Final Reminder of Linkage Group Meetings

Tue 5th Sept - Planning, Housing and Transport Linkage group meeting 7.30pm Leitrim Development Company, Drumshanbo.

 

Wed 6th Sept - Climate Action, Environment, Heritage, Biodiversity and Agriculture Linkage Group 7.30pm Leitrim Development Company, Drumshanbo.

 

Thurs 7th Sept - Social Inclusion, Disability, Rural Development, Peace and Reconciliation Linkage Group 7.30pm Leitrim Development Company, Drumshanbo.

 

All meetings facilitated by Liam Scollan, if you have an interest in any of the above topics please come along.

 

All PPN Reps should attend a Linkage Group Meeting.

Joint Policing Committee Public Meeting

A public meeting of Leitrim Joint Policing Committee will take place on Wednesday 13th September 2023 at 7:00 pm in Community Room, Mohill Library, Mohill, Co. Leitrim, N41 HP29.

Leitrim PPN have 4 reps on the JPC namely Breege Grimes, Janice Raine Conick, Katheen Flanagan & Osazuwa Peter-Olaybiyi.

Upcoming Free Training for PPN Members

Strategic Planning - Tue 17th Oct in Leitrim Development Company, Drumshanbo – in person from 10 to 1 – facilitated by Orla Leydon Office & Training Solutions

and in The Bee Park, Manorhamilton on Tue 24th Oct – to register e-mail info@leitrimppn.ie.

PPN News

Wed 13th Sept is POSITIVE THINKING DAY - "One of the marvelous things about community is that it enables us to welcome and help people in a way we couldn't as individuals."

 

Tues 19th Sept is Regional Workers Meeting hosted by Leitrim PPN.

 

Save the date:- Love Where you Live Awards night is Wed 27th Sept in the Landmark Hotel, Carrick on Shannon – invites will be issued in the coming days.

 

Every year we celebrate World Mental Health Day on 10 October. The theme for 2023 is 'Mental health is a universal human right'. A Wellbeing Fair on 11th Oct  is organised in conjunction with this. Leitrim PPN will have a stand at this.

 

Social Inclusion Week – 23rd to 27th Oct 2023 includes Community Information Day 26th Oct – more details to follow.

Are you looking to diversify your funding sources but don't know where to start?

Leitrim PPN invite you to join us at The Wheel’s Funding Roadshow, headed to The Dock ,St George's Terrace ,Carrick-on-Shannon, Leitrim on Tuesday 3rd October where The Wheel be helping you to identify new sources of funding for your nonprofit!

The Wheel's Funding Roadshow is a free event, open to all.

Register for this event to:

• Learn about different types of funding opportunities available to your organisation – at a local, national and EU level
• Talk directly to funders about your project (full details coming soon)
• Network with other community and voluntary organisations.

This event is being delivered in association with Donegal County Council and Western Development Commission. 

EU Missions - Soil Deal for Europe

New funding opportunities to contribute to Mission Soil are open now.

 

Restore the health of soils in Europe by joining one of the work programmes under Horizon Europe.

 

Deadline: 20 September

Democracy through Civic Engagement and Participation Grant

The Saint Stephen’s Green Trust is now inviting applications under a new funding programme in 2023 that aims to contribute to a ‘high energy democracy’ by supporting civil society groups to:

• Engage in participative and deliberative democracy initiatives that harness the power of civil society to transform democratic decisionmaking processes.
• Develop progressive platforms for collective power and influence which use valuesbased approaches to identify elements of transformative change.
• Create spaces for participation and voice, particularly among those who are most marginalised.

This is a one-off grant programme to fund groups on the island of Ireland up to €15,000 for work taking place over 12 to 18 months.

 

Deadline: 14th September

Individual Artist Bursary Scheme

The Individual Artists Bursary programme is designed to support the development of Leitrim based professional artists from any arts discipline for any purpose that will demonstrably contribute to an artist’s professional development, and ultimately be of benefit to Leitrim audiences, such as -

 

Development of new work - Costs relating to the research, development or production of new work for exhibition, publication or presentation.

 

Professional Development - Costs relating to improving your knowledge, skills or expertise such as research, residencies or short-term courses including on-line courses; participation in conventional part-time or full-time education where other sources of public funding are unavailable. The extent to which these activities are relevant to on-going and planned work, the quality of that work and its importance to future audiences, is crucial and should be clear from your application.

 

Please note that applications for mentoring and support towards performing or exhibiting abroad or research towards performing or exhibiting abroad are not supported under this programme as there are specific separate funding strands for these purposes. However, applicants may apply to multiple programmes in the same year.

 

Deadline: 5th November

Additional Annual Funding for Drugs and Inclusion Health Services Provided by Community and Voluntary Organisations

Minister for State for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Hildegarde Naughton has announced €3.5 million in annual funding to maintain existing level of drugs and inclusion health services provided by community and voluntary organisations.

The funding will be distributed by community healthcare organisations (CHOs), based on guidance issued by the Department of Health. 

€500,000 in increased funding for cocaine and crack cocaine services is being allocated also for Addiction Services across Donegal, Sligo/ Leitrim/ West Cavan, Cavan/ Monaghan.

The allocation for Donegal, Sligo/ Leitrim/ West Cavan, Cavan/ Monaghan is below - 

Learner Fund Graduate Bursary 2023

Leitrim County Childcare Committee is pleased to announce the launch of the Learner Fund Graduate Bursary for 2023 as directed by the DCEDIY, this bursary is for graduates currently employed in a childcare service and who were employed in a childcare service on commencement or prior to commencement of the course. Please note the full award has to be completed in 2023 to claim this Bursary. For an application form contact Leitrim County Childcare Committee on 071 96 40870.

  

The following rules apply to the Graduate Bursary:

 

1. The qualification for which the bursary is paid must be either:

(a) On the DCEDIY Early Years Recognised Qualifications list and indicated as meeting the qualification requirements for lead educator graduate premium.

Or

(b)The applicant must hold a letter of eligibility to practice from DCEDIY which states that the qualification meets the standard for the graduate premium.

 

2. The award must be placed at level 7/8/9 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and achieved in the academic years 2015 - 2023.

3. The bursary amount will be €750.

4. The qualification must be a full, major award; the bursary cannot be paid in respect of partially completed awards (a copy of certificate or full transcript needs to be provided to Leitrim CCC).

5. Letters from third level education providers which state that a partially completed award is equivalent to a full award should not be accepted.

6. The qualification for which the bursary is paid must be that which qualifies the person to work in the Early Years sector (and is at least level 7 on the NFQ).

7. Applicants may only apply once and cannot be granted the Learner Fund bursary for a second time if they have already received it before i.e. the bursary will be paid for one of the following - a level 7 OR a level 8 OR a level 9 qualification.

8. The applicant cannot have received any public funding in support of their completing the award relating to this application.

9. The bursary is available to experienced practitioners only; applicants must have been working in a Tusla registered Early Learning & Care Service to beginning their course.

10. Applicants must be currently working in a Tusla registered Early Learning & Care Service. Childminders registered with Tusla can apply for the Graduate Bursary.

11. Staff working in standalone School Age Childcare services are not eligible to apply.

12. Application must be made by the holder of the full award and not by any third party on their behalf.

13. Photographic identification must be provided along with any supporting documents.

14. Late or incomplete applications; will not be accepted.

15. Decision of the CCC is final and cannot be appealed.

 

Should you have any further queries, please email/phone olivia@leitrimchildcare.ie.

 

Deadline: 29th September

 

Blue Star Programme

Registration is now OPEN for the Blue Star Programme 2023/2024!

 

The Blue Star Programme teaches primary school pupils about European cultures and the EU through creative activities and projects which complement the national primary curriculum.

*please note that there are limited spaces available in the Blue Star Programme, so register as soon as you can!

 

Deadline: 6th October

Artists' Collective Bursary

The Artists' Collective Bursary programme is designed to support the work of Leitrim based professional artists collectives from any single or multiple arts disciplines. Collectives may include but are not limited to visual artists collectives, theatre companies, music collectives. The programme was developed in response to the limitations of the Individual Artists Bursary Programme where projects involving more than one artist necessitated separate applications by all artists involved. 

 

The programme is designed to support the following:

 

Development of new work - Costs relating to the research and development of new work by the collective for exhibition or publication.

 

Presentation of work - Costs relating to the presentation of work and engagement with communities. 

 

Deadline: 1st October

Do you have a child with Special Needs? 

Your child may be entitled to get:

• Home tuition
• Speech and language therapy
• Free school transport

Information regarding Community Crime Prevention Measures

The Department of Justice is providing financial support to a range of community crime prevention initiatives:

• Neighbourhood Watch Scheme
• Community Alert Programme
• Text Alert Scheme

International Arts Bursary Scheme

The International Award programme is designed to support Leitrim based professional artists from any arts discipline to develop new opportunities to perform, exhibit or have their work presented outside the island of Ireland.

 

Deadline: 1st October

Back to school, which means it's time to sign up for the Empathy School Award!

(Open to post-primary schools)

 

What's involved?

There are three levels of award: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Here are the initial steps to achieving your award:

1. Register for your school pack

2. Train as a Facilitator, apply here

3. Facilitate Story Exchanges and other programmes

4. Tell us about it, log your programmes on your Facilitator Portal

5. Receive your award!

Enter Now for the Carmichael Good Governance Awards 2023

Carmichael is inviting entries for the Good Governance Awards. Now in its eighth year, the Good Governance Awards recognise and encourage adherence to responsible governance and transparent reporting by nonprofits in Ireland.

Each year, more than 100 nonprofit organisations enter their annual report and financial statements into the awards to be assessed under the criteria of transparency, governance, strategy, and financial information.

 

Deadline: 13th Sept

EU Just Transition Fund Community Facilities EV Charging Scheme

The EU Just Transition Fund (JTF) Community Facilities EV Charging Scheme provides funding for the cost of installing electric vehicle charge points at a variety of community facilities across the EU JTF territory. This Scheme is funded through the European Union’s Just Transition Fund, which is co-financed by the Exchequer of Ireland and the European Union and is administered by Pobal on behalf of Zero Emission Vehicle Ireland (ZEVI).  Roscommon is the nearest county included.

 

Deadline: 28th Sept

Ballinamore Family Festival 2023 Anonymous Feedback Survey

Hey Ballinamore Festival-goers!

The committee wishes to hear from YOU!

 

The Ballinamore Family Festival Committee is always looking for ways to make your festival experience even better.

 

That's why they've created an ANONYMOUS survey to gather your valuable feedback and suggestions.

 

Your opinions matter and this is your chance to help shape the future of the festival!

Leitrim Arts Plan Survey

Throughout this year Leitrim County Council will be writing a new Arts Plan and a new Culture & Creativity Strategy for 2023-2028, which will include a review of the current Arts Strategy and Creative Ireland Culture & Creativity Strategy.

To do this they have developed a survey so you can have your say in the shape and direction of the plans for 2023 to 2028. They want to hear about your experience of the arts in Leitrim. They also want to see what you think about the priorities of their plans, and whether there are different that should be done.

 

The survey is short and shouldn't take more than 10 minutes. 

Private Wires Consultation

As the electricity system evolves to accommodate greater levels of renewable generation and increased levels of demand, the need for electricity infrastructure to support this growth increases.

Private Wires provide a potential off-grid solution for the generation and supply of electricity.

Electricity infrastructure will underpin the sectors’ ability over the years to come to meet its climate targets, carbon budgets, connect the required renewable generation assets and support increased levels of demand.

This consultation will gather the views of the public, stakeholders and interested parties and it will help us understand the role which privately owned electricity wires may play in the future and identify any challenges and opportunities.

 

Deadline: 13th October

Purple Flag Public Perception Survey

Win a VIP day in Carrick on Shannon by completing the Purple Flag Public Perception Survey.

 

Deadline: 12th September

Fundamentals of Volunteer Engagement

A two, half day training course delivered online 10-12.30pm - designed to meet the needs of volunteer managers in a changing world.

 

This two module course is for those who are new to the topic of volunteer management and leadership or who wish to improve their skillset. The sessions are delivered by trainers from the Volunteer Centre Network and Volunteer Ireland.

In the two sessions you’ll explore the following topics:

• Planning for volunteer involvemen
• Changes in volunteering
• Diversity and inclusion in volunteering
• Volunteer Motivations
• Volunteer and Organisation Expectations
• Barriers to Volunteering
• Volunteer Engagement
• Screening and Selection
• Day to Day Engagement of Volunteers

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

Be clear about how volunteering fits into your context and the opportunity it provides

Understand the importance of volunteers and be able to communicate this to volunteers and other stakeholders

Understand that volunteering is a two way process with gains for all involved

 

Upcoming dates:

Supporting Volunteers - The Essentials

Join your fellow volunteer managers to discuss the basics of Volunteer Support such as:

• The importance of supporting our volunteers
• The four principles of volunteer support
• The difference between Support and Supervision
• Different ways of supporting our volunteers

Upcoming dates: 19th September, 21st November

We Act is joining forces with The National Lottery to offer a Marketing Masterclass Series

Staff and volunteers from across the charity and community sector are invited to attend these free online communications training sessions. These sessions will be facilitated by experts in their fields who will share practical tips and tools to help you and your organisation reach the right audiences and share the work you do in ways that are engaging and impactful.

 

The three-part series will be held on Zoom, and is free to attend, simply register for each session at the links below:

Nominate A Volunteer Today

Volunteer Ireland Volunteer Awards
Do you know any volunteers that deserved to be recognised for their hard work and positive contribution they make to their community?
You can nominate:
- an individual / Duo (in 8 different categories),
- a group of volunteers for their collective achievements,
a volunteer manager.

 

Deadline: 8th October 

Annual Report 2022: National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities

The 2022 Annual Report for the National Advocacy Service (NAS) for People with Disabilities and the Patient Advocacy Service was launched on 31 July 2023.

 

The report shows that in 2022, the Patient Advocacy Service saw an increase of 54% in service enquiries. NAS provided 3,576 instances of advocacy and received 3,201 initial enquiries.

 

The most common issues were around capacity building, housing, residential and healthcare settings, decision making, and social care.

Decision Support Service

The Decision Support Service is a service for all adults who have difficulties with their decision-making capacity.

 

The DSS is open to adults who may require help, now or in the future, to exercise their right to make decisions about personal welfare, property, or affairs.

Leitrim Animal Welfare call out for Trap, Neuter & Release Volunteers

Leitrim Animal Welfare are looking for a dedicated team to rely on for their Trap, Neuter and Release scheme in the following areas within Leitrim:

• Ballinamore
• Mohill
• Carrigallen
• Drumshanbo
• Carrick-On-Shannon

Are you wanting to help your local community?

Do you want to help put a stop to the cruelty within Ireland?

Do you want to try something new and different?

 

With the Trap-Neuter-Return program, feral cats are humanely trapped and then brought to a veterinarian to be spayed or neutered and eartipped (the universal sign that a feral cat has been neutered) and then returned to their outdoor home.

 

Did you know on average a cat may have around 24 kittens in a year? Within five years, that female cat can be responsible for 20,000 descendants.

The ISPCA estimates there to be more than 200,000 feral cats living in colonies all over Ireland.

Feral cat overpopulation causes serious welfare concerns and distruption to local communities and ecosystems.

 

If you are interested in volunteering for the TNR programme: call 087 1331158 or email: leitrimanimalwarden@gmail.com.

What are you doing on Culture Night?

On the evening of Friday September 22nd Leitrim will come alive once more with a host of free events across the county, showcasing Leitrim’s culture and creativity for Culture Night 2023. Events will be taking place across the county from Kiltyclogher to Ballinamore to Carrick on Shannon so start planning your evening now!

 

Places are limited for many events so book early where booking is required.

Make Way Day

Make Way Day is on Friday 22nd September.

“Make Way Day” is a campaign that brings the disability and wider community together to consider the needs of people with disabilities in the public spaces we all share.

It is led by the Disability Federation of Ireland and is a unique collaboration across Ireland and the voluntary and local government sectors. But most of all it’s about people with disabilities.

Green Ribbon Campaign - September 2023

The annual See Change Green Ribbon campaign aims to spread awareness about all mental health difficulties to help end mental health stigma and discrimination.

 

During the month of September See Change will be hosting events, running social media campaigns and supporting workplaces, organisations and the general public across Ireland to start having open and honest conversations about mental health.

Your Journey Counts

By walking, cycling and using public transport more, you can help reduce Ireland’s transport emissions.

This year, Government is investing €1.9 billion in green, cleaner travel options to support the shift to sustainable transport.

Host Your Own Connect Café

Miffy Hoad, Mental Health Development Officer for Sligo Leitrim will be hosting an online information session on 12th September at 2.30pm.  

Enough is Enough Campaign

The Alliance for Insurance Reform launches its Enough is Enough campaign to mark the commencement of legislation rebalancing the duty of care between occupiers and the public.

 

The Enough is Enough campaign seeks to highlight the negative impact unjustifiable and unfair claims have on organisations, including charities.

 

“The new legislation will only work if it is implemented in the spirit it was intended by the judiciary, insurers, the legal profession, and ultimately, by the Irish public.”

 

Unjustifiable personal injury claims are made where there is no negligence. It is often assumed that these claims are victimless, with insurance companies picking up the bill. The reality is that insurers simply pass the cost on to policyholders – voluntary and community groups, charities, sports and cultural organisations, small businesses and the State.

ReelLIFE SCIENCE is back for 2023

They're looking for the best young filmmakers and science enthusiasts in Ireland and Northern Ireland to make short videos to show their passion for STEM.

Sing Together

Singing together is a great way to build community, lift spirits and make friends. Sing Together with Sarah is an opportunity to do this.

Everyone is welcome (over 12s - 1132!) and you don’t need to have ANY experience with singing. Session is facilitated by Sarah Garden, trained in inclusive group singing as well as a professional, qualified, self employed musician. We will sing songs from all around the world and in every genre. Monthly drop-in's start at the Island Theatre - Community Hall, Ballinamore, Saturday 23rd September 11-12.30pm with refreshments afterwards. Pay as you can €5/€10/€15. Follow on dates are 23rd Sept, 21st Oct, 18th Nov, 16th December.

Contact Sarah on 0877620523 or sarah@sarahgarden.ie for more information.

Be A Host For Hospice

Get together with friends old and new by hosting a coffee morning for North West Hospice! Register to host a coffee morning social for North West Hospice on Thursday, September 21st or on a date that suits you, or call 071 9170523.