July 2023

Paul McQuaid, founder of the Good Bike Project, repairs a bicycle that will be gifted to a refugee.

The Good Bike Project turned one act of kindness into 2,000. The project began because of one text message with a request from a Ukrainian woman who needed a way for her kids to get to school. Paul McQuaid gifted three bikes of his own to the family and after witnessing the positive effect it had on the family he decided he wanted to do more for Ukrainians living in Ireland. The project started in May 2022 and has now provided 2,000 refurbished bikes to Ukrainian refugees.

The project aims to support integration of Ukrainian refugees in Ireland. Paul and a team of volunteers, collect, refurbish and deliver bikes to refugees who are newly arrived to the country. The bikes provide them with the independence to travel to school, work, and around town.

You can read some of the bike recipient's stories here and read the full story of the Good Bike Project here.  

Two lifeguards raise awareness of World Drowning Prevention Day by wearing blue to show their support.

Ireland goes blue for World Drowning Prevention Day. On July 25th, Water Safety Ireland lifeguards, businesses, and individuals around the country were sporting blue to raise awareness for World Drowning Prevention Day, a day which highlights the impact of drowning on families and communities, and offers life-saving solutions for prevention.

Water Safety Ireland called on communities to mark the day by doing one thing, improving one thing and adding one thing. Learn one water safety skill. Share one piece of water safety advice. Change one mind about safety around water. The day highlights our ability to create change and reduce drownings throughout Ireland. Learn water safety tips and find out how you can prevent drowning here.

Jacob Sosinsky, Junior Campaigner with Uplift, holds his cat.

Jacob Sosinsky is a Junior Campaigner with Uplift and a passionate LGBTQ+ and climate activist. In his role and as a volunteer, he works to empower communities. This is his #WeAct story... 

"I joined the team in February of this year and my role is to empower community members to create and run their petitions, advocating for changes in all kinds of areas and my day in the office is never the same.  

I was working in IT and e-commerce before, so it seems like an odd jump to campaign work, but I’ve always been an activist. 

When I moved to Ireland, I just knew my sister and I didn't speak English, so I didn't feel I fit in. I kept seeking places where I could find myself and make my voice heard. I started to discover them and started volunteering in the YMCA. My fellow volunteers and I saw we could make a change. We started taking action to update policies, so the club was more inclusive, and we opened an LGBTQ+ space. It wasn’t a quick process, and we did have to fight for what we believed in.  

As a campaigner, Jacob travels to discuss issues affecting the local community and encourages them to advocate for what they believe in.

"While we were fighting for it, I felt a spark in my heart. I realised I actually wanted to make a change in my other jobs, not just fix a piece of code. So, I started finding more and more spaces where I could sharpen my campaigning skills. I event began studying Community Development and Youth Work with Equal Ireland. Then I found my way to Uplift."

Uplift is a people-powered community of over 350,000 individuals from every corner of Ireland who take action alongside each other to fight for a better Ireland, where everyone can flourish. Their organisation hosts petitions and champions digital campaigns for all kinds of causes - local, national, and international.

"Every day is something new, but my main focus is to assist with our member-led campaigns. I will reach out to local communities and groups about issues affecting their area. I’ll chat to them and provide the tools to advocate for themselves, help them open a petition, or assist with promotion. I do a little bit of everything, but everything is connected to a campaign or helping folks get their idea out there."

Jacob volunteers at a beach clean-up in County Cork picking up left-behind waste.

"We have everything from petitioning Irish companies like Barry’s Tea to be more sustainable and remove plastic from their tea bags to standing behind ordinary people, like Daniel, who fights for Personal Assistance hours to live independently.

I’m really passionate about making sure the furthest behind are not left behind, so it's easy to care about the causes people bring to Uplift. Everyone who comes to us is a real person who wants real positive change. I feel a connection to each of the causes we promote."

Jacob smiles in his home looking at a printed document.

"People might think by just sharing the petition they’re not doing much, but they are taking really meaningful action. Not everyone has the space or ability to physically protest for what they believe in, so no matter who you are, you can be an advocate with Uplift. I love that."

To learn more about Uplift or to start your own campaign visit their website here.

We Act is a national, collaborative campaign to celebrate the value and impact of the charities and community groups in Ireland.

Want to share your own good news story? Email madeline@wheel.ie

Did you enjoy our Good News Gazette?

Pay it forward and pass on this email to just one friend.