Joe Hunt - The Countryside - Blankets for the Giant, Killargue

Reps Support Evening

Leitrim PPN will  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 boards are asked to attend this meeting.

What training would you like to see Leitrim PPN run in 2025?

Leitrim PPN are now seeking your input for our Training Needs Analysis to shape the upcoming  training calendar for Leitrim Public Participation Network in 2025.

 

Your feedback is vital in ensuring we provide the right skills and resources to support our member groups.

 

Please take a couple of minutes to fill out our survey to help us tailor our training calendar to meet our member groups needs.

WorkAbility Leitrim Launch

Leitrim Development Company provides personalised progressive pathways in employment support via its WorkAbility programme, to people with disabilities in Leitrim, enabling them to up skill and progress their employment ambitions by providing individual supports under an Inclusive Pathways to Employment Programme.

 

This programme was launched on 21st Nov by Adam Harris.  Adam Harris & Peter Kearns were inspiring bringing their lived experiences to us all.

Leitrim PPN had an information stand at it in Carrick campus.  Well done to all on a very successful launch.

Leitrim Volunteer Awards

Leitrim PPN were delighted to attend the Leitrim Volunteer Centre Awards.

 

Well done to all winners & to Leitrim Volunteer Centre for hosting a fantastic event at The Dock.

 

Secretariat member Bernie Mulligan Dolan with Carrigallen Healthy Club received a well deserved award as did secretariat member Olivia Fitzgerald Murphy's son Jude.

(Pictured)

Stand at Teagasc Conference

Thanks to Mary Brennan, Policy Officer with Social Farming for taking Leitrim PPN information to the  National Beef Conference in Carrick on Shannon on 19th Nov.

 

Social Farming offers people who are socially, physically, mentally or intellectually disadvantaged the opportunity to spend time on a family farm in a healthy, supportive and inclusive environment.

Caring for Carers

Leitrim Development Company in conjunction with Healthy Leitrim

hosted a morning for Carers in the Island Theatre, Ballinamore on Thurs 28th Nov.

 

Mother-of-four from Laois named Carer of the Year at awards ceremony also on Fri 28th.

Leitrim PPN E-Bulletin Survey

Leitrim PPN are conducting a Survey on the e bulletin/newsletter we circulate to over 400 member groups every two weeks, it is also circulated to other stakeholders who subscribe to it.

 

It contains information on PPN News, Funding/Grants, Consultations, Surveys, Training Courses, Community News, events from member groups and links to relevant newsletters.

 

We want to make sure we are delivering quality content and we need our audience feedback to help us improve our e bulletin/newsletter.  

 

One of the three remits of the PPN is to act as an Information Hub, providing information relevant to the environmental, social inclusion & voluntary sector and acts as a hub around which information is distributed and received.

 

This will only take a few minutes of your time and for that we are very grateful if you can complete this Survey.

Keeling Curve Prize 2025

The Keeling Curve Prize is more than a financial award – it jumpstarts growth for countless deserving climate leaders at the pace required to achieve meaningful and lasting emissions reductions across the planet. The Keeling Curve is a graph that represents the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in Earth's atmosphere over time.

 

Applicants come from more than 109 countries worldwide and represent emerging markets, BIPOC- and women-led organizations, and some of the world’s most under-resourced, vulnerable communities. After a rigorous review process led by our diverse and talented group of experts, 10 winners are awarded $50,000 each to scale and succeed.

 

Deadline: 15th January 

Boosting Fact-Checking Activities in Europe

The "Boosting Fact-checking Activities in Europe" Call for Proposals aims at supporting projects from independent fact-checking organisations, which play a key role in limiting the negative effects of disinformation on the public discourse and democratic processes.  Only individual entities or organisations in a consortium located in the EU, EFTA and UK are eligible.

 

Deadline: 28th February

€7m Local Enhancement Programme 2025

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

 

Funding will be available to a diverse range of community groups

Including but not limited to:

• Men’s and Women’s sheds/groups,
• community centres, parish halls
• and local voluntary groups.

 

Leitrim County Council will hold information sessions and distribute information in due course and keep an eye on PPN e bulletin & Social Media.

 

 

Breaking Barriers Fund

This €1.37 million three-year fund will support projects tackling discrimination and inequality in education and employment. Non-profit organisations that provide greater access and opportunity to education and employability for people of different ethnic backgrounds, migrants, refugees and the Traveller community are encouraged to apply. 

"Through the Breaking Barriers Fund, we're backing organisations actively challenging discrimination and creating real opportunities for minority communities across the country. Our generous donors share our vision and by working together, we're working towards an Ireland where talent and potential can flourish, regardless of background," said Deirdre Mortell, CEO of Rethink Ireland.

Applications are now open! Visit our website for details about the Breaking Barriers Fund or to register to attend one of our online application clinics.

 

Deadline: 10th January

Community Recognition Fund FINAL CALL

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

GAA Green Club Programme

The Green Club programme will help clubs to identify and implement simple measures to protect our natural heritage and secure a sustainable future for our local communities.

 

Participation in this programme opens up a whole new way of thinking and opens up a host of funding opportunities with various grants available for environmental, biodiversity, water, waste and energy projects.

All GAA, LGFA and Camogie Clubs can access the GAA Green Club Programme Toolkit to support their sustainability actions.

 

The GAA Green Club Toolkit is designed to support Gaelic Games clubs in implementing simple and effective sustainability actions. The Toolkit is divided into five themes - Energy, Water, Waste, Biodiversity and Travel & Transport - and each toolkit section contains practical advice and guidance tailored for GAA clubs as well as inspiring case studies from clubs from across the island of Ireland.

The Local Authority Waters Programme LAWPRO launches its 2025 Catchment Support Fund

At the Communities Caring for Water conference in Athlone the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) launched the 2025 Catchment Support Fund.  The fund will help build the capacity of non-governmental organisations working in the area of water quality in Ireland by providing funding toward core organisational running costs.

 

Deadline: 14th January 

Heritage Organisations Support Fund

The Heritage Organisations Support Fund aims to build the capacity of non-governmental organisations working in the heritage sector in Ireland by providing funding towards their core costs.

 

Recognising the critical role heritage projects play in addressing climate change and biodiversity loss, the Heritage Organisations Support Fund 2025 prioritises support for projects that demonstrate environmentally sustainable practices. This funding will provide support to:

• develop and strengthen the skills, processes, and resources that heritage organisations need to survive, adapt, and thrive.
• heritage organisations who play a key role in the heritage infrastructure of Ireland and to help achieve national policy and plans.

 

Deadline: 27th January

Diaspora 4 Development Grants

EUDiF’s Diaspora 4 Development (D4D) Grants aim to promote sustainable development by supporting diaspora-led initiatives in their countries of origin in the areas of climate, economy, education and health. D4D Grants provide financial support for diaspora organisations to undertake small-scale projects that generate tangible improvements in the well-being of the target community.

 

The overall amount made available under D4D Grants is €580,000. Applicants can request an amount from €25,000 to €60,000 depending on the scope of the project and the capacity of the applying organisation to manage the grant.

 

Deadline: 15th January 

Historic Thatched Buildings Grant 2025

Applications are now being accepted for the Historic Thatched Buildings Grant (BHIS- HTB) 2025.

The purpose of the scheme is to protect the heritage value of historic thatched roof buildings across Ireland, including dwellings and other structures.

 

Deadline: 17th January 

Funds for information measures relating to the Common Agricultural Policy

The European Commission co-finances projects to inform the public about the common agricultural policy (CAP).

 

Projects can include:

• TV features on agriculture and innovation;
• farm visits;
• information campaigns;
• audiovisual and media activities;
• apps for smartphones and tablets.

Any person or legal entity such as associations or national authorities can participate in the call for proposal, published once a year. 

 

European rules set out two aims for all information measures:

• to explain and raise awareness on the EU support to agriculture and rural development through the CAP;
• to engage with farmers and other actors in rural areas, and for them to further communicate to their constituencies and the wider public about the CAP.

 

Deadline: 16th January 

National Garden Bird Survey Participant 2024/25

The Irish Garden Bird Survey is open to everyone and it couldn’t be easier to take part! It’s a great way for you and everyone in your house to really get to know your garden birds! 

 

Deadline: 31st December

Managing Volunteers with additional support needs

This course explores the benefits and risks of involving volunteers with additional support needs and how best to manage their integration with current volunteers and staff.

At the end of the course, you will be able identify those with additional support needs; determine what additional supports may be required for their inclusion and decide as an organisation whether you will involve volunteers with additional support needs and what policies should be put in place.

This training session will be hosted on Zoom, you will be sent details when you register.

Lunch & Learn: Rural LGBTQI+ Services

Roughly 1 in ten people in Roscommon, Westmeath, and Leitrim are part of the LGBTQI+ community — yet they can’t access the support they need.

 

LGBTQI+ specific services and supports have traditionally centered in and around urban life and cities.  But over the past two decades much work has been done by the LGBTQI+ community and allies to set up services that reach people living in smaller towns and villages across Ireland. 

LGBT Ireland is excited to provide a space for public and private agencies in your area to connect with existing LGBTQI+ groups across Ireland to discuss the necessity of such services, as well as provide good practice guidance on developing LGBTQI+ specific supports.

By garnering interest from groups who are keen to get involved in developing LGBTQI+ services, LGBT Ireland hope to link those with existing services in other regions to make LGBTQI+ support a reality for every single member of our community, regardless of their location.

Don’t miss it—let's make a difference together!

 

Event Details

Who: Private and public agencies from Roscommon, Westmeath, and Leitrim
What: A lunchtime webinar to share resources and information on building LGBTQ+ services in rural counties
Where: Zoom link available upon registration
When: Thursday, 5 December, from 1:15PM - 2:00PM

Becoming Literacy Friendly

In your work or community do you have contact with people with unmet literacy needs?

This FREE online course on becoming literacy friendly will help you to create a literacy friendly service that is person centered.

Self Build Wind Turbine Training

Build a domestic wind turbine from scratch using the Hugh Piggott turbine design. The turbines built are ideal for those interested in building their own wind power systems or just for fun.

Learners will learn a variety of skills, no previous experience is required as basic woodworking, electrical and metalworking skills will be taught.

This course will run over the weekends from 9:30 am to 5:30pm on the 14th and 15th of December and the 11th, 12th, 18th, 19th, 25th, and 26th of January.

Recognising Sporting Excellence in Leitrim

The 13th Annual Leitrim Sports Star Awards hosted by the Leitrim Sports Partnership will take place on Saturday, 8th February 2025 at The Landmark Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon.

 

These awards honour the individuals, teams, schools, clubs, and community volunteers whose dedication and achievements enrich sport and recreation in Leitrim.

 

Award categories include:
🏅 Volunteer of the Year

🏅 School Sports Initiative of the Year

🏅 Juvenile Team of the Year

🏅Senior Team of the Year
🏅 Junior Sports Individual of the Year

🏅Senior Sports Individual of the Year

🏅 Coach of the Year

🏅 Club of the Year

🏅 Outstanding Achievement

🏅 Sports Star of the Year

 

Deadline to nominate: 18th December

Free Post to Care Homes

Community is about reaching out with compassion, staying connected and sending love to each other.  That’s why at An Post, you can now send love to communities living in care homes across Ireland with free postage.

 

An Post will ensure free delivery of all card and letter mail posted to and from residents of Nursing and Care homes in the State until December 31st 2024.

 

By writing FREEPOST where the stamp would normally be affixed, An Post will carry consumer cards, letters and packages weighing up to 1KG without a postage stamp.

 

Consumers can send these items through the Post Office network and post boxes across Ireland.

National Strategy to Prevent Suicide

The HSE would like to share its national strategy to prevent suicide, with PPN member groups.  Connecting for Life, is a cross sectoral strategy, with 69 actions under seven strategic goals. 

Connectmas!

Connectmas shares tips and tools on how to protect our mental health at Christmas, invites people to fundraise for Mental Health Ireland in fun and festive ways, and encourages social connection with our Connectmas Café toolkit. 

Entries open for Volunteer in Sport Award

The 2024 Volunteers in Sport Awards, supported by the National Network of Local Sports Partnerships will be celebrated on Friday 28th February 2025.  There will be an in-person awards ceremony in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Blanchardstown in Dublin.

 

Volunteers are the lifeblood of our sporting clubs and communities, without them there would be no teams coached, matches played, pitches prepared, sandwiches made, trips organised, races run or courts kept in condition.  Each week over 450,000 people volunteer to help make sport happen. Their efforts are worth over €1.5bn to the economy.

 

The Federation of Irish Sport hosts the Volunteers in Sport Awards as a unique celebration to honour and recognise individuals who are part of the wider volunteering community involved in sport, who give freely of their time, skills and efforts in a variety of ways through the structure of sports clubs and/or community organisations in Ireland.

 

Complete the entry form to celebrate the volunteer you admire most.  There will be 32 county winners decided*, each winning a commemorative prize and an overall award for Outstanding Achievement.

 

Deadline: 17th December

Be Winter Ready 2024 - 2025

With the cold snap forecast this week it's time to make sure we're all prepared for winter. The Be Winter-Ready campaign is here to help us stay safe and informed about the challenges that winter can bring, with essential advice in these areas:

 

• Health Advice
• Schools and Early Learning and Childcare
• Road Safety and Travelling Abroad
• Weather Warnings and Flooding
• Businesses and Farm Safety
• The Home and Community

 

Be Prepared, Stay Safe and know where to find help should you need it.

Meitheal & Hidden Harm

Following on from the Meitheal & Hidden Harm presentation at the Leitrim PPN Plenary, if your community group would like a Meitheal or Hidden Harm briefing contact the Prevention, Partnership and Family Support Team on 071 96 57800. 

National Men's Health Action Plan

Recently,  the HSE together with their partners and the Department of Health launched the 2nd National Men’s Health Action Plan, Healthy Ireland – Men (2024 – 2028).

 

It includes actions to promote men’s health on a number of health topics with a focus on health inequalities. 

Town Centre First

The Town Centre First policy recognises that every town is unique.  It lays the foundation for each town to develop, at a local level, their own plan-led path forward.

National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards 2025

Age Friendly Ireland are already looking forward to the National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards 2025!

Remember, these awards are for everyone and applications will be open to organisations, agencies, and members of the public alike.

Applications will be open for the 2025 awards next Spring, stay tuned for more. 

Household Food Waste Diary

You are invited to participate in a Household Food Waste Diary.

If you choose to participate, you will be asked a series of questions about your daily food discard practices, what food items you throw away (🥑,🥪,🥦,🍏,🍮 etc.) why, and where they were discarded (general waste bin, brown bin, etc.) . 

Your participation will help understand household food waste across Ireland.

Christmas Swap Shop

On Tuesday 17th December there will be a Christmas Swap Shop at the Community Services Hub in Ballinamore. 

 

A great chance to find the perfect pre-loved Christmas gift.  With toys, trinkets, books and plants.  Bring an item to swap. 

 

The event is free and runs from 10am-12noon in the Den, N41R522.

The Slingshot Challenge from The National Geographic Society

This is a platform for students to propose innovative solutions to critical environmental challenges.

 

Students aged 13-18 are invited to submit a one-minute video addressing an environmental issue they are passionate about, with topics ranging from air quality improvement to ocean conservation to receive up to $10,000 in funding.

 

This challenge encourages participants to think creatively and contribute meaningful solutions to some of the most urgent global environmental concerns.

 

Deadline: 7th February