MBTA 2025: The shortlist for the Not for Profit Award

SPONSORED BY SHERIDAN INSURANCES

Life-saving interventions, ensuring best possible outcomes for those in need

BLACKWATER COMMUNITY FIRST RESPONDERS

Tell us about your business and team

Blackwater Community First Responders (CFR) Group is a voluntary organisation established in 2022 to provide life-saving support in partnership with the National Ambulance Service. Its trained volunteers are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, ensuring rapid response to medical emergencies within a 10 km radius of Kells.

The group is committed to community education and delivers free monthly certified training in CPR, AED use and choking and stroke recognition and also runs training sessions for schools and clubs.

Blackwater CFR also maintains and checks 23 (AEDs) in the community, replacing batteries and pads when required - ensuring these life-saving devices are always ready for use.

Describe the best thing about your service

In 2024, we responded to 211 emergencies. In 2025, we have already been activated 179 times by the National Ambulance Service. With a response time of just 4 to 9 minutes, our team consistently provides life-saving interventions ahead of ambulance arrival, ensuring the best possible outcomes for those in need.

As a not-for-profit organisation we go far beyond emergency response. We are deeply committed to supporting our community offering, not only in vital care but also comfort, reassurance and support to families during moments of crisis. Our dedicated volunteers give their time and skills selflessly, reflecting the spirit of community service.

What's the best business advice you've ever been given?

Anyone can Save a Life, performing any form of CPR is better than doing nothing. In an emergency where someone’s heart has stopped or they are not breathing, every second counts and immediate action can make the difference between life and death.

What does the future hold for your business?

We aim to recruit and train more responders to improve response times, expand our community training to equip more people with CPR skills, and extend our schools and “Know Your Eircode” programmes to increase awareness, preparedness, and lifesaving knowledge across all age groups within the community.

****

More than just transportation — it’s a lifeline of care and compassion

MOYLAGH JFK COMMUNITY CAR

Tell us about your business and team

The JFK Electric Car Service offers free, reliable transport for people undergoing cancer treatment, helping them travel comfortably to and from hospital and doctor appointments.

Since launching in 2022, the service has supported communities in Ballinacree, Ballinlough, Moylagh and Oldcastle, helping nearly 50 people attend vital appointments — people who might otherwise have faced significant travel costs or had to rely on family and friends for lifts.

This service is completely free of charge and volunteer drivers generously give their time to provide not just a lift, but also a listening ear along the way.

Describe the best thing about your service

JFK car service is more than just transportation — it’s a lifeline of care and compassion. We offer free, reliable transport for people undergoing cancer treatment, ensuring they can get to and from hospitals and doctor appointments safely, comfortably, and on time.

What makes this service truly special is the human connection.

Our volunteer drivers give more than their time — they offer kindness, empathy, and a listening ear to those who need support the most.

And because we care for both people and the planet, our service is powered by an electric vehicle, reducing emissions and helping create a cleaner planet.

What’s the best business advice you’ve ever been given?

‘’Engage with everyone — no one has a monopoly on good ideas. Ordinary people can do extraordinary things, and this service is a testament to that.”

What does the future hold for your business?

“We want to serve more communities in County Meath, helping people with transport to doctors’ and hospital appointments. To achieve this, we would love to acquire a second electric vehicle.

We hope that the publicity from this initiative will showcase what our community has accomplished and inspire other communities throughout Ireland to take similar action.”

****

Supporting local filmmakers, helping their projects get made and seen

MEATH FILM COLLECTIVE

Tell us about your business and team

The Meath Film Festival, which is held Navan’s Solstice Arts Centre usually in September, is run by Meath Film Collective - a team of passionate film enthusiasts based in Meath.

The collective supports filmmakers at every stage, helping their projects get made and seen. Our flagship event, now in its fourth year, showcases films from both Meath and across Ireland, including shorts that might not otherwise reach a wide audience. Through screenings, workshops, and Q&A sessions, we provide learning and networking opportunities for emerging and established filmmakers alike. Our festival connects creators, audiences, and industry professionals, fostering a vibrant film culture in Meath while celebrating local talent.

Describe the best thing about your service

The best thing about the Meath Film Festival is that it allows audiences to see films they might not otherwise encounter, all in a proper theatrical venue.

Attendees can meet the filmmakers, hear the stories behind their work, and gain insight into the filmmaking process.

The festival also provides invaluable networking opportunities, connecting emerging and established filmmakers with peers, mentors, and industry professionals.

These interactions often lead to collaborations and help launch careers.

By combining screenings, Q&As, and workshops, the festival provides filmmakers and film fans with a unique opportunity to network, share ideas, and build connections that can help launch or advance future careers in the film industry.

What’s the best business advice you’ve ever been given?

The best business advice I’ve had is to embrace creativity and adaptability. Listen to your customers, experiment, and don’t be afraid to try new approaches. Success comes from being open to change, learning from mistakes, and constantly looking for ways to improve while staying true to your vision.

What does the future hold for your business?

In the future, we plan to expand beyond the festival with specialised screenings and events. For example, we are collaborating on a one-off showcase with the National Film Archive, featuring films made in Meath over several decades. Our aim is to celebrate the county’s film history while continuing to support and nurture Meath’s filmmaking community.