Longford Public Participation Network E-mail: [email protected]; Web: www.longfordcoco.ie fb :Longford Public Participation Network Siobhan Cronogue, Public Participation Network c/o Community & Enterprise, Longford County Council, Great Water St., Longford __________________________________________________________________________043 3343472 Longford Public Participation Network (PPN) E-bulletin November 2015 CONTENTS: 1. NEWS FROM LONGFORD PPN Page 1 2. WHAT’S ON IN YOUR MUNICIPAL DISTRICT? Page 2 3. LOCAL NEWS & SERVICES Page 16 4. THE GATHERING IRELAND Page 22 5. NATIONAL NEWS Page 23 6. EU NEWS Page 26 7. UPCOMING TRAINING/WORKSHOPS Page 28 8. FUNDING Page 32 1. NEWS FROM LONGFORD PPN Public Participation Network update: Linkage Groups for both Longford Citizens Information Service and Longford County Childcare Committee were held on November 3rd 2015. The PPN would like to congratulate Nancy Bermingham who was elected on to the Board of Longford CIS and Stephanie Igoe who was elected onto the Longford County Childcare Committee. Both Nancy and Stephanie will represent the views of their Linkage Groups in their new positions and will feedback to the Linkage Group and through the feedback form to the wider PPN. It is important to note that any registered PPN group can join any of the newly established Linkage Groups at any time. Only the elected rep attends the Board/ Committee meetings. Most Linkage Groups have opted to stay in contact by e-mail prior to meetings so as a Linkage Group member you will not be expected to travel or volunteer time from what is already for most people a busy week. We still want your voices to be heard on all issues that are important to you so please if you have an interest in any Sports, Heritage, Housing, Information provision etc join the relevant Linkage Group and have your say. Listed below are Linkage groups already established by the Longford PPN.(number in bracket refers to number of community reps elected): • Longford Sports Partnership (1) • County Longford Heritage Forum (1) • SPC’s: - Housing (3) - Economic Development & Enterprise (1) - Infrastructure & Environment (1) - Planning and Development and Cultural (2) • Longford Volunteer Centre(1) • Citizen Information Service (1) • Longford County Childcare Committee (1) Page 1 of 38 Longford Public Participation Network E-mail: [email protected]; Web: www.longfordcoco.ie fb :Longford Public Participation Network Siobhan Cronogue, Public Participation Network c/o Community & Enterprise, Longford County Council, Great Water St., Longford __________________________________________________________________________043 3343472 For further information on any of these Linkage Groups contact Siobhan on 087 261 5583 or email [email protected] Meetings held/ planned: Meetings held with PPN Secretariat and Longford County Council The PPN Development Officer attended the Age Friendly Alliance meeting on 20th October 2015. The Longford Age Friendly County Strategy was discussed and input was giving by all alliance members. It is hoped the Launch will be Thursday 26th November, time and venue to be confirmed. The PPN will play a important role in the role out of this strategy which we hope will significantly help to improve the quality of life of older people in Longford in the coming years. Two of the Secretariat Members and the PPN Development Officer attended the PPN Regional Meeting/ workshops in Carrick on Shannon, Sat 7th November 2015. One Secretariat member attended the last of these meetings/workshops in Kells, Sat 14th November 2015. The workshops were facilitated by Sara Bourke (Social Justice of Ireland) and Sean Healy (member of the original working group who recommended the establishment of the PPN to increase public participation and to be the link between the local authority and the community & voluntary, social inclusion and environmental sectors). 7 PPN’s participated with discussion around the structure, what was working/not working and the next steps in the PPN process. Workshops held on the day were 1) Getting groups involved and communicating and 2)Effective Representation: Linkage groups, Representatives, LCDC, SPCs General: The PPN Facebook page is Longford Public Participation Network. Please copy and paste the following URL below if you cannot get direct access from link above: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Longford-Public-Participation-Network/1583548325216241? If your group has any information they would like posted please contact us on Facebook where we will share your information or if you are not on Facebook e-mail [email protected] and we will post it on your behalf. Don’t forget to “Like” our page!! If there are any community group’s you know who are not yet registered with the Longford PPN they are invited to do so by downloading the form at www.longfordcoco.ie , e-mail [email protected] or contact Siobhán at 087 261 5583 2. WHAT’S ON IN YOUR MUNICIPAL DISTRICT? New for the month of November: Springlawn Men’s Group: The group has currently completed 4 weeks of a six week Healthy Eating course delivered by the HSE. The course runs every Thursday from 6pm -8pm. The course tutor Valerie has delivered practical information on how to build a healthy diet on a budget. She then devises a menu supplies the ingredients and supervises while the men cook up a storm. The Page 2 of 38 Longford Public Participation Network E-mail: [email protected]; Web: www.longfordcoco.ie fb :Longford Public Participation Network Siobhan Cronogue, Public Participation Network c/o Community & Enterprise, Longford County Council, Great Water St., Longford __________________________________________________________________________043 3343472 course continues for two more weeks Thursday 19th and 26thNovember 2015. There are some spaces available so if you are interested learning to cook a healthy meal have a nice meal at the same time contact Mary at 087 3749950 to book you place. When the course is over we will be running a 25 drive on 3 Thursday’s from 6pm to-8pm.. The 25 drive will have two tables of five, places are limited so it is important to book early to avoid disappointment. It will be run on Thursday 3rd 10th and 17thDecember 2015. Admission is free but it is important to book your place by contacting Mary at 087 3749950. There will be substantial first second and third for the overall highest scorers over the three nights. The Men’s Group would like to thank the management and staff of the Resource Centre at 26 Springlawn for their help and support throughout the year and wish all their families a very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. Springlawn Gardening Group: The group will meet with the ETB Horticultural Tutor on Monday morning 17th November. The tutor will deliver a taster session and outline the structure and timing of the Fetac/QQI horticultural course which she will deliver starting in early February 2016. Don’t be disappointed if you have not already booked your place on this very interesting course. There are still a few places left which will be filled on a first come first served basis. If you are interested contact Mary on 0873749950 or by email at [email protected] The Wednesday Activity Group meets every week in the Resource Centre at 26 Springlawn. The group have been meeting for the last five years. During each year a range of activities are planned and all materials are provided free of charge and light refreshments are also provided. We have a fun packed five weeks ahead ranging from Card making, Xmas art Xmas backing and our favourite Christmas flower arranging If you are interested in joining us drop in any morning and let us know or call us on 0873749950 or by email at [email protected] looking forward to hearing from you. The Sheehy Skeffingtons – Along line of trouble makers! Equality campaigns 1916 – 2016: Wednesday 18 November, 7pm at Longford Library Dr. Micheline Sheehy Skeffington, will speak about her grandmother, Hanna, a leading feminist and suffragette. Inspired by the British suffrage movement and ‘in a hurry for reform’, Hanna co-founded the Irish Women’s Franchise League (IWFL) as a militant suffrage organisation. She was among the first group of members to undertake militant action, receiving two months’ imprisonment for smashing windows in Dublin Castle. She supported the ideals of the Easter Rising, delivering food and messages to outposts. Before the Rising, James Connolly told Hanna she would be a member of a civil government which the leadership intended would come into existence if the insurgents managed to hold out. She described the Rising as “the first time in history that men fighting for freedom had voluntarily included women”. Another well know feminist activist from this period will make a surprise appearance on the night …! Micheline, following in her grandmother’s footsteps as a women’s rights campaigner, will also speak about the gender equality case she recently won against her former employer, NUI Galway. This event is the last of three organised by Longford Women’s Manifesto Group to remember and honour the roles played by women in 1916 Rising. The events are supported by Longford County Council. Everyone welcome!! Page 3 of 38 Longford Public Participation Network E-mail: [email protected]; Web: www.longfordcoco.ie fb :Longford Public Participation Network Siobhan Cronogue, Public Participation Network c/o Community & Enterprise, Longford County Council, Great Water St., Longford __________________________________________________________________________043 3343472 Longford Women’s Link fundraiser: Don't forget LWL are having a Fundraising Clothing collection tomorrow Wednesday 18th November: If you have any unwanted clothes you would like to donate, please drop them to Longford Women’s on Wednesday the 18th of November. We Accept: Men’s Clothing • Women’s Clothing • Children’s Clothing • Shoes • Handbags • Belts • Household textiles i.e. Curtains, Towels & soft toy. Unfortunately we cannot accept: Dirty or wet clothing, Mats/Carpets, Duvets/Pillows.