Therese Coveney

When Therese Conveney’s daughter April was born with Down syndrome in 2011, Coveney wished for her a life of opportunity, support, and services.
Seeing the significant lack of pathways to employment for people with Down syndrome (90 per cent of adults with Down syndrome in Ireland are unemployed), with the help of Down Syndrome Centre, Coveney launched the Together Academy in 2019, a social enterprise that offers training and employment initiatives for young adults with Down syndrome. Last year, the Together Academy opened the Together Café at the Dun Laoghaire Baths, providing a workspace and inclusive training for young adults with Down syndrome to build their practical skills under the guidance of the Together Academy’s education and social enterprise staff. Providing warm service and excellent food it has cultivated a unique and special space for customers, staff and its students. For her dedication and activism, and her active work in the community to break down prejudice, Therese Coveney is our inaugural Social Entrepreneur winner.