Camagh Lake, Ballinamore image taken by Martina McTiernan

Regional Workers Meeting Monaghan

 

PPN workers from Monaghan, Leitrim, Roscommon, Donegal, Cavan & Mayo got together in Clones, Monaghan on 13th Feb for networking, idea sharing, collaboration, thank you to Monaghan PPN for hosting, all PPN's benefited greatly.

 

Picture taken at the Cassandra Hand Centre in Clones.

Launch of Love Where You Live Awards

We are delighted to announce the Launch of Leitrim's Love Where You Live Awards!

 

Everyone in County Leitrim is invited to take part in these unique awards which celebrate the positive contribution that communities, schools and individuals make to our county.

Nominate yourself, your community, your neighbour!

 

Each finalist will receive three complimentary tickets to the awards night at Lough Rynn Castle on 10th October, providing a wonderful opportunity to celebrate with neighbours and friends, as well as to meet others who share the same love for Leitrim.

 

Closing Date: 7th April

Opening of The Junction Project, Ballinamore

 

Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Social Protection and Rural and Community Development officially opened The Junction in Ballinamore on Fri 19th Feb.

 

The restoration of the old railway station, coach house and a derelict site is the result of collaboration between Leitrim County Council and the Ballinamore Community with funding of €2.4m through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.

The Junction will now house The Junction Hive, North Connaught Youth & Community Services 'Stáisiún Óige & the Leitrim School of Art. 

Reminder to Groups

Please e-mail a copy of your constitution and or Minutes of a recent AGM or committee Meeting to supportworker@leitrimppn.ie.

Any PPN Member Group looking for their PPN Registration Number for Grant Purposes

Making Great Pitches & Presentations

Adrian Langan gave a course to 10 community groups in Leitrim on "Making Great Pitches & Presentations"  on Thurs 22nd Feb in Drumshanbo, Leitrim PPN provided this FREE to member groups.

Meet the Builder Home Retrofitting Information Event

Retrofit Ready are delighted to announce a fantastic FREE event in The Mayflower Community Centre, Drumshanbo Co. Leitrim for anyone who is renovating, retrofitting, and looking for grant information from SEAI and Vacant homes from 6pm-8pm.

On 29th February they will have experts available to talk you through:

• SEAI grants
• Solar PV
• Solar PV from TAMS for farmers
• Home Retrofitting Materials
• Heat pumps/ boilers
• Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant
• One Stop Shop Providers
• Finance Options available
• BER assessment
• Home insulation options

 

Leitrim PPN will have a stand at this event, if you are part of a community and voluntary group and aren't registered with Leitrim PPN , pop along to see us.

Secretariat Meeting

11th March Secretariat meeting 4pm in Leitrim Development Company, Drumshanbo

All Secretariat members are asked to attend.

Updated Criteria for Inclusion in the PPN
Environmental College 

Does your group focus on environmental work? The PPN Environmental College is open to groups whose core work is environmental, including biodiversity, sustainability, education, protection, resource efficiency and more.  If this describes your group’s work, the IEN would like to invite you to join the PPN Environmental College.

 

You may be new to the PPN, or be registered as a Community & Voluntary group or Social Inclusion group and believe that you are in the wrong category.

 

Leitrim PPN will be contacting Tidy Towns groups in the coming weeks to see if they fit the criteria for the environmental college.

13th March-  Social Inclusion, Disability, Rural Development, Peace and Reconciliation Linkage Group Meeting

Leitrim Development Company at 7.30pm

We encourage all Leitrim PPN members to attend the relevant Linkage Group Meetings, to provide opportunity for discussions and information sharing.

 

This Linkage Group will focus on bringing together PPN members to advocate on these issues through proposing policy solutions to the relevant bodies. Members of this linkage group will include:

 

PPN members with an interest in the topical areas.

• All PPN Reps who sit on the LCDC (5).
  All PPN Reps who sit on PEACEPlus (5).
  
  

This Linkage Group focus on anti-poverty, community development, equality or social justice issues. This translates into a social inclusion approach to community building. Also discuss issues that arise to improve the lives of persons with disabilities.

 

Helen Rutter, Leitrim Federation ICA, Patrick Mc Greevy Keshcarrigan Development Association, Assumpta Kelly, North Leitrim Women's Centre & Silvia Apostol Leitrim International Community Group are trained facilitators for this Linkage group.

 

If you have an Agenda item for this meeting please forward to info@leitrimppn.ie 

 

 

More details to follow.

 

Culture Night Late

Culture Night Late is designed to support events that will begin after 9pm and continue late into the night on Culture Night, Friday 20 September 2024.

The maximum amount that may be awarded to each successful applicant is €12,500.

 

Deadline: 7th March

€120m fund to renovate heritage buildings in town centres

A new funding scheme under Ireland’s two European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Regional Programmes is providing €120m to support local authorities and their citizens to re-imagine town centres and to transform publicly owned vacant or derelict heritage buildings.

Small Grants for Social Enterprises

Leitrim Development Company is inviting applications under a Small Grants Scheme for Social Enterprises.

 

The scheme, which is funded by the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), will provide grants up to €500 (80% of eligible costs) to enable social enterprises to improve their service delivery.

 

If you have any questions or wish to recieve a copy of the application contact Michael Bruen by email MBruen@ldco.ie or call 071 9641770 EXT 209.

 

Final decisions on funding will be made by Leitrim Development Company.

 

Deadline: 5th March

Town and Village Project Development Measure 2024 - Now Open

Leitrim County Council is now inviting Expressions of Interest from Community and Business Interests under the Town and Village Project Development Measure. 

 

Deadline: 13th March

Grants of up to €6,000 for restoring native woodland

The removal on non-native trees and the removal of invasive species are among the measures which will be grant aided.

Opera Projects and Production Award

The Opera Projects and Production award is intended to support initiatives by professional practitioners to develop and present opera in three distinct stages.

 

The first (strand one) is for early stage development by creative artists of new operatic work, without a requirement to present it publicly in whole or in part.

 

The second (strand two), is designed to support development and/or presentation of new work- in-progress, or concert opera presentations / recordings, or full productions of smaller –scale works.

 

The third (strand three) is designed to fund fully staged productions of complete works.

 

Deadline: 21st March

Communicating Europe

The Communicating Europe Initiative provides funding to voluntary organisations, educational bodies and civil society groups and bodies for projects intended to deepen public awareness of the role that the European Union plays in our daily lives, and improve the quality and accessibility of public information on European issues, at local, regional or national level. Projects should communicate European issues, the role of the European Union and Ireland’s place in Europe.

 

Deadline: 11th March 

Schools Upcycling Competition

Calling all schools! Bord na Móna Recycling has launched the 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐔𝐩𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, offering schools across Ireland the chance to win €5000. The students from the winning class will also receive a guided tour of Bord na Móna’s Lough Boora Discovery Park as well as Bord na Móna Mountlucas Wind Farm in Offaly.

Students are encouraged to repurpose discarded materials into innovative and functional creations. Participants will use materials that would typically be considered waste or discarded items.

 

Deadline: 1st May 

Portal Documentation Award 2024

The Arts in Education Portal editorial team are pleased to invite applications for a documentation award. Through the award, successful applicants will receive services to the value of €5,000 that will support them in the documentation of a current or upcoming project and a €500 stipend.

The purpose of the award is to support the development of documented outcomes from Arts in Education initiatives in Ireland, which can be shared with the arts in education community and give insights into different processes of engagement.

 

Deadline: 1st March 

Acting to preserve Biodiversity and the Climate in Europe

The call for projects aims to support projects designed to protect nature and living organisms in the fight against climate change. They may include actions such as :

Preserving functional ecosystems in good ecological status;

Restoring degraded or threatened ecosystems or creating ecosystems; 

Improving the resilience of ecosystems; 

Improving ecosystem management for sustainable use by human activities; 

These projects may include observation, research, and awareness-raising activities along with concrete, measurable actions in favour of biodiversity and the climate.

Financial support
The call for projects has a total budget of 80,000 euros. Successful projects will be allocated an amount defined by the Artelia Foundation according to the needs and scope of each project, as well as the total number of funded projects. 

 

Deadline: 8th March

European Climate Initiative (EUKI)

EUKI fund selected projects that promote cross-border climate action in Europe. Funding of between 120,000 and 1 Million euros will be awarded per project, following a Europe-wide call for project ideas that they put out every year. The 8th EUKI Call for Project Ideas runs from 6 February until 12 March 2024. For the 2024 selection procedure, project ideas must be received by 15:00 CET (Central European Time) using their online platform. The projects provisionally selected will be asked to submit a full project proposal, probably in June 2024. The first projects are scheduled to start in December 2024.

 

Deadline: 12th March 

The Minor Foundation for Major Challenges

The Foundation supports advocates of climate change mitigation. The calls for applications are open to international applicants.

The Minor Foundation for Major Challenges (MFMC) is a Norwegian foundation that supports communication projects which advance the transition to a low carbon economy.  

 

Deadline: 22nd March

Organ Donation and Transplant Services

Funding of €1.6 million in 2024 for organ donation and transplant services.

 

This funding will support the implementation of the early phases of the 2024-2026 Organ Donation Transplant Ireland’s (ODTI) Strategic Plan, with the goal of increasing organ availability for transplantation, reducing the existing transplant waiting list of 601 people etc.

Reminder

Leitrim groups invited to apply for funding from the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal

Following the success of the appeal during the Late Late Toy Show more than €3.6 Million is being made available under two grant rounds.

 

Community Foundation Ireland, which is overseeing the distribution of grants has published criteria to guide organisations in their applications. 

 

Deadline: 14th March 

Reminder

International Protection Integration Fund 2024  

Now in its third year, the International Protection Integration Fund celebrates rich cultural diversity and enables community based organisations across Ireland to play a greater role in supporting the integration of International Protection Applicants.

 

Successful Scheme A organisations stand to receive grant funding of €30,000 – €100,000 to support large scale integration projects.

Successful Scheme B organisations stand to receive grant funding of €2,000 – €10,000 to support smaller integration initiatives.

How to apply: Applicants can access a detailed guidance document and complete an online application form at the following links below:

 

Deadline: 6th March 

Renewable Electricity Support Scheme

Have your say in the consultation on the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS 4). The aim of the consultation is to gather stakeholder feedback on the proposed Terms and Conditions for RESS 4.

 

Deadline: 26th March

Public Consultation on Climate Action Plan 2024

This consultation is an opportunity for members of the public to provide submissions or observations on the various aspects of Ireland’s most recent Climate Action Plan and associated environmental documents.

 

Deadline: 5th April

Irish Human Rights & Equality Commission Consultation

Irish Human Rights & Equality Commission are delighted to open the public consultation to inform their next Strategy Statement.

To inform it's development, they are consulting widely with the public and key stakeholders. 

 

Deadline: 27th March

2024 SunSmart Sunscreen Dispenser Pilot

This is an open call to all community groups/organisations to register their interest.
The Pilot Project involves provision of a sunscreen dispenser with a UV index display to a small number of community/voluntary groups who are involved in outdoor
leisure activities to trial the unit from May to the end of August.

 

This pilot is open to new applicants only andexcludes those who previously took part in the pilot in 2023.

One litre of sunscreen will be provided along with each sunscreen dispenser board. NCCP will not be providing any extra sunscreen as part of the pilot. All pilot locations
can keep the sunscreen dispenser board following conclusion of the pilot and can organise to re-order sunscreen cartridges directly for ongoing usage of the
sunscreen boards. A re-order form will be sent out with the board if you wish to re-order sunscreen. If you do not think you have capacity to re-order sunscreen via your organisation or community group then please consider if this pilot is suitable for you to partake in. 

Communities for Future - Session Women's Leadership in Regenerative Intentional Communities

This CfF session builds on the vast experiences in CLIs and critical perspectives of three women leaders in regenerative intentional communities across Europe: Mauge Cañada (Spain), Manja Vrenko (Slovenia) and Mieke Elzenga (Netherlands).

Mauge Cañada co-founded Arterra Bizimodu, an ecovillage in Navarra, Spain, where sheresides. Mauge, a therapist, facilitator, and trainer, emphasises collaborative leadership and sociocracy for eco-social transition. As a mother and grandmother, she's deeply connected to nurturing LIFE and promoting social transformation.

Manja Vrenko is the GEN-Europe coordinator and co-founding member of the Sunny Hills of Istria community in Slovenia. At Sunny Hill she is in charge of the organisation of events and workshops promoting sustainable lifestyle and ecovillage culture. Manja is also a permaculture practitioner, cultivates land, cares for goats, bakes bread and makes cheese.

Mieke Elzenga is a social entrepreneur in the Netherlands and Czech Republic since 1982, aiding youth in crime and refugees through her organisation Liberta Care Foundation. Now, as an elder, she is transitioning her responsibilities to the younger generation, by mentoring them. She presently serves as co-president of the ECOLISE Council.

The session aims to be a space for good practices exchange, learning with and from each other, and empowerment through inspirational life stories. Identifying opportunities and challenges for women leaders in CLIs and exchanging best practices to handle them acts as a beacon for integrating gender transformation into socio-environmentally regenerative communities. 

Sustainable Development Goals National Stakeholder Forum

Registration now open for the Sustainable Development Goals National Stakeholder Forum, March 1st Tullamore Court Hotel.

Calling all Community Practitioners, Educators and Change-Makers!

Are you ready to make a difference in 2024?

 

Join us for the SDG Advocate Training and become a champion for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)! Discover how to effectively include the SDGs in your work to create a sustainable future. Gain valuable insights, tools, and resources to inspire positive change within your organisations and communities.This is your chance to be part of the global movement towards a greener, fairer, and more inclusive world. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity!

 

Sign up now and let's make 2024 the year of Impactful Education and Sustainable Development!

Community Development Course QQI certified

Leitrim Development Company and MSLETB are providing an exciting opportunity for people volunteering and working in community settings in Leitrim.

 

This QQI-Certified Level 5 Module Understanding Community Development (5N1901) will equip learners with the knowledge, skill and competence to critically engage with the underpinning concepts of, and approaches to, community development in an Irish context.

 

This course is FREE and open to people and groups who are working/volunteering in the community & voluntary sector in Leitrim.

Training Programme for Festivals and Events

Following on from feedback received from Festival Committees looking for support in various areas, Leitrim County Council and Local Enterprise Office have come together to deliver a training programme specifically for Festivals and Events.

 

In order to address these needs, training for festival organisers will take place on-line, on the following dates: 

Wednesday 6th, 13th and 20th of March 2024 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.  These three, two hour workshops will help to equip Festival Committees with the knowledge and information required to run a successful Festival or Event, which in turn will have a positive economic impact on the local area.

 

Leitrim County Council Festival and Event Funding will open shortly and attendance at all three sessions, by at least a minimum of one member of your committee, is a requirement of the application process.  Please ensure that each session is attended by the relevant person on your committee who has responsibility and expertise in that specific area.

 

This training will look at various aspect of festival organization as follows:

 

Session 1 - Festival organization, management and finance and will include:

• Festival Structure
• Governance
• Future Proofing
• Resources/ Volunteers
• Funding
• Budgeting
• Sponsorship
• Pricing and
• Insurance

Session 2 - Programming and festival delivery

• Scheduling Events
• Logistics
• Fringe Events
• Artist/Performers Liaison
• Innovation
• Inclusiveness
• Alignment with IHH & WAW
• Digital/Virtual Programme
• Greening your festival
• Health & Safety
• Risk Management
• Child Safety

 

Session 3 – Festival Marketing and Promotion

• Online and offline promotions on: Festivals own platforms. Other domestic platforms, international platforms
• Collaboration with other tourism providers
• Understanding your audience: motivations, trends, audience research, data gathering, privacy statements, GDPR
• Post Festival insights for future years

 

This is a great opportunity to bring your festival to the next level and to explore new opportunities. 

Vision Ireland Technology Training For the year 2024 

Vision Ireland will be running Essential Digital Skills Group Training for people who are visually impaired or blind (and their families).

The topics covered would be the following:

• Introduction to being online

• Using my smartphone

• Connecting with others

• Entertainment and Shopping

• Hobbies and Travel

• Online Banking

 

At this stage, Vision Ireland are currently awaiting registrations of interest, so if those individuals or their families could please complete the following form if they would like to be contacted for future events. 

Community Impact Network

Exciting news! The Alone Community has unveiled its Training Schedule, covering key areas impacting older persons—Mental Health, Safeguarding, Dementia, Cancer, Grief & Bereavement. Expand your knowledge, strengthen your service!

What is a Social Enterprise?

• A Social Enterprise is an enterprise whose objective is to achieve a social, societal or environmental impact, rather than maximising profit for its owners or shareholders.
• It pursues its objectives by trading on an ongoing basis through the provision of goods and/or services, and by reinvesting surpluses into achieving social objectives.
• It is governed in a fully accountable and transparent manner and is independent of the public sector. If dissolved, it should transfer its assets to another organisation with a similar mission.

Leitrim Volunteer Centre Outreach Office at The Island Theatre Ballinamore

Working with volunteers and organisations to promote and enhance volunteering across Leitrim.

For more information and to register your group or as an individual

Contact Claire on 087 7696514

Email:  claire@volunteerleitrim.ie

Farm Walks - Expressions of Interest

Leitrim County Council and The Dock are working with artists and farmers to host six creative Farm Walks in 2024. The project is co-created with The Leitrim Sustainable Agriculture Group and the Ulster Wildlife Farmers’ Group in Fermanagh and funded through the Creative Ireland Shared Island Programme.

 

This project will build on new and existing partnerships and will deepen the goodwill, friendship and creative collaboration that exists between Leitrim and Fermanagh. 

Grab Your Whistle - club youth referee course

Introducing - Grab Your Whistle club youth referee course!

 

Recruiting and training new referees aged 17+

 

Places are limited at each selected venue.

 

Saturday 9th March - Leitrim GAA Centre of Excellence

7th March Killennumery

You are invited to this special event that is being hosted by Killenummery & Killery Parish Bereavement Group.

 

 

There will be 4 guest speakers, each talking from their own unique experience of bereavement.

This is a FREE event and open to everyone. See details on poster.

Save the Date:

Ireland's first National Trail Conference

31st Aug to 3rd Sept 2024

in Carrick on Shannon

The event will take place from 31st August – 3rd September 2024 in The Landmark Hotel, Co. Leitrim with excursions around Leitrim and Cavan. 

 

This as an excellent opportunity to show the excellent collaborative work being done across Ireland with all the various stakeholders. 

 

The long-term objective is to use the National Trail Conference as a platform to demonstrate Ireland’s potential to host the World’s Trail Conference.

My Favourite Waterbody

Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) Launches National Photography Competition, 'My Favourite Waterbody”. This nationwide competition was launched on World Wetlands Day, Feb 2nd, 2024.

#Ireland is bountiful with iconic waterways and scenic landscapes, and we know how important these waters and wetlands are to people. LAWPRO want you to take part by submitting a photo of your favourite waterbody to be in with a chance of winning a prize.

 

The closing date for entries to “My favourite waterbody” is 5pm on Friday the 15th of March 2024. To enter the competition please email a photo to photocomp@lawaters.ie as an attachment along with your name, age, address and the location of your submitted photo.

Dementia - Inclusive Community, Understand Together

Check out the link below to explore the importance of social connection for those living with dementia.

 

For more information and free training visit call the national helpline provided by The Alzheimer Society of Ireland on Freephone 1800 341 34.

4th to 8th March is Local Enterprise Week

Check out the full list of events FREE to ALL Leitrim Businesses taking place from 4th - 8th March 2024!!

 

 

Subscribe to LEO newsletter to keep up with all events, training and supports available!

8th March International Women's day

Event in The Dock - great line up of speakers.

Eircode/ Finder

Knowing your Eircode can help healthcare support services find you faster.

As the range of healthcare support services to the home expands, help those healthcare providers find your home faster by giving them the Eircode with your address.