January 2026
January 2026
We're excited to partner with PHECC for this Health Research Board (HRB) Applied Partnership-funded grant project, aiming to improve paramedic mental health and wellbeing!
This work will further develop our evidence based HUGS Community research, effecting systems level change.
We recently contributed to the first of the new mental health articles in Firecall Magazine magazine, next to our colleagues at DFB CISM team, led by Joseph Dromgoole.
Take a peek for some helpful tips on communicating after difficult incidents!
December 2025
As we approach the end of 2025, we're feeling very grateful for the amazing people who make up our community- team members, participants, supporters, funders, advocates, mentors, and of course, our families and friends!
Despite some challenges, we've achieved a huge amount in 2025, reaching 3 times the amount of participants on the previous year, expanding into 3 more counties, with 3 more grants awarded! We know firsthand that the impact of our work ripples across many first responder families, teams and organisations, and we look forward to sharing some of those support stories in 2026 so stay tuned!
Wishing you and yours the very best of health, happiness and HUGS for 2026!
November 2025
We've been quiet here so time for a little update... So far this week we've been connecting with social enterprise friends and building new relationships! Mon evening took us to Social Entrepreneurs Ireland annual event VOICES OF CHANGE, where we were proud to stand alongside Community Roots, Dignity Partnership and many others at the SDG 11 stand in the SEI village at the beautiful Salesforce building.
Then we attended the government supply expo in the Aviva Stadium, learning about tendering priorities for various public sector organisations. Rounding of the week with some Hub on the Hill training with the Inner City Enterprise
What a great few days spending time with paramedic colleagues at PHECC's 25 year celebration and Research conference this week!
I was honoured to take home the runner up award for best presentation on behalf of our brilliant team Brian Doyle @sandy mason Andrea Doyle PhD RCSI SIM Centre for Simulation Education & Research and HUGS Community for our work on wellbeing in Community First Responders. Well done to Niamh Cummins and Dave Hennelly for their awards too!
October 2025
Proud to stand alongside our social enterprise colleagues this week for the inaugural National Social Enterprise awards, generously hosted by Local Development Companies Network Irish Social Enterprise Network Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland and The Wheel in the fabulous new social enterprise venue Priory Market!
Delighted to be recognised as a finalist in the startup category with our new friends Beyond Surviving and the deserving winners AnamVR- congrats again!
Shout out to Marwa Aly, PhD, PMP RCSI SIM Centre for Simulation Education & Research and Evanne Kilmurray Inner City Enterprise for being our cheer squad on the day!
As part of our Motorola Solutions foundation funded project, we facilitated two workshops at Respond2025 in Mullingar this weekend. Many thanks to the wonderful participants for their enthusiasm in improving mentalhealth support for Communityfirstresponders in Ireland and of course to the redarmy for their kind invitation and superb organising skills! Kudos to all involved for a very engaging event 👏
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for the Dublin City Social Enterprise Awards 2025 today at the Mansion House.
We were honoured to welcome the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr. Ray McAdam, Minister of State Jerry Buttimer, and so many inspiring social enterprises who are transforming lives across Dublin through creativity, inclusion and impact.
Together, we celebrated 11 years of these awards — and 8 outstanding awardees whose work shows that enterprise, at its best, can serve people and strengthen communities.
👏 Congratulations again to all awardees, and sincere thanks to our partners and supporters. The future of social enterprise in Dublin is bright.