Image from member group Keshcarrigan Development Association

Winter Leitrim PPN Plenary

Leitrim PPN Secretariat & Staff would like to thank all our members and guests who joined us last Thursday in Manorhamilton for our Plenary and to launch Leitrim PPN Strategic Plan 2025 to 2028.

 

It was a fantastic turnout.  Networking followed by a welcome and introduction by the PPN secretariat facilitator and update of the PPN work by the PPN Co-Ordinator.

 

This was followed by the launch of the Strategic Plan for 2025 to 2028.

 

The audience heard great presentations from:-

• Luke Kenny Local Authority Waters Programme
• Laurence Kennedy & Marian Mc Govern Leitrim County Council
• Amy Dowd Tusla

Over 20 stands showcasing had the opportunity to say a few word on what they do, some included:- Tusla Child and Family Agency, Leitrim Development Company, Killargue Community Development Association, New Ballagh Centre, Dromahair Welcomes You, Killenummery Women's Group, Dromahair Defib Committee, Leitrim Library Service, Leitrim Local Enterprise Office, Retrofit Ready Sligo/ Leitrim, The Bee Park, North Leitrim Women's Group,  Rossinver Youth & Community Project, GreenShoots Playgroup, Manor Strikers Badminton, Leitrim Fire Services, Healthy Ireland.

 

Thanks to Rooneys Supervalu for the food, the Bee Park Community Centre for a great venue, all the speakers, all the community groups who showcased and the two young members of Manor Strikers Badminton Club, a member group, for helping us launch our Strategic Plan.

 

Thanks to Audrey on registration and Sabrina on refreshments for their assistance.

 

Next Plenary May 2025 in South Leitrim.

FREE Community Event for Over 55's

Age Friendly Leitrim and Healthy Leitrim  delivered a free community event for over 55's in Manorhamilton on 7th Nov.

 

Maj Cunningham, Health Pharmacist was giving blood pressure checks and there were talks on brain health tips and tips to get fit.

Leitrim PPN had an information stand.

SPC Reps Training coming up....

An induction event will take place for all new SPC members on Monday 25th November 2024 from 2-4pm in the Council Chamber, Áras an Chontae, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim, N41PF67.

 

At this induction event SPC members will receive a briefing on matters including the Role of the SPC, Meeting Procedures/Standing orders, Meeting Schedule,  Support Structures for the SPC, and an outline of the draft work programme for the coming year.

 

It is expected that following this briefing session, the meetings of each of the four individual SPCs will be in in early 2025.  

 

Leitrim PPN will also have a Reps support evening on Tue 10th Dec at 7pm in Leitrim Development Company, Drumshanbo, this will be facilitated by Liam Scollan and PPN staff and you will learn more about the PPN and your role as a Rep.  We will have a manual for all Reps at this. All Reps on all committees and board to attend the meeting in Drumshanbo, the Carrick meeting is only for SPC Reps.

 

If you were appointed to an SPC you are invited to attend both briefing events.

The following New PPN reps were ratified at the recent Plenary

Economic and Enterprise Development SPC

1 x Community & Voluntary Pillar Rep

Gerry Creamer Manor Chamber 

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Physical Environment SPC

1 x Environment Pillar Rep

Trevor Seery Leitrim Environmental Network 

 

2 x Community & Voluntary Pillar Rep

Brian Smyth Lurganboy Development Association 

 

Madeline Kelly Leitrim Tourism Network 

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Local Development SPC

1 x Community & Voluntary Pillar Rep

Máirín Martin Ballinamore Area Community Council Clg 

 

1 x Social Inclusion Pillar Rep

Claire Mc Girl Leitrim Volunteer Centre 

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Social Development SPC

2 x Community & Voluntary Pillar Rep

Bernie Mulligan Dolan Carrigallen GAA/Healthy Club 

 

Patrick Mc Greevy Keshcarrigan Development Association 

 

2 x Social Inclusion Pillar Rep

Séamus McLoughlin Fenagh Development Company 

 

Geraldine Meehan Manorhamilton ICA 

Leitrim PPN member group Carrigallen GAA Healthy Club providing valuable outlet on and off the field

Leitrim PPN member group Carrigallen GFC Irish Life Healthy Club initiatives provide significant support to people in the community.

 

The club is a hub for the community, providing a valuable outlet for different generations.

 

Photograph:- Carrigallen were presented with a Gold Healthy Club award by Connacht GAA secretary John Prenty and Connacht GAA Council president John Murphy last year. In the picture is Leitrim PPN secretariat member Bernie Mulligan Dolan. 

Christmas Swims for Charity

Please send us your posters for Christmas Swims for Charity for us to share!

 

We will compile a list and circulate.

 

Also any other Christmas charity events you maybe running - we are happy to circulate if you forward your poster to info@leitrimppn.ie.

PPN Training for Member groups - Funding Community

Time & Location

19 Nov 2024, 19:00 – 21:00

Online via Zoom
Facilitator: Daniel Downey

 

About the event

Funding Community includes the following:

- Researching the right grant

- Grant writing skills

- Project management

- Report writing

 

Any Leitrim PPN member can do this free online training but you need to register below to receive a link to do online (note this is tomorrow Tue evening)

Hybrid Social Finance Loan (Round 3)

The Hybrid Social Finance Loan is a new financial instrument in Ireland that aims to support social enterprises to develop a credit record and enhance their financial sustainability.  It provides a mix of a loan that must be paid back (interest rate applicable), along with a non-repayable loan (cash support) and business supports.  To be eligible, social enterprises must be first-time borrowers and meet all eligibility criteria.

 

Deadline: Applications open on a rolling basis. This means there is no specific deadline for applying. However, it will close for applications once all the funds have been allocated.

Generation Green Community Fund is now Open

The fund is designed to empower local communities to take an active role in the Green Transition—a collective shift toward greener, more sustainable living.

 

What does the fund support:

• Strand - Education for a Sustainable Future
• Strand - Community-Led Sustainability Projects

What size Grants are available:

Applicants can apply for funding between €10,000 and €250,000 by submitting a detailed project proposal.

 

Deadline: 10th January 2025

€7m Local Enhancement Programme 2025

Ministers Heather Humphreys and Joe O'Brien announce new €7m Local Enhancement Programme 2025.

Calling creators from all communities in the North-West of Ireland!

Hawks Well Theatre are delighted to announce that Time at the Well - the annual Performing Artist Support Programme will continue in 2025.

 

The purpose of the Time at the Well award is to support a professional performing arts practitioner, curator, technician, or producer at any stage of their career to develop their art practice.  It will provide a performing arts practitioner with the time and resources to think, research, reflect and critically engage with their art.

 

Deadline: 2nd December

Community Recognition Fund
DEADLINE EXTENDED

Window 3 of the Community Recognition Fund is now open for applications.

 

There is circa €500,000 to be allocated under this final window. It is the objective of Leitrim County Council to allocate this funding across 4-5 projects.

 

Deadline: 20th December

Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector 

The Nature Hero Award is Ireland’s largest outdoor learning award across the education sector. It is a mark of excellence for a school recognising exceptional work by young people & teachers to help nature.

 

Deadline: 4th April 2025

Local Bereavement Development Grants

Irish Hospice Foundation award a number of Local Bereavement Development  grants annually. The grant aims to encourage and support collaborative bereavement developments at a local level. Already existing groups and newly formed groups are eligible to apply.

Who can apply for a grant?

A group of organisations who provide some level of bereavement support to the public and operate in the same geographical region e.g. county, CHO area etc.

Eligibility criteria include:

• There must be a minimum of six organisations in the group
• All organisations must provide some level of bereavement support to adults and/or families (e.g. information, peer support, counselling etc).
• All organisations must operate within the geographical area that is the focus of this application
• At least 50% of the organisations in the group must be non-governmental organisations
• All organsiations must demonstrate transparent governance and NGOs must be registered with the Charity Regulator

Grants are given up to a maximum value of €1,000

 

Deadline: 29th November

Peatlands and Natura Community Engagement Scheme 2025

Applications are now being accepted for community-led projects, with up to €600,000 in funding available.

 

The Peatlands and Natura Community Engagement Scheme aims to encourage local communities, organisations, educational institutions, and other stakeholders to actively contribute to the conservation and restoration of Natura 2000 sites and peatland areas.

 

Applications are invited across a diverse range of initiatives with community benefit from events, education programmes, promotions, publications, exhibitions, development of conservation management plans, public amenity and recreational measures, maintenance measures that support conservation measures, monitoring or surveying work to inform of restoration/conservation projects, invasive species and fire control measures, anti-littering initiatives to local environmental improvements in the area of the designated sites and other peatland areas.

 

Deadline: 24th January 2025

Texaco Support for Sport

The Texaco Support for Sport funding initiative – which, to date has seen over €500,000 distributed to more than 100 sports clubs across Ireland – has been launched for the fifth successive year.

 

Under the scheme, hosted by Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited, the company that markets fuel in Ireland under the Texaco brand, a fund of €130,000 will be distributed to twenty-six sports clubs on a county-by-county basis, with successful applicants receiving €5,000 in each case.

 

Deadline: 31st January 2025

Funding For Climate & Environmental Justice - WomenStrong

Expression of Interest

WomenStrong is actively seeking potential grantees that identify as local women-led organizations working on climate and/or environmental justice-related issues in urban and peri-urban areas and taking a gender-responsive approach. We are seeking to build a cohort of women-led partner organizations based anywhere in the world striving to raise awareness of and build movements around climate and environmental justice. These organizations will work to mobilize women within their communities, both as the people most affected by climate breakdown and environmental injustice, but also as the key drivers behind local actions designed to tackle them.

Many will work at the intersections of gender and climate because successful strategies for advancing climate and environmental justice require intersectional approaches.

 

Deadline: 30th November

Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge

The Seeding The Future Foundation and the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) are proud to announce that submissions are now open for the fourth annual Seeding The Future Global Food System Challenge. Awarding up to USD $1 million, the Challenge is designed to create and accelerate the pace of innovations needed to transform food systems to become more nutritious, regenerative, and equitable.

 

The Challenge is hosted by IFT and funded and initiated by the Seeding The Future Foundation. In its first three years, it has attracted over 2,400 submissions from teams of scientists, engineers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and multidisciplinary teams across non-governmental organizations (NGOs), non-profits, social enterprises, universities, research institutions as well as small and emerging for-profit enterprises.

 

Deadline: 6th January 2025

Grassroots Grants Programme - Built Environment

INTBAU is excited to launch a new round of its Grassroots Grant Programme in November 2024. Grassroots grants provide funding for projects that test ideas rooted in local responses to climate and context.

 

INTBAU will be awarding small grants of up to £5000 to applicants with the greatest potential to create positive impact on the future of our built environment.

 

Think local, natural and renewable materials, eg. cob, straw, hempcrete etc.

 

According to UN-Habitat and World Bank figures, by 2030 up to three billion people will need new housing and basic infrastructure. Indigenous, traditional, local, and vernacular design solutions have the potential to create built environments that are inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. However, many of the best ideas never make it to the mainstream.

 

Deadline: 19th January 2025

Ireland’s Deposit Return Scheme and Reverse Vending Machines

O’ Herlihy Access Consultancy (OHAC) in partnership with Re-turn, are conducting research into the accessibility of the Deposit Return Scheme in Ireland.

OHAC and Re-turn want to know about your experiences with the Deposit Return Scheme and your use of the reverse vending machines.

There are two surveys available to submit your feedback, a standard survey, and an easy-to-read survey.

 

Leitrim PPN encourage member groups to complete the survey and have your SAY

 

Deadline: 22nd November

Domestic Wastewater Treatment System Survey

Seeking domestic wastewater treatment system users in Leitrim: do you live in a house using a septic tank or packaged treatment system for domestic wastewater disposal?  If so, you are invited to participate in an anonymised online survey about system management.  Your knowledge/views towards household system maintenance will help aid policy change and design of supports for system users nationwide! 

Questionnaire regarding Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions

This study is exploring the research question: Can hemp help reduce Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions linked to the built environment and agricultural sector through carbon sequestration?

 

The research identified the Republic of Ireland is facing a possible financial penalty of between 3-8 billion euros due to Ireland failing to meet mandatory EU mandated emissions reductions by 2030. The research is looking to raise awareness and discussions regarding this issue for people living in Ireland because it will affect all the people in Ireland.

 

Deadline: 9th December

Volunteer Ireland Annual Survey

Every year, Volunteer Ireland conducts an annual survey to help them learn more about volunteering in Ireland.  It's important that they hear from people in all types of organisations and groups so they can better understand how to support and advocate on behalf of volunteering.

 

The survey consists of 11 questions and should take about 5 minutes to complete. There is a comment box at the end for you to share any additional thoughts you might have. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

Invitation from WHO to Participate in an Assistive Technology User Consultation Meeting

The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe is currently completing a national assessment of assistive technology provision in Ireland, as requested by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth. As part of this assessment, it is very important to us that we hear directly from assistive technology users and their families, carers, and supporters.

 

WHO considers assistive technology to include any product, whether produced for persons with disabilities or available to the public, which helps to support and maintain independence and participation in the community for persons with disabilities, those who are ageing, or those with other health conditions. In Ireland, some of these fall under the description of aids and appliances, however the WHO definition encompasses a wider range of products and technologies.

 

We are hosting a series of online consultation meetings to hear from you directly. These will be conducted on the Zoom meeting platform on four different occasions. You are invited to choose one of the four sessions to participate. The dates/times are as follows:

 

• Tuesday, 19th November,10am
• Thursday, 21st November, 4pm
• Thursday, 5 December 7pm
• Monday, 9 December 12pm (noon)

Foróige: Connect Safely Webinar for Parents' / Guardians

Join us for an Online Safety Webinar for Parents on 20th November, empowering parents and guardians with the tools to keep their children safe in the digital world!

 

The webinar will cover key topics such as:

• Risks Associated with Online Activities
• Digital Age of Consent & The Impact of Social Media
• Setting Boundaries for Children's Online Activities

Sustainability Awareness

The overall aim of this programme is to raise awareness of how human activities impact the environment and to inspire learners to adopt sustainable practices.  It focuses on key areas such as climate change, resource conservation, waste management, and social equity, highlighting how individual actions can support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and contribute to a more sustainable future.  The programme will be offered in the language of English, As Gaeilge, Polish and Ukrainian.

This course is delivered on-line and will take 2 hours to complete.
You can start the course on a day and a time that suits you. 

WorkAbility Leitrim Project Launch

Leitrim Development Company, wish to invite you to attend the Official launch of the WorkAbility Leitrim programme by Adam Harris, in the Carrick Business Campus (old MBNA building).

• Thursday 21st November at 12 Noon
• Tea/ Coffee & Sign in from 11.30am

Can nature restoration funding be leveraged to benefit our rural communities? 

Leitrim Development Company and ACES are hosting two public meetings exploring the question: Can nature restoration funding be leveraged to benefit our rural communities? 

 

In Connemara, the Dúlra project was able to turn crisis into opportunity. Rhododendron was taking over the landscape, posing a serious threat to wildlife habitat and farmland.  By training up local people in Environmental Management skills, Dúlra were able to tackle the problem and create 24 new jobs.  Can this collaborative, community based approach be adapted to Leitrim?  These are the initial public consultations for a feasibility project supported by Natura Communities Seed Funding.

International Men's Day 

International Men's Day is next Tuesday November 19th and we invite all men (and women!) across Leitrim to come along to one of the free events below:

10am-12pm Community Services Hub (The Den, Ballinamore): This is a space to talk & socialise with a swap shop for clothes, books, toys and plants, along with bike repairs and free refreshments. Ballinamore Area Community Council Clg

11-12pm Social Prescriber Sarah Caley will give a talk on "The benefits of being socially active and social health" followed by refreshments in Breffni FRC, Carrick-on-Shannon
@leitrimsocialprescribing

2-3pm Timothy Aideyan from Diversity Sligo will deliver a presentation on 'Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle' with refreshments for all

5.30-6.30pm Sean McDermott Boxing Club are running an open coach led session for all, introducing adults to boxing. The club is situated upstairs in BeePark Community Centre

7-8.30pm Carrick Tennis Club will host an open social tennis session for all at the club.

Talk on Diabetes

The Killenummery and Killery Areas Development Association is pleased to announce a talk on diabetes, scheduled for Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at 7:00 PM. This event will take place at the community center in Killenummery, Drumahaire, County Leitrim.

The guest speaker for the evening will be Dr. Joan Ahern, a retired general practitioner from Killeshandra, County Cavan, who previously practiced in Drumkeeran, County Leitrim. Dr. Ahern has a particular focus on prevention and education regarding diabetes.

 

Everyone is invited to attend this important talk to gain insights into a condition that, if left undetected, can significantly increase the risk of complications affecting the eyes, heart, feet, nerves, kidneys, and liver.
Diabetes encompasses a group of diseases that impact how the body utilizes blood sugar (glucose).

In Ireland, it is estimated that 6% of the population, approximately 272,904 individuals, are affected by type 2 diabetes or another form of the disease. Obesity is a significant risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes, and dietary choices play a crucial role in managing blood sugar levels. Individuals with diabetes are encouraged to consume a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, pulses, fish, eggs, lean meats, and low-fat dairy products. It is advisable to exclude the intake of sugary foods, such as cakes, biscuits, and sweets, and to opt for sugar-free beverages, such as water and unsweetened tea or coffee.

A question and answer session will follow the main presentation, providing an opportunity for attendees to engage directly with Dr. Ahern.
Take a proactive step towards better health.

Expressions of Interest: SDG National Stakeholder Forum

The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications is seeking expressions of interest in written/ video format (<500 words or 3mins), to take part in this committee for a 3 month period.

 

Deadline: 29th November

Support Inclusive Community Engagement in Local Planning and Decision Making Video

New video launched!

 

‘A Guide for Inclusive Community Engagement in Local Planning and Decision Making' supports consultation and engagement at local level.

 

The handy ‘how-to’ reference guide is aimed at ensuring that the most marginalised and disadvantaged communities have opportunities to engage and participate in local planning and decision making. Such inclusive engagement will ensure that their perspectives are reflected in the decisions which affect them and will facilitate more inclusive measures to support sustainable development at a local level.

Take a minute, before you bin it!

This new awareness campaign – ‘Take a minute, before you bin it!’ is aiming to increase awareness and knowledge on how to improve waste segregation.  As Ireland transitions to a more circular economy, this national initiative highlights how simple individual actions, can collectively boost Ireland’s recycling rate.

Community Services Hub

Join Better Together Níos Fearr Le Chéile every other Tuesday for the Community Services Hub from 10am-12noon in the Den, N41R522.  Featuring information and signposting, free refreshments, a space to talk and socialise, sewing and mending clothes, basic bike repairs and a swap shop (clothes, toys, books and plants).

The event is free and everyone is welcome.

 

Upcoming dates:

Tuesdays: 19th November, 3rd, 17th & 31st December, 14th & 28th January, 11th & 25th February, 11th & 25th March.