Newsletter now goes out monthly! Stay up-to-date on funding, events and other opportunities
#4 3 March 2023
Hello and welcome to this edition of the GCCN Newsletter.
Here's a quick update for all GCCN members!
The GCCN Newsletter is now issued once a month, at the beginning of each month. If you have any upcoming events you'd like to share with the community, make sure to submit them tocommunications@gccn.ieby the last day of the month prior to when you'd like the news to be featured.
We can't wait to see what you've got planned!
Below, find information on:
GCCN News
GCCN meets Min O'Brien at PPN Awareness Campaign Launch - read here
Stay up-to-date on funding, events and other opportunities by checking out our monthly newsletter. Apart form checking your inbox regularly, we also recommend visiting our website so you don't miss any important updates.
Did you know? There are a number of vacancies on the GCCN Secretariat.
All interested members are invited to get in touch with Oana at communications@gccn.ie for details.
Also! Do you want to share events and information with our next GCCN Newsletter?
Get in touch at communications@gccn.ie
GCCN meets (again) with Minister Joe O'Brien PPN Awareness Campaign Launch - 22 February 2023
GCCN staff and member were delighted to attend the PPN Awareness Campaign Launch in Dublin last month, and meet again with Minister Joe O’Brien and staff of the Department of Rural and Community Development.
The campaign aims to encourage community groups to join their local Public Participation Networks (PPN) and works alongside the 18,000 groups across Ireland that are already helping to ‘Build a better future’ through their involvement with the PPNs. Read more here.
Galway City Mayor’s Awards Nominations until 24th of March
Galway City Mayor’s Awards Nominations for the Mayor’s Awards for 2022 are now OPEN in recognition of another exceptional year of volunteering. These awards mark outstanding contributions made by individuals, community and voluntary groups across Galway City.
Nominations are invited for individuals or groups who are involved in voluntary activity taking place in the city over nine categories [Read more here ]
If you would like to nominate an individual or group, you can complete an online nomination form at www.galwaycity.ie/MayorsAwardsNomination. Nomination forms are also available from City Hall and the City Libraries.
The closing date for online nominations is 4pm on Friday, 24th of March 2023.
Each of the award winners will receive a commemorative gift and a payment of €500. All nominees will be presented with an individually designed Mayoral Certificate at the Awards Ceremony which will be held on Wednesday 24th May 2023 in the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway.
Fundraising Concert for Claddagh Watch Patrol Sunday, 5th March
Lally Tours present The Lancaster Bible College Chorale with support from The IGNITE Gospel Choir At St. Nicholas’ Collegiate Church
This Sunday (5th March) promises a unique experience of powerful song and enlightenment at St. Nicholas’ Collegiate Church. The Lancaster Bible College Chorale, led by Dr. Robert Bigley, will be supported by the local group IGNITE Gospel Choir, lead by Keara Rose.
The Lancaster Bible College Chorale, hailing from Pennsylvania, are touring Ireland for 11 days while supporting and hosting various community events throughout the country. The event is free to attend with donations accepted at the door for Claddagh Watch Patrol. Donations of €10 are suggested.
Details:
Event: Lancaster Bible College Chorale With Support from IGNITE Gospel Choir.
Location: St. Nicholas’s Collegiate Church, Lombard St, Galway.
Support for migrant victims of gender-based violence
Conference: March 13, Galway
The Immigrant Council of Ireland is inviting experts in the areas of migration and gender-based violence, representatives of local authorities, local councillors, civil servants and community members to join a conference on the topic of access to services for migrant victims of gender-based violence.
The event will be held on Monday, 13th March 2023 and at the Harbour Hotel in Galway from 11 am - 4 pm, with registration from 10.30 am.
Register here for the event.
This event is to mark the culmination of a two-year capacity building and service provision project to support migrant women in situations of gender-based violence in the west of Ireland.
At the event, the Immigrant Council will also be launching a toolkit for service providers working with migrant victims of gender-based violence. The toolkit is a practical resource which aims to give service providers a basic understanding of the residence permission options available to migrant victims of gender-based violence.
EU Funding National Conference 19th April - Athlone
The Irish Regions European Office (IREO), in conjunction with the three Regional Assemblies of Ireland and the Irish Delegation to the EU Committee of the Regions invites you to “Connecting, Communicating and Collaborating - Irish Regions Cooperating across the EU: How local authorities can engage in European Programmes” on Wednesday 19th April in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Athlone from 9.15 am to 4 pm.
The one-day national conference aims to communicate the opportunities for local government to participate in EU funding, particularly in the European Territorial Cooperation programmes, the Horizon Europe Missions and the LIFE programme.
The conference will inform and guide potential participants through the application process for the Northern Periphery and Artic Programme, the North West Europe Programme, the Atlantic Area programme, the URBACT and the INTERREG Europe programmes. It will also highlight the new Horizon Europe Missions on research and innovation and the LIFE programme for protecting the environment and combatting climate change.
The event will also showcase how local authorities and regional assemblies in Ireland have been participating in European Territorial Cooperation programmes to the benefit of local citizens and communities across Ireland during the last funding period and launch the interactive map developed by the IREO and the Regional Assemblies.
Artist Residency Award: Create and National Women’s Council Deadline: 15th March 2023
Create and The National Women’s Council (NWC) announced an important opportunity for a collaborative socially engaged artist(s) to engage with the membership of the NWC during 2023 via an Artist Residency Award.
The Residency is intended to run from April 2023 for 9 months and has a fixed artist’s fee of €15,000 (inclusive of insurance and VAT). There is an additional budget of approximately €5,000 to cover expenses, travel, materials and production. The closing date for receipt of Expressions of Interest is 5pm, 15th March 2023.
Community Recognition Fund : Funding proposals until 15 March 2023
The Community Recognition Fund 2023 aims to support the development of community infrastructure and facilities in recognition of the contribution being made by communities across the country in welcoming and hosting significant numbers of arrivals from Ukraine and other countries. Galway City have been awarded €1,911,918 which can include funding for sports clubs, community organisations, transport infrastructure and local groups. Projects to be funded will be capital in nature, deliver tangible benefits for the communities in which they are located, and be capable of being delivered over the course of 2023 and 2024. Eligible projects will receive funding for capital costs, but not for any ongoing operational or running costs. Funding proposals can be submitted to the Department as soon as they are ready but no later than 15th March 2023. To expedite the process the Department will assess and approve the funding on a rolling basis as proposals are received.
Artist in the Community (AIC) Scheme: Round One Deadline: 27 March
The Arts Council’s Artist in the Community (AIC) Scheme, managed by Create, offers awards to enable artists and communities of place and/or interest to work together on projects. The aim of the AIC scheme is to encourage meaningful collaboration between communities of place and/or interest and artists.
The 2023 Deadlines for the AIC Scheme are 5pm Monday 27th March (Round One) and Mon 25 September (Round Two). Applications are now OPEN for Round One.
This includes the following awards:
Research and Development Award (without mentoring)
Research and Development Award (with Mentoring)
Recent Graduate Research and Development Award (with Mentoring)
Initiatives to support the Health & Wellbeing of Ukrainian Refugees
A number of initiatives to support the health and wellbeing of Ukrainian refugees are currently offered by the Community Response Forum who enables Galway City Council and partners to assist Ukrainian refugees to integrate into their communities and build healthy lives here in Ireland.
There is a broad range of projects being rolled out to assist Ukrainian refugees to adapt to their new surroundings while focusing on supporting their general health and wellbeing. A number of programmes will be accessible for both Ukrainians and local residents. A series of activities are planned for children, adults and families. Several projects also offer therapeutic interventions to provide support in coping with the trauma of war and displacement. Read more here.
Galway City Council is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from Ukrainian persons living in Galway City who have been displaced due to the Ukrainian Refugee Crisis.
SDG Advocate Training 2023 Register before March 14th 2023
Do you want to join Ireland's network of Active Citizens and create long-lasting change within your organisation, institute or community by contributing to achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals?
Registration for this year’s National Spring Clean is now open! An Taisce’s National Spring Clean is Ireland's nationwide anti-litter campaign which takes place during the whole month of April. To register please click here.
The responses collected from this survey will be used to inform planning by both AMACH! LGBTI+ Galway and our Local Community Development Committee in Galway City Council.
March 1st was National Stop Food Waste Day. The focus of this campaign is to encourage people to ‘Know Your Food Waste’ to make people aware that:
By knowing what food you waste the most, you can make savings on your food bill.re
Bread, fruit and vegetables are the food wasted most often in Ireland.
There are easy steps we can all take to stop food waste.
The challenge invites people to record their food waste over a week and identify what types of food they waste most. Taking the challenge will allow people to actively think about their food waste with a view to taking positive actions to reduce it. Taking the challenge is also a starting point for people concerned about the rising cost of living and looking to make savings on their food bills.
The simple steps to record the food that goes into your food bin, you could:
• Keep a pen and pad by the food waste bin to take note each time you use it.
• Keep track of what you waste on your phone using the notes app.
• Use our Weekly Food Waste Recording Sheet to note what food goes in your food waste bin.
There is also a campaign blog that you can link to here.
The campaign hashtags are #KnowYourFoodWaste #StopFoodWasteDay
Information on some current health and wellbeing-related programmes and resources for February 2023 is available for download HERE.
This includes information on:
Living Well – upcoming programmes
New HSE Talking Health & Wellbeing Podcast Series
Quit Smoking West – 1:1 support and free stop smoking medication
The GCCN website now displays Information for Ukrainians Arriving in Galway both in English and Ukrainian.
Check-out the link below to read more about arriving in Ireland and to Galway, the services available, including accomodation, social welfare and education and other general info.
is an all-island digital toolkit for communities, campaigners, and researchers.
It aims to connect communities, researchers, and organisations across the island of Ireland as a step towards greater connectivity, collaboration, and shared solutions to environmental justice issues.
The toolkit offers info on resources, a map of environment groups and a directory of experts in different fields.
Galway LGBTI+ Interagency
Public Recognition Marker & Resource Pack Available on request. Show your support!
The LGBTI+ Interagency Public Recognition Marker is available for shops, businesses, community groups and more, in the city and county to display in their windows, showing that the LGBTQI+ community are welcome there.
If you would like to order a PRM sticker, get in contact with info@amachlgbt.com.
The LGBTQI+ Interagency also developed a resource pack for supporting the LGBTIQ+ community.
Find the Interagency Resource pack in PDF format - here ore request one by post by emailing equality@gccn.ie.
Free counselling supports (6 sessions) are available from My Mind with a particular focus on Ukrainian refugees.
The sessions are provided in Ukrainian.
Details at: https://mymind.org/free-counselling
The counselling service is funded by the Department of Health.
A Ukrainian Community Response Forum has been established in Galway City to enable the various organisations and agencies at local level, to work together in the delivery of services for Ukrainian refugees relocating to Galway City. The role of the Forum is to coordinate the community-led response in the provision of local assistance and support to Ukrainian refugees as they are accommodated in Galway City. Supplementing the supports and services being provided by government agencies at a local level, the purpose will be to ensure effective communication and information sharing in the coordination of local community and voluntary actions in providing community supports to the new Ukrainian communities.
It is intended that the information contained on this page will be a useful resource for Ukrainian people, agencies and members of the public who are seeking information on services and help available in Galway City. As we get more relevant, useful information we will continue to update this page.
The Galway City Community Call Helpline New Flyer GraphicsThe helpline is open to anyone who needs it, seven days a week.
If you need support or help to get access to shopping, food, medication or if you feel isolated or lonely and need someone to talk to, please get in touch at:
1800 400 150 covidsupport@galwaycity.ie
Please find below the new graphics for the Community Call for Galway City, for your information and onwards circulation and promotion:
The Keep Well campaign provides guidelines, information, and tips on how we can add healthy and helpful habits to our daily and weekly routines around five simple actions: keeping active, keeping in contact, switching off and getting creative, eating well and minding your mood
As part of the ongoing work of the Galway City Community Response Forum, Galway City Community Network and Galway City Council have developed a map of the COVID-19 related responses, activities and services available to people in Galway City.
The map is publicly available and can be used as a useful information resource both for individuals made vulnerable by COVID-19 and by organisations or agencies that need to know where they may refer their clients to for support.
