Social Inclusion Week 2019
14th - 20th October 2019 Submissions until 20th September
Galway City Council's annual Social Inclusion Week will take place from the 14th October to 20th October 2019. The theme for this year's Social Inclusion Week is 'Festival of Inclusion'.
Social Inclusion Week is a celebration of participation, equality and inclusion and this year Galway City Council are aiming to ensure that even more people join in and get involved in the events and activities.
Events were held last year across the city by many groups including older people, people with disabilities, lone parents, children, people from ethnic minority backgrounds etc. All of these events celebrated diversity and the excellent work being done.
The week will be used to highlight initiatives that are taking place locally and that highlight poverty and social exclusion issues both locally and nationally. Galway City Council will make a once-off contribution to the maximum of €200.00 for each event and will provide coordination, support and other resources as required.
Who can participate?
Any group or organisation with a social inclusion focus or remit can participate and host an event during social inclusion week, for example, libraries, the community and voluntary sector, schools, colleges and universities, sporting organisations, state agencies plus other relevant stakeholders. Everyone can take part.
How to get involved
Download the event application form below and return via email to housing@galwaycity.ie or via post to Social Inclusion Office, City Hall, College Road, Galway on or before 4pm Friday 20th September 2019.
Examples of events
You may already have events planned that you can hold during the week which Galway City Council would be delighted to help promote and advertise as part of our programme. A huge variety of activities can be held and examples of events previously held include Art Exhibitions, Coffee Mornings, Intercultural Storytelling, Short Films, Sporting Events, Activities in the Libraries, Intercultural Community Choir, Open Community Meeting with AMACH! LGBT Galway Ltd, Schools Events, Youth Work, Family Inclusion Day, COPE Galway Resettlement & Tenancy Support Services Towards Independence Project - A Community Garden, DREAM - a collaborative project in visual arts by people with disabilities & 'Lets get Together' a collaborative art project between the Brothers of Charity Art Group and a group of African Students.
The Department of Rural and Community Development commenced a review of Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) in October 2017. The review sought to assess strategic and operational development of LCDCs in the three years since they were established and to identify opportunities to strengthen and support them in the coming years.
The review highlighted a range of challenges for LCDCs and findings are presented under four themes:
Governance and Structure;
Strategic Effectiveness;
Participation and Engagement; and
Administrative Support and Development.
The report recommends the Department takes a stronger role at national level, leading on cross-Government coordination of local development and community development and securing greater national and local buy-in to the nascent structures. This is supported by recommendations grouped under the following three objectives:
effective communication of the LCDC role to relevant local and national stakeholders,
comprehensive training and support for LCDC Chief Officers, LCDC members and local authority support staff, and
streamlined supports for LCDCs to sustain effective programme delivery and impact monitoring.
The recommendations will be implemented in 2019 as a key action in the Government’s Five-Year Strategy toSupport the Community and Voluntary Sector in Ireland (see below).
To read the report please download the file at the link below.
Photo competition "Reclaiming your Rights" Deadline: 15 September
The European Disability Forum (EDF) are appealing to your creativity to share what access to justice (or lack thereof) looks like to people with disabilities in the EU.
Whether it be portraits of activists, survivors, images of rallies, speeches, etc., EDF are looking for engaging visuals that put forward the experience of people with disabilities throughout the justice system - in a single photograph.
How to get involved
The competition is open to EU/EEA residents and citizens of all ages. Only one entry per participant is accepted.
Submit your entry to Naomi Mabita at naomi.mabita@edf-feph.org before the deadline on 15th September. The entry must contain the following:
A high definition photo;
A caption for the photo;
The signed authorization form (which you will find in the Terms and Conditions document available at the links below)
Join Galway Community Circus (GCC) for a night of fun at the circus. All welcome.
When: Friday, 20th September, 5pm-9pm
Where: St. Joseph's Community Centre
GCC will have some tightwires up, low and high for people to try out for free with the guidance of the GCC tutors.
Circus skills, music and free food will be available on this occasion.
If the weather is dry, the event will be held in the field next to the community centre. If the weather is poor, it will be held inside in the comfort of St. Joseph's Community Centre.
GCCN Representatives Nominations and Elections Reminder
We would like to remind you that the Nominations for GCCN Representatives are open until Friday, 13th September.
The Elections will be held on Wednesday, 25th September during the Plenary Meeting.
See details at the link below.
Funding for Small-Scale Environmental Projects Open Until 27th September
If you have a project or initiative that could help to increase local levels of environmental awareness or that could help your community to become more sustainable you may qualify for financial assistance from Local Agenda 21 (LA21) Environmental Partnership Fund 2019. Applications must be made to Galway City Council no later than 5pm on Friday 27th September 2019. Check the link below for further details.
The review highlighted a range of challenges for LCDCs and findings are presented under four themes:
The entry must contain the following:
