Series of Successful Linkage Group Meetings

Climate Action, Environment, Heritage, Biodiversity and Agriculture

 

Met on 29th March, 24th May, 12th July and 6th Sept

 

Key Events:

Submission of a detailed report containing 70 recommendations across all facets of climate change to Leitrim’s Climate Plan 2024, having consulted with 375 PPN members groups and conducting workshops supported by the Linkage Group and one organised by GEAI.

 

While always open to responding to new issues that arise, it agreed on 6th Sept to focus for now on three areas:

1.      Impact on farm livelihoods and building understanding between farmers and climate activists

2.      Land use policy

3.      Review of Bio-Diversity plan

 

Facilitators of this Linkage Group: Aífe Kearns and Mella Ó Brolchain.

 

Next Stages:

• Follow up discussions with Leitrim County Council Climate Officer to hear their response to the PPN submission.
•  
• Pursuit of the three priorities.

Next meeting:

Wed 29th Nov, 7.30pm, LDCo offices Drumshanbo.

 

Social Inclusion, Disability, Rural Development, Peace and Reconciliation

 

Met on 25th May, 7th Sept

 

Key Events:

Having explored a wide range of possible issues to address in its first meeting, the second meeting focused on:

1.      Communications with international communities in Leitrim in particular with election coming up.

2.      Socio-economic cost of living in rural Leitrim and its impacts.

3.      Making sure that all parts of our community are able to receive communications/notices.

4.      Peace Plus funding

 

Facilitators of this Linkage Group : Silvia Apostal, Patrick Mc Greevey, Assumpta Kelly and Helen Rutter

 

Next meeting:

 

Thurs, 30th Nov, 7.30pm, LDCo offices Drumshanbo.

 

Planning, Housing and Transport

 

Met on 23rd May, 5th Sept

 

Key Events:

Explored the issue of affordable housing in Leitrim.

 

Agreed at 5th Sept meeting to undertake a survey of PPN members to identify priorities that people want to address in relation to planning and transport policies in Leitrim

 

This group wish to circulate a short survey if you can kindly answer 3 short questions - this will form the basis for discussion going forward

 

Facilitators of this Linkage Group: Brigid Stenson, Joan Regan, Gerry Creamer.

 

Next Stages:

 

Discuss survey findings and identify which areas the Linkage Group could most effectively focus on.

 

Next meeting: Tues 5th Dec, 7.30pm, LDCo offices Drumshanbo.

 

Well done to all facilitators for giving of their time to the Linkage Groups and to all who attended meetings so far for your input - "Don’t Underestimate the Power of Your Voice"

PPN's in the News 

"Community Groups demand greater role in delivering climate action goal" Irish Independent News Paper 07/09/23

Over the last few months, PPN Members from around the country fed into a visionary process to identify how these networks of community groups around the country could deliver on our climate goals. They presented this to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Climate Action.

Love Where You Live Awards Night

All who entered the Love Where You Live should have got an invitation to attend the awards night and you can bring 3 from your group.  Further details on invitation.  Please respond as per invitation.

Next Secretariat Meeting

Leitrim PPN Secretariat meeting Mon 25th Sept on zoom at 7pm.

Events of interest to PPN members:

Mon 9th Oct 7pm: Shane Martin – Public Event 'Minding Ourselves -Rooting out the Roots of Stress', The Bee Park Centre, Manorhamilton

 

Wed 11th Oct 10am - 1pm: Wellbeing Fair, Landmark Hotel, Carrick on Shannon

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 Supports Provided by The Wheel

Understanding the Charities Governance Code

Wednesday 27th of September 2023 from 2:30-4:30pm. Online on Zoom.

Provided by The Wheel PPN Supports.

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 will 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. 

Insurance Webinar

The PPN hosted a webinar on Insurance for community groups, with guest speaker Nick Ryan from BHP Insurance. Topics covered included:

• What insurance covers does a Community / Voluntary Group Need?
• Common Queries
• Rising cost of Insurance
• Q & A
• Types of Insurance: Public Liability Insurance, Employers Liability Insurance, Property Insurance, Directors & Officers Insurance, Volunteers Insurance.

If anyone wishes to get a copy of these slides please email info@leitrimPPN.ie and we are happy to send on.

Learn More about The PPN

Want to learn more about the PPN – you can avail of FREE training here - This is open to all staff of the PPNs and Local Authorities, Representatives, Secretariat, Councillors and Member Groups. These pre recorded sessions and short quizzes can be worked through at an individual pace. 

Don't forget to share this newsletter with the rest of the members from your community groups!

 

Calling all Schools and Youth Reach Centres!

Ignite the spark of innovation in your students by signing up to a trailblazing social innovation programmes.

Empower your young people to drive positive change in their communities and beyond.

Registration for 23/24 programmes is now open!

New call published under the Digital Europe Programme

Data Space for cultural heritage: €4 m

Data Space for tourism: €8 m

 

Opening Date: 28th September 2023

Cultural Capital Scheme – Stream E

€1.4m is now being made available under ‘Stream E’ of the scheme. In line with the

Government’s action on climate change, this scheme will provide funding for projects that reduce an organisation’s carbon footprint and will, for the first time, include funding for organisational energy audits. Projects that provide additional capacity for artists and artistic production, as well as those that address access issues, will also be supported. 

There is no closing date. This scheme will remain open until the fund is exhausted.

Home Tuition Grant Scheme for children without a school place

Community Climate Action Fund

The Community Climate Action Programme is a new programme to support small and large, rural and urban communities to take climate action at a local level. Leitrim County Council is delighted to welcome the announcement by the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications of a new Community Climate Action Fund, which will become available to support communities to promote and assist in the scale up of community climate action.

Co. Leitrim have been given an allocation of €300,000 for projects, There are five programme themes and communities should try to incorporate as many themes as possible.

The themes are:

• Home/energy
• Travel
• Food and waste
• Shopping and recycling
• Local climate and environmental action

Expressions of Interest for this fund will be open at a later date. If your group is interested in applying for this funding or would like to ask a question about a potential project under one of the above five themes, please submit any queries to mark.corrigan@leitrimcoco.ie

Over €1.5 million funding for The Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Protestant Aid Announced

Funding to provide food, education, hardship and household support to some of the most vulnerable people in society. Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, and Minister of State, Joe O’Brien TD, have today announced over €1.5 million in funding to The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) and Protestant Aid.

Community Foundation Ireland - Biodiversity Open Grant Round

Biodiversity Fund is now open for applications. There are two strands to this year’s grant round:

1- Community groups are invited to apply for a grant to engage an ecologist and develop a Community Biodiversity Action Plan (CBAP) for their local area.

2- Any organisation who has a CBAP is invited to apply for funding to implement recommendations contained in it.
Please read the Criteria documents carefully before applying.
Email info@foundation.ie if you have any queries.

 

Deadline: 13th October

Funding for After Hours at the Museum Grant Scheme & New Night-Time Economy Initiative

Minister Martin awards €620k in funding for After Hours at the Museum Grant Scheme & announces new Night-Time Economy initiative

620,000 awarded to support over 220 night-time events in 51 museums and galleries across the country.

 

€119,000 awarded to support a new pilot scheme to provide events for young people to attend and venues for young artists to perform in.

The Dock in Carrick On Shannon, Co. Leitrim, The Northern soul exhibition will open late for two weekends and have guided tours, a film screening and a DJ set.

Western Development Commission & Community Loans

Anne Graham is the new Community & Green Finance Manager with Western Development Commission. Anne provides Community Loan advice to all counties in the West & Northwest.

Western Development Commission provide Bridging Loans for LEADER Projects only, and Term Loans for a variety of different types of Community Led Projects such as Community Childcare, Sport, Family Resource Centres, Arts & Heritage, Tidy Towns, Community Education, and Community Environment Projects. The hope is to motivate and support Communities to take on Green Themed Projects and these can include Community Gardens, Tidy Towns, Green Infrastructure, Waste Reduction & Recycling Programmes, Energy Efficiency Projects, Green Energy Initiatives, Community based Conservation, and Green Building Projects. Please feel free

to get in touch -Mobile Number 087- 266 3711 or email Anne on annegraham@wdc.ie.

It is never too early to start a conversation about funding your future community led project!

ESB Wind Farm Community Funds

SECAD invites community groups within the Area of Benefit to their Wind Farm (10KM) to join them from 7pm-8pm Tuesday 3rd October, for the  

Celebrating Community Achievements Webinar event. 

 

The event will feature groups from across the country, who have successfully completed a wide range of projects with support from these funds. This is an opportunity to get inspired and learn from each other. 

Community groups within the area of benefit (10Km) of their Wind Farm, are encouraged to attend and they would appreciate if you can forward this invitation to the relevant contacts on your database. 

Get Ireland Walking Strategy and €1.46 million in additional funding for 2023

The Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Hildegarde Naughton TD, and the Minister for Sport and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne TD, have launched the Get Ireland Walking strategy 2023-2027 and announced Healthy Ireland funding of €1.46 million to Sport Ireland for 2023.

 

Get Ireland Walking was established in 2013 with the support of Healthy Ireland and Sport Ireland, with the objective of supporting and unifying the efforts of the range of actors involved in the promotion of walking in Ireland.  

 

The new Get Ireland Walking strategy builds on the work completed over the last 10 years and guided by international best practice, sets out an ambitious set of objectives for the next four years centred around a collaborative partnership approach.

Consultation with Young People

THIS SURVEY IS BEST VIEWED  ON A TABLET OR LAPTOP. IF USING A PHONE IT IS BEST VIEWED IN DESKTOP MODE.

Tusla is turning 10 years old on January 1st, 2024! They are working on a plan for the next three years (2024-2026) to make their services even better for you.

They want to hear from you, your opinion matters, and they want to know how you see and experience their services.

 

Deadline: 22nd September

Consultation with Members of the Public on The Tusla Corporate Plan 2024 to 2026

A lot of change is happening in Tusla right now, they are looking to continually improve the quality of the services they provide.

Talking to and hearing from people who care about what Tusla's services and who interact in different ways with many of these services across Ireland is important for when Tusla start making this plan. This will help on the journey of change and to decide what’s most important for the next three years.

This short survey will allow you share some of your ideas with Tusla and they would love to hear from you. Thank you for taking the time to complete it. 

 

Deadline: 24th September

Public Consultation: Universal Design Guidelines for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

The Universal Design Guidelines outlines essential factors for designing user-friendly and accessible charging stations. Whether it's station design, site accessibility, or user communication, these guidelines are set to revolutionize EV charging in Ireland.

The Department of Transport welcomes your input on the guidelines through a public consultation survey Let's shape the future of electric vehicle charging together.

 

Deadline: 26th September

Public Consultation on Draft Revisions to the Shannon Navigation Bye-laws and Grand & Royal Canal and Barrow Navigation Bye-laws

This Public Consultation opens at noon on the 19 June and run for 16 weeks til 4pm on the  2 October 2023.

 

Summary

 

Waterways Ireland has prepared draft changes to the Byelaws for the Shannon Navigation & Shannon-Erne Waterway, and for the Grand & Royal Canals and Barrow Navigation. The updates are focused on

 

• Measures to  increase accessibility to and less congestion on our waterways;
• Better management of the waterways through annual registration fees and permits;
• Better water quality;
• Health and safety for those on and off the water;

Deadline: 2nd October

Community Impact Network Members Survey 2023

The Community Impact Network are reviewing supports to members. They would really appreciate it if you could complete this survey as it will provide them with the information they need to best support you, your service and in turn the older people you support through your work.

Public Survey SLNCR Greenway

A new cycling and walking route (greenway), the SLNCR, along the route of the old SLNCR railway is proposed between Sligo and Enniskillen.  This survey is being conducted on behalf of the Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan and Fermanagh & Omagh County Councils by Urban Foresight, a consultancy. It will be used to write a report on the economic opportunities the greenway presents.

Network & Learn with The Wheel

The Wheel are delighted to invite you to join an exclusive networking session for members on Tuesday, 26 September. Everybody is welcome but it is particularly relevant for smaller member organisations of The Wheel that are completely voluntary or with 5 or less staff. 

 

This free online event from 2.30-4.30pm is an opportunity to network with your peers and to share the variety and quality of work being done by community and voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises. You will also learn about the supports and services provided by The Wheel and other service providers that are particularly relevant to smaller organisations.

 

We will be joined on the day by Sharon Hughes, Leadership Academy Manager to explore leadership opportunities for small nonprofits and how it is essential to nurture leadership at all levels within your organisation.

Bright Sparks

Bright Sparks is a new youth theatre programme that caters to a broad spectrum of young people aged 10 - 17 years.

 

The programme will suit those who wish to participate in a youth theatre programme delivered at a more relaxed pace suited to each individual's needs, including young neurodiverse people or those who perhaps find the school system tough but have an interest in theatre or performance and a flair for creativity.

 

Bright Sparks begins Thursday Sept 21st September 2023

Junior Group - 10 to 13yrs (or 5th class, 6th class and 1st year): 5.15pm - 6.45pm

Senior Group - 14 to 17yrs (or 2nd year to 6th year): 7.00pm - 9.00pm

The Collective Producers - Youth Project

The Collective Producers is a youth project for people looking to meet new friends, develop ideas, create art, and be heard at The Dock, Carrick-On-Shannon.

 

Participants get an opportunity to collaborate with artists and community groups as part of a unique programme of bespoke workshops, projects, and events, developed by you over the two months.

 

Open to people aged 14-19 in secondary-level education or those participating in non-traditional education, The Collective Producers will meet on Saturdays and is free to join, but places are limited.

 

To apply, please send an email with a short paragraph telling us why you want to join the project to Laura Mahon, Visual Arts & Education Manager at The Dock - lmahon@leitrimcoco.ie

 

Deadline: 25th September

Carmichael have over 60 FREE resources on their website for charities and community organisations

The resources include:

• Setting up your non-profit
• Template letter of appointment for new board members.
• Sample completed risk register.
• Board trustee governance handbook template.
• Improving your annual report
• Tips for Running Effective Charity Board Meetings

What is the Living Well Programme?

Living Well is a free group self-management programme

Living Well is for adults 18 years and over.

 

It is suitable for you if you are:

 

• living with one or more long-term health conditions
• caring for someone with a long-term health condition

Living Well is not suitable for people with significant memory or learning difficulties.

Upcoming Living Well Programmes 2023

If you are interested in taking part in this programme or would like more information, please contact your local Living Well Team.

 

Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo

Date: Tuesday 26 September to Tuesday 31 October

Time: 10.30am to 1pm

Location: Sligo Northside Community Centre

For information on upcoming programmes please contact: Helen O'Driscoll - Phone: 087 396 4307

Coill na nÓg

FREE mini-woodlands & native hedgerows for schools across Ireland to boost wellbeing and biodiversity.

 

The competition is open to preschools, primary schools, secondary schools and home-schools across both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Minister Butler launches new HSE National Youth Mental Health Office

For the first time in the history of the State, there is now a dedicated National Youth Mental Health Office in the HSE.

 

The new Office will improve leadership, operational oversight, and management of all service delivery and improvements related to youth mental health.

Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler announced the launch of the new National Youth Mental Health Office in the Health Service Executive (HSE). The new National Office will focus on delivering strengthened and more integrated supports for child and youth mental health care across Ireland.

This new HSE office will provide for coordinated input across service, legislative and policy developments for all child and youth mental area areas, from prevention and early intervention to the specialised Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).

 

This is a very significant development, and it will improve leadership, operational oversight, and management of all service delivery and improvements. A new HSE National Clinical Lead for Youth Mental Health has already taken up post – Dr Amanda Burke - with a new Assistant National Director for Child and Youth Mental Health starting later this month. They will be supported by additional and dedicated staff for the National Office.

Bringing Irish Language Poetry to Life for Post-Primary Students

Poetry Ireland, in collaboration with IMRAM, has again launched two exciting initiatives that bring Irish language poems to life.  Guth na hÉigse is an Irish language Poetry Speaking Competition, and Duais Bashō Haiku is an English and Irish language haiku composition competition. With entries now open, Poetry Ireland and IMRAM are calling on all post-primary school teachers to get their students involved. 

This will be the second year of Guth na hÉigse, the fantastic Irish language programme based on the successful and well-established Poetry Aloud Poetry Speaking Competition. Guth na hÉigse aims to encourage students throughout the island of Ireland to learn and memorise Irish language poems and then speak the poems aloud at regional rounds, and at a national final that takes place in November in Smock Alley as part of IMRAM Féile Litríochta Gaeilge 2023. 

Duais Bashō Haiku Poetry Competition invites post-primary students to compose a haiku in the English or Irish language,  or bilingually.

Poet, playwright, haikuist and member of Aosdána Gabriel Rosenstock will adjudicate the competition. 

Both initiatives aim to support Irish language development in schools by providing an exciting and accessible programme, focused on using the Irish language as an interactive language that can be spoken and written with confidence and enjoyment. 

Entries are now open for both competitions. 

The deadline for Guth na hÉigse entries is on 13 October 2022 and the deadline for Duais Bashō Haiku Poetry Competition follows later in the month on 20 October 2023.

Home retrofits up 150%

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has reported a 150% increase in Government-funded home retrofits in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period last year. There were 21,727 home energy upgrades funded by Government grants to the SEAI during this time. The report indicates that retrofitting figures are on track to meet the target of 37,000 upgrades for the year. Solar panel installations have seen a significant increase, up 231% from last year, following a decision to reduce VAT on them. Additionally, 7,566 homes achieved a BER B2 rating or better, a 210% increase from the previous year.

National Ambulance Services

A new rapid response community X-ray service is helping older people in nursing homes, community facilities and their own homes avoid ambulance journeys to hospital Emergency Departments.

 

The service is currently running in Dublin, Wicklow, Meath, Kildare, Louth, Cork, Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary. It has also been offered in South Tipperary, Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford from this month.  The service will be available nationwide in 2024, with Galway and the North West next in line to benefit.

Sustainable Development Goals Week is back!

Ireland’s second Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Week is taking place this year from 23 September - 1 October. It forms part ofthe wider European Sustainable Development Week (ESDW), which runs from 18 September - 8 October 2023. Last year ESDW saw over7,000 activities taking place across 24 countries, with over 100 events taking place in Ireland. The SDGs belong to everyone and SDG Week is open to all - individuals, groups, schools and colleges, businesses and institutions.

 

To take part, organize an event - however big or small - or highlight an activity or project that promotes sustainable development and join the annual week of action for the SDGs

“Leaving No One Behind” Forum

“Leaving No One Behind” Invitation to the 3rd Sustainable Development Goals
National Stakeholder Forum 2023 Friday, November 17th

The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications would like to invite you, your colleagues and community members to join them at their next National Stakeholder Forum.
The meeting will take place on Friday 17th November in-person and on-line at the
Aviva Stadium, Dublin from 10.00am – 4.00pm.
The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications would like to hear from you about what you believe national and local policy makers should take into account when developing policy to ensure that no one is left behind.
The messages developed as part of this meeting will be shared across national
and local government. They will also be used as part of the development of Sustainable Development Goals training for civil servants and local authority officers.
The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications would like this event to be an open and inclusive conversation.
Everyone is welcome and every effort will be made to meet the needs of all participants.
Registration for the event will open Mid-October.
Please note this event is free to attend but places are limited.

National Allotments and Community Gardens Week – 14th to 21st October 2023!

The first ever national Allotments and Community Gardens Week will be taking place in Ireland from 14th – 21st October 2023!

This event will raise awareness of allotments and community gardens, to highlight how important they are and to detail the huge benefits of community gardening for communities, individuals, and the environment.

 

The 2023 theme is “Growing with Nature” and it is hoped as many allotments and community gardens in Ireland can get involved.

 

Some examples of activities during the week would be:

 

1) Organise a tour or an event (in person or virtual!) at your allotments or community gardens with an emphasis on how you are helping local wildlife and biodiversity!

 

2) Post photos and videos online during the week about what actions you are taking to grow with nature at your allotment or community garden!

 

3) Publicise the week as it is the first ever Irish event like this – we will be posting information on our social media in the coming weeks, so please share and like! #NationalAllotmentsWeek #NationalCommunityGardensWeek

#GrowingWithNature

 

 

 

If you are going to run an event during this week, please let CGI know by emailing them at info@cgireland.org and by tagging Community Gardens Ireland on social media during the event (14th – 21st October 2023).

The Bard is Back!

The second annual Bard of Connacht poetry competition is now underway in conjunction with Creggs Harvest Festival, with a magnificent prize fund of €1,000.

The competition was first organised last year by Kilbegnet Ballinakill Historical Society and drew entries from across the country. Organisers were delighted with the response to the competition and the qualities of the entries and have determined to keep the poetry element of the festival alive with a second annual competition.

Aspiring or established poets can take part, by submitting an entry on this year’s theme ‘Epic Journey’. The epic journey can be of any category, real or imaginary, historic or futuristic, local or global. Organisers were influenced when selecting the title on the role of Creggs in the epic journey of Donal Cam O’Sullivan Beare who made an epic journey from the Beare peninsula in west Cork to Breifne in Cavan in the harsh winter of 1602 to 1603. Only 35 hardy souls of his starting band of 1,000 made it to Cavan following the arduous journey.

The winner of this year’s Bard of Connacht will receive the Vincent Keaveny Memorial Trophy and a cheque for €500, while second, third and fourth placed poets will receive €250, €150 and €100.

Poets are invited to submit one entry to bardofconnacht@gmail.com and all entries must be received by Friday, October 20th 2023 at 5 pm. A judging panel will then select the ten best entries, four of which will be winners. All entries must be original and there is no entry fee.

Composers of the ten best entries will be invited to attend an event in Creggs during the Harvest Festival and recite their poem and the five prize winners will be announced at that event and the prizes presented.

So it’s time to put pen to paper on the subject of ‘Epic Journey’ and maybe you will be selected as the Bard of Connacht 2023.

For further information please contact Larry Kilcommins, Secretary, Kilbegnet Ballinakill Historical Society on (086) 3468761 or email bardofconnacht@gmail.com

Are you aged 14-17 and eager to develop your creative writing skills? 

Join Wild Words for a series of workshops in Drumshanbo with two fantastic writers who will guide you in discovering your own unique style.

Introducing Wayne O'Connor Sligo-based artist and writer, inspired by Myth, Fantasy, and Folklore. His digital art has been featured in games and books. Wayne is also a storyteller and arts educator, spreading creativity in libraries and schools nationwide.

Niamh Mac Cabe Award-winning writer, lecturer and visual artist, Niamh is also an experienced editor and mentor. She's published in numerous literary journals and anthologies in Ireland, the UK, and the US.

 

Don't miss this fantastic opportunity. First ten week block starts Monday September 25th. For more information and to secure your spot, visit www.wildwords.ie email mary.blake@leitrimcoco.ie.

 

Leitrim County Council through Leitrim Arts Office and Leitrim Library are proud to bring you these workshops to help unlock your inner writer!