, Dublin 1
Cost: Free and open to all (registration essential)
Reserve your seat now: Shared Island Innovators Conference