Westmeath Community Development Linda-Jo Quinn SICAP Community Development Co-ordinator Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme

The Aim of SICAP is to reduce Poverty and promote Social Inclusion and Equality Goal 1: Supporting Disadvantaged Communities

 We find out what communities need and try and help them to solve their problems  We work together with other agencies to help address social exclusion & equality issues Who do We work With?

Communities of Interest Travellers, Geographic areas, mainly Local Authority estates in People with Disabilities, rural and urban areas in Older People, Co Westmeath Unemployed, New Communities Action 1. Development Work in Rural Areas

 We are working in designated areas/estates in rural towns /villages Ballinacargy, , , , , , , Rochfordbridge, Tyrellspass New for 2020 Castletown Geoghan  Our aim is to support residents to come together, form a group, develop a plan, and help local areas identify important issues which need addressing. €1,500 Grant  We help Groups to work with the relevant agencies to get their issues addressed. Action 2 Empowering Local Communities

 When we work with groups, we find out what training needs they may have and we try to organise training/workshops to suit the needs of the group Examples of some training workshops organised  Committee skills, funding workshop, understanding equality, Mental Health, Communication skills , Garda Vetting, retaining volunteers, small engines training  We also help groups apply for funding Action 3 and RAPID Programme “Revitalising Areas through Planning Investment and Development “  We co-ordinate this programme on behalf of .  Provide all the admin support, including minutes, writing up work plans, progress reports, organising relevant network meetings.  Provide support to the groups as and when required  Help groups apply for funding Action 4 Enhancing Collaboration  Work with statutory, community voluntary agencies in the county to support our community groups to get their voice heard, ie WCC, HSE, Youth services etc  Attend relevant meetings as and when required  Support the work of the PPN and help reps learn what it is all about  Facilitate the Community Development Youth Working group /Disability Working Group  Traveller Advisory Group Action 5 Social Enterprise

 Provide support /advice to assist with the sustainability of existing social enterprises  We have a small grant scheme that can help groups in various ways  Feasibility study for a business idea/ Equipment  Collated the SE grant scheme for Westmeath,  5 groups got funded last year  Help the Community Services Project Network by consulting with them and helping get any issues addressed. People with Disabilities

Westmeath Disability Working Group Meets every 2 months Develops a Yearly Plan Disability Awareness Training Disability/Older Persons Services and Information Day/ 2019 45 services, 200 people Events organised by IPWD Represented on the PPN Travellers  Westmeath Traveller Project ➢Primary Health Care Project

➢Community Development

➢6 Travellers are employed

➢Aim of Project is to improve the health status of Travellers in the county. Success Stories In 2019

Assisted 70 Community Groups Levered €66,540 euros in grants for groups Helped communities highlight issues of concern and get them addressed Helped improve peoples quality of life Contacts:  Linda-Jo Quinn- Coordinator  Hubert Rooney- Development Officer  Anne Campbell- Development Officer  Sharon Timothy- Development Officer  Caroline Lawlor- Development Officer

 Admin support- Jolita, Eddie or Brendan

 044 93 48571 [email protected] Thank You for Your Attention