Cloone Village - image from Cloone Tidy Towns

Useful Information for Your Community Group

Wiser & Greener Sustainability Community Event held 11th April

Pictured are members of Leitrim Secretariat Bernie Mulligan Dolan and Bridget Mc Gourty with Mary Mc Girl Leitrim PPN, An Cathaoirleach Cllr Justin Warnock and Leitrim Age Friendly Ambassador Seamus O Rourke at the Wiser & Greener Sustainability Community Event hosted by Leitrim County Council who partnered with An Garda Siochana Sligo/ Leitrim, Leitrim Public Participation Network, Age Friendly, Healthy Ireland and Leitrim Older People's Council.

 

We hope everyone enjoyed the event and  look forward to bringing it to North Leitrim in October.

Climate Action, Environment, Heritage, Biodiversity & Agriculture Linkage Group Meeting

Held 10th April - Thank you for all who attended this informative evening with presentations from Ashling Cartwright, Rural Development Project Officer with LDCo

and Rebeccah Cogan - Biodiversity Officer, Leitrim County Council. 

 

Slides have been circulated to all who attended.  If you didn't receive same let us know.

Cavan/Leitrim Inter-PPN Event held Sat 13th at The Organic Centre

The Cavan Leitrim Inter-PPN event was held at The Organic Centre where members of both PPN's (Staff & Secretariat) came together for peer support, networking and exchanging ideas.

 

An excellent location with hope's for a brighter greener future. The Organic centre ia a 19 acre site in North Leitrim on the banks of Lough Melvin, check it out for Conference facilities at the Centre - Tours and workshops can be tailored to suit your school, community group or staff team.

Leitrim Migrant Integration Strategy and Action Plan 2023-2027

Leitrim PPN would like to congratulate Leitrim Development Company on the Launch of Leitrim Migrant Integration Strategy and Action Plan 2023-2027 which took place on 12th of April in The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon.

 

An Cathaoirleach Cllr Justin Warnock attended the launch of the Leitrim Migrant Integration Strategy and Action Plan by Leitrim Development Company.

 

Leitrim PPN looks forward to working with all the stakeholders in delivering key actions to support inclusive communities in Leitrim. The project was funded by the LCDC through the Rural Development LEADER programme. 

Pictured is Leitrim PPN Secretariat member Bernie Mulligan Dolan and friends from Carrigallen with staff from LDCo.

Secretariat Meeting Mon 29th April 4pm on zoom

Draft AGENDA

 

• Open
• Apologies, Minutes & Matters Arising
• Reports:- Workers updates
• Plenary on 9th May in Mohill
• LECP discussion
• Update on Reps Training & Mentoring (Results of survey undertaken by Liam Scollan)
• AOB

Reminder of Leitrim PPN Plenary Thurs 9th May - PPN's Celebrating 10 years in existence

All welcome- 7 to 9 pm Thurs 9th May in Canon Donohoe Hall, Mohill.

 

We will be celebrating our 10th Anniversary of being the community & voluntary umbrella network in Co. Leitrim. We are inviting all of you to celebrate with us. We promise there will be a large cake to help us celebrate!

 

The PPN is the network of community and voluntary groups in each county, with 31 PPN's across the whole country, one in each of the 31 local authority areas.  This equates to over 18,000 member groups across Ireland.

 

Leitrim PPN have significantly increased membership from 289 group registered in Feb 2022 to over 400 at present.

 

If your community group wish to take a stand to showcase the great work you do please get in touch to reserve a table – email info@leitrimppn.ie

 

 

PwC Ireland Resilient Communities Fund Inviting Applications

PwC has launched the PwC Ireland Resilient Communities Fund in collaboration with ChangeX.  The PwC fund is designed to empower individuals and teams to spearhead local community projects that promote inclusion, equitable access to opportunities, skills development, and sustainability.

Tesco Community Fund

The Tesco Community Fund was launched in July 2014, to support local good causes in the communities around each of our 171 stores throughout Ireland.

 

Every 12 weeks, each Tesco store donates up to €2,000 between three local good causes in its community.

PTSB Community Fund

Keep an eye out for this fund - The PTSB Community Fund supports local communities by providing funding to community organisations that are working hard to make a difference.

 

The Community Fund operates in each of our regions across Ireland and aims to provide c.€200,000 in funding to six local charities – chosen by you.

LEADER

LEADER supports economic development, enterprise development and job creation, social inclusion and rural environment.

The Communities Integration Fund

The Communities Integration Fund (CIF) has been launched by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, to support and promote the integration of migrants and refugees in their host communities.  All applications must demonstrate the ability to involve both migrant and host communities in the activities proposed. The maximum grant amount that can be applied for is €5,000 and the minimum grant is €1,000. 

 

Deadline: 8th May 

The Pollinator Project - Biodiversity in Schools

Biodiverstiy in Schools are pleased to announce that The Pollinator Project is now open!

🌻They have FREE workshops & FREE teaching kits for up to 4,000 young people across Ireland to help them become pollinator ambassadors for their school.

🦋All schools can also take the Pollinator Pledge on their website for access to your FREE printable certificate, signage & classroom worksheets. Also available as gaeilge.

🏆New for 2024, they’re also running a social media competition for schools & families looking for outstanding pollinator work. Prizes include a €500 biodiversity fund as well as their brand new 🎉Gold Bee Trophy🎉 for one lucky school!

👏Many thanks again to sponsor SIRO, Ireland’s 100% fibre broadband network, connecting communities across Ireland.

🎓Open to Pre, Primary, Secondary and Homeschools within ROI & NI.

 

Deadline: 26th April

The Arts & Disability Connect

The Arts and Disability Connect scheme is designed to support artists with disabilities to be ambitious, to develop their practice and to connect with arts organisations and arts professionals in Ireland.

 

There are four different strands within the scheme: Mentoring (€3,000), Training (€1,000), New Work (€15,000), and Research and Development (€5,000).

 

Deadline: 7th May

Festival Investment Scheme

Round one of the Festivals Investment Scheme (FIS) 2025 is for festivals that commence between 1 January 2025 and 30 of June 2025.

 

The Arts Council’s role is to advocate for and support the development of a diverse and varied arts-festival ecology, and to provide a suite of supports that encourage best-practice festival models that increase opportunities for public engagement and participation in the arts or develop the work of an artist/artform.

 

There are three bands of funding available:

Band A – For awards up to €10,000

Band B – For awards of €10,001–€25,000

Band C – For awards of €25,001–€45,000

 

Deadline: 30th May

2024 CLÁR programme

€8.7 million in funding announced for community and sports facilities nationwide under the 2024 CLÁR programme.

As part of the initiative, grants of up to €50,000 will be provided to support the renovation and upgrade of community centres, parish halls, GAA clubhouses, youth facilities and more.

- 2024 CLÁR Programme to deliver hundreds of projects nationwide (within the areas as per map below)

- Funding to renovate community centres, parish halls, GAA clubhouses, youth facilities and more

- Grants for outdoor projects such as playgrounds, sensory gardens, walking tracks, skateparks and community allotments

- Renewed focus on upgrading spectator stands at local GAA and sports clubs

- Scheme extended to cover the purchase of vehicles for Meals on Wheels under Measure 2

- Continued support for our island communities

 

Deadline: 19th June

Shape the Future Challenge

Ready to tackle climate change with groundbreaking ideas?

Are you between 15 and 20? Then, join the Shape the Future Challenge and get a chance to collaborate with experts and like-minded peers to create real-world solutions.

 

THINK BIG! Whether you want to revolutionize energy, pioneer sustainable agriculture, or invent new eco-solutions, you can drive change.

This is your opportunity to learn new skills, make lifelong connections, and become a real changemaker.

Plus, the winning team gets to head over to the heart of innovation, Silicon Valley, California!

 

Deadline: 5th May

Patagonia Environmental Grants

Patagonia supports environmental organisations with bold, direct-action agendas and a commitment to long-term change.

 

They support innovative work that addresses the root causes of the environmental crisis and seeks to protect both the environment and affected communities.

 

Deadlines: May 31st & September 30th 2024 and January 31st 2025

Digital Europe - Girl's & Women in Digital

The Digital Europe programme will provide funding for projects in five areas:

• Supercomputing
• Artificial intelligence
• Cybersecurity
• Advanced digital skills
• Ensuring the wide use of digital technologies across the economy and society

€7.5 billion over 7 years available in this fund.

 

Deadline: 29th May 

The Touring of Work Scheme

The Touring of Work Scheme - Round 1 invites applications for proposals seeking funding to support the touring of work across all artform and arts practice areas for tours starting from January to December 2025.

 

Maximum award - unlimited.

Deadline: 9th May 

Joseph M. Hassett Creativity Bursary in Musical Composition

UCD is inviting applications for the 2024–25 Joseph M. Hassett Creativity Bursary in Musical Composition which comes with an award of €5,000.

 

Deadline: 26th April

Heart of The Community - Ireland Fund

The Heart of the Community Fund is an open grant round designed to meet the needs of not-for-profit organisations delivering vital services and supports to people across the island of Ireland.

The Ireland Funds recognises the challenges organisations face in securing funding to build their capacity or meet their core costs, so the Heart of the Community Fund 2024 will provide Organisational Investment Grants. The application form will enable you to share what you’re working towards and how you deliver on your mission, so we can get a picture of your organisation as a whole. If your application is successful, you can then allocate the funding to meet your most pressing needs.

 

Deadline: 3rd May

Creative Schools Initiative

Participating schools/centres will be provided with a package of supports that includes working with a Creative Associate, training and networking to support them to create their Creative School Plan, as well as seed funding to begin to implement their Plan.

 

Successful schools will receive €4,000.

 

Deadline: 2nd May

Public Consultation: Moving Together: A Strategic Approach to Improving the Efficiency of Ireland’s Transport System

Moving Together has been developed to make our transport system more efficient and to alleviate the impacts of car-dependency and congestion on the economy, the environment and the health of our society.

Public consultation on the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 on the protection of geographical indications for craft and industrial products

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is seeking the views of interested parties and stakeholders on the implementation of the regulation on geographical indication protection for craft and industrial products.

 

Deadline: 17th May

Biodiversity & Climate Action Workshop

Leitrim County Council is pleased to announce that a free gardening Biodiversity & Climate Action Workshop will take place in Mohill, Co. Leitrim on Friday 10th May 2024.  The free workshop is aimed at Community Groups & Voluntary organisations that are working to enhance Biodiversity in their area and who are interested in taking Climate Action in their community.  The workshop is being funded by Leitrim County Council’s Biodiversity & Climate Action Offices.

 

Places are limited so booking is essential. This course is being offered to members/volunteers of community groups that are active in Co. Leitrim.  If there are spaces available after this, it will be offered to members of the public. Therefore, please share with your members and volunteers initially.

Volunteer Ireland Training

Family Carers Ireland

Family Carers Ireland are offering a ‘Caring with Confidence’ online course. The Course aims to guide you in your family caring role and is an opportunity to connect with other Carers. 

Transformative Education: A Pathway to Climate Action

Enrolment for “Transformative Education: A Pathway to Climate Action” course is now open.

By blending innovative pedagogical approaches with the pressing urgency of climate change, this program aims to deepen participants' understanding of climate science while fostering emotional connections to the issue.  The program focuses on enhancing climate awareness, fostering emotional connection, inspiring behavioural change, and promoting youth empowerment to cultivate informed advocates capable of driving sustainable change globally.

 

This course, hosted by Meath Partnership is specifically designed to introduce Climate Change Education to Youth Workers.  The three module course will be delivered hybridly with online and in person sessions to maximise learning impact.

 

Applicants will be expected to attend all sessions to complete the course.

 

Participants will receive additional training content, reading, and reflective activities throughout the delivery of the course. 

 

Transformative Education: A Pathway to Climate Action is a free course available to youth and community officers. 

 

The course consists of one in person session, and four online sessions. 

 

Participants must attend at least 70% of the course to receive their certificate. 

This flexible programme has been developed for people who are busy with work, family and daily life.

Participants will require a strong internet connection for the course.

 

Course Schedule: 

Module One: Transformative Education for Climate Action

Online 

May 7th: 18:30-21:00

May 16th: 18:30-21:00

 

Module Two: Critical Reflection for Deeper Understanding and Action

In Person (Location: TBC )

May 18th: 10:00-17:00 (Lunch Included)

 

Module Three: Cultural Complexities of Climate Change

Online

May 22nd: 18:30-21:00

May 27th: 18:30-21:00

 

An opportunity to attend further training in Porto, Portugal in July 2024 is available to those who complete the training.

 

Get in Touch: Aóife Malone, Meath Partnership - aoife.malone@meathpartnership.ie

Community Recognition Fund Online Information Session

Wednesday 24th April 7pm-8pm

Information Briefings - Funding Schemes 2024

Leitrim County Council will be running a series of workshops on various funding schemes from the Department on Rural and Community Development.

 

Full details on poster. To book your place, please email funding@leitrimcoco.ie

IFA: VK Agri, Waste plastic collection Connaught 2024

JAM Card Friendly Retailer

The Just A Minute (JAM) Card allows people with a learning difficulty, autism or communication barrier to tell others they need ‘Just A Minute’ discreetly and easily in customer service situations.

Minister Eamonn Ryan launches all 31 Local Authority Climate Action Plans in Co Clare

All 31 local authorities have been preparing their local climate plans over the past year and all plans have now been adopted by the elected members. The launch is being organised by CARO, the Climate Action Regional Offices.

Completing the local climate plans is a milestone for the local government sector. Collectively there are almost 4,000 actions set out across all the local plans. They list practical climate measures to be completed in each local authority area over the next five years.

The plans demonstrate the ambition, focus and commitment of each local authority to reduce carbon emissions and improve the quality of life for people living, working and studying in each county.

Lough Rinn Regatta

11th May

Enteries close 1st May

Enteries to be made on Rowing Ireland Tracker System

Leave No Trace Ireland

Leave No Trace Ireland is seeking to engage with communities to achieve greater scale and impact across Ireland.

 

Memberships are free for community groups and create awareness about the importance of responsible outdoor recreation in the Irish countryside, enhancing and protecting local biodiversity.

Parkrun

Parkrun is a free, community event where you can walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate. parkrun is 5k and takes place every Saturday morning. junior parkrun is 2k, dedicated to 4-14 year olds and their families, every Sunday morning.

 

Parkrun is positive, welcoming and inclusive, there is no time limit and no one finishes last. Everyone is welcome to come along.

Create a short flowering meadow

By mowing just once a month, you can give native wildflowers and insect friendly grasses a chance to pop up naturally and help feed hungry wild bees. No seeds needed!

Mountain Magic: Yoga Retreat & Hike to raise funds for O'Rourke's Table Trail

25th May

 

Newtownmanor Hall, Dromahair

 

Step into a world where self-care meets community support! Our "Mountain Magic - Yoga Day Retreat" is not just a fundraising event, it's an experience created to nourish and inspire you while giving back to our beautiful County Leitrim community.

 

Picture this: The morning begins with gentle yoga to wake up the body and set the intention for the day ahead.  Next we head out into the valley for a hike up O'Rourkes Table, a local gem nestled in the heart of nature.  Feel the earth beneath your feet, breathe in the crisp mountain air, and let your spirits soar as we ascend to the heights.

At the top, let the panoramic views into Sligo Bay come alive like a painting, a piece of art Experience a guided meditation, allowing the tranquil beauty of the place to deepen and restore your inner balance.

 

But the journey doesn't end there! Descend from the heights of O'Rourke's Table where a delicious and nourishing vegetarian lunch awaits.

 

After lunch - a deeply relaxing session, allow yourself to surrender to a sense of peace and surrender, knowing that your presence is not just for yourself, but for the betterment of our community.

 

A day of connection, healing, and joy, as we come together to support the O'Rourke's Table walking trail—a wonderful amenity for locals and visitors alike Your participation isn't just about yoga—it's about cultivating a sense of belonging, fostering wellness in nature, and making a meaningful impact in the place we call home.

 

Mark your calendars, spread the word, and let's embark on this journey of Mountain Magic together!

 

100% of profits go to the trail fund

Get #SunSmart Art Competition

The Get #SunSmart Art Competition is back for the third year!

Open to all pre-school and primary school children, with a chance of winning OPW - Office of Public Works family heritage card, Dublin Zoo family day pass, AND a National Book token worth €20! 

 

Deadline: 31st May

World Refugee Day Photo Exhibition

The Irish Refugee Council, in partnership with professional photographer and Director of Mayrose Future Company Michael Sugrue, is working on a photo exhibition to mark World Refugee Week this June.  The exhibition aims to showcase compelling stories of overcoming adversity, rebuilding, integration, and challenges facing individuals navigating the international protection system through photography.  They are seeking individuals and families from refugee backgrounds or still going through the process who are willing to share stories that capture experiences such as accommodation situations, moments in the international protection process, adapting to life in Ireland, education, and employment.

 

The coordinators will reach out to you for a chat and to arrange the photoshoot.
If you have a query, contact Wendy Muperi (Communications Officer)
at wendy@irishrefugeecouncil.ie /0858550434.

NB: The project will give due regard to ethical storytelling standards.

 

 

Are you planning an outdoor event?

The "Guidelines for Organising Outdoor Activity Events" provides a helpful roadmap to organising successful and responsible outdoor activity events in Ireland’s countryside – whether that be in the mountains, forests, inland waterways, coast, beach or sea.

New Programme June 2024

Free support service for families beginning in June , contact for a confidential chat & to reserve a place !

 

085 8759313 /07191 50578 sligoleitrim@alcoholforum.org

Motion for the Ocean webinar

Join The Irish Environmental Network to hear about the actions that Local Authorities can take to benefit the Ocean.  Whether coastal or inland, all counties affect Ocean health.  Hear about the Motion for the Ocean that has passed in various Councils in Britain, and discuss how it could be used in Ireland's Local Authorities.

Donal Griffin, Policy Officer for Fair Seas will outline the work that Fair Seas has done so far to bring this idea to Ireland, and explain what the Motion for the Ocean can include and achieve.

 

The motion is a series of eight evidence-based pledges, carefully designed to focus on the actions that will deliver the greatest benefits for ocean health.  It seeks to embed ocean recovery in local decision-making, ensure that any development of the blue economy delivers both local prosperity and ocean recovery and also seeks to empower the next generation of marine citizens.

 

There will also be a Q&A and discussion.

All welcome!