The Community Foundation for Ireland

This application call is open to Community & Voluntary groups within Ireland. The priority areas for the programme, which are currently under review are: Carers, Older people, People leaving institutions, Sexual minorities, Ethnic Minorities and Families at risk. The closing date for this call is 30th March 2007. Applications can be downloaded on line from www.communityfoundation.ie or by calling 01 8737354.

Community and Voluntary Grant Scheme

The Programme of grants for locally-based Community and Voluntary Organisations for the refurbishment of facilities has no closing date. Further details can be got at www.pobail.ie or by ringing 071 9186759 or from Voluntary Community Supports, Dept. of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Teeling St., Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo.

EIL Travel Awards 2007

Interculural learning is looking for curious young people who are passionate about what is happening in the world. They are currently looking for thirty young Irish people to travel to Japan, Ecuador, South Africa, Mexico, Hong Kong, Argentina, Nigeria and the USA on a trip of a life time during 2007. The opportunities will help young people involved to reach out to other cultures and people in different parts of the world and help make a difference. EIL Intercultural Learning is an Irish National Office of the worldwide organisation founded in the USA in 1932. Further information can be obtained on www.eilireland.org/2007awards.html, or by calling 1850 292939

Artist in the Community Scheme 2007

The Arts Council offers grant to enable artists and communities, work together on projects. The scheme covers all art forms. The Artist in the community scheme is managed by Create, the national development agency for collaborative arts. There are two phases;

• Phase one, Research and Development for which there is €1,000 available deadline 9th March 2007.
• Phase two, Project realisation, for which there is a maximum fund of €5,000 available deadline 29th June 2007.

For further information contact support@create-ireland.ie or call Katherine Atkinson, at 01 4736600.

This programme has been established by the Equality Authority and it will fund activities to mar the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All. It will support activities on specific ‘burning issues’ across each of the nine equality grounds (gender, age, sexual orientation, family status, marital status, religion, disability, ethnic origin, membership of the Traveller community). For further details contact www.equality.ie or contact Caroline at 01 4173351. Closing date is 27th February 2007.

Amenity Grant Scheme 2007

Kilkenny County Council has prepared a scheme to assist voluntary bodies in the provision of amenity facilities and is now accepting applications for the Amenity Grant Scheme 2007. Preference will be given to projects which are community based and which are considered to offer most benefit to the local community. Any voluntary based organisation is entitled to apply to the Council for inclusion in the list of application. For further information contact the Environment Dept. at 056 7794470. Closing date is Friday 30th of March 2007

Historic Graveyard Grant Scheme 2007

Kilkenny County Council and Kilkenny Borough Council have prepared a scheme to assist community groups/ organisations in the management and maintenance of historic graveyards and are now accepting applications. Those projects eligible for funding will include : graveyard maintenance, graveyard recording schemes, heritage studies of graveyards and management plans. In addition a training seminar on historic graveyard management will be organised by Kilkenny Local Authorities. Applicants will be required to attend the training seminar in order to qualify for grant assistance. Further information is available from the Environment Section, Kilkenny County Council at 056 7794477 or Historic Graveyards Grant Scheme, Kilkenny Borough Council 056 7794533. Closing date for applications is Friday 26th February 2007.

Community Funding Available Under the “Adopt a Bank” Scheme.
Kilkenny County Council wishes to invite applications from local community groups in relation to “Adopt A Bottle Bank” Scheme 2007. This scheme is aimed at encouraging community groups to manage/maintain the bring centres on behalf of the Council . Full details on the scheme is available for the Environmental Awareness Officer, Environment Section, Kilkenny County Council at 056 7794470.

Arts Act Grant 2007

Any organisation involved in activities, which promote, develop the knowledge, appreciation and practice of the arts is eligible for inclusion in the list of applicants to be considered for allocation from the available fund. The Arts include: Visual Arts, Music, Drama, Film (including video). Artistic Craftsmanship, Literature, Dance and Photography. There are three different categories of grants available:

• Groups and Organisations promoting Arts – Kilkenny County Council will consider applications from organisations involved in promotion of arts in Kilkenny.
• Equipment Purchasing Grant – Kilkenny County Council will consider applications from groups or organisations for grants for the purchase of equipment.
• Individual Artists – All Art Forms – Kilkenny County Council will consider applications from Professional Artists (all disciplines) living in Kilkenny for specific projects relevant to their art form. This years area will include Professional Development, attending seminars and master classes etc. relevant to your practice.
  Further information is available from The Arts Office, Kilkenny County Council, 056 7794138 or mary.butler@kilkennycoco.ie. Closing date for applications is Friday 2nd of March 2007.

Small Festival Scheme.

Funding is available for community groups who wish to run festivals between the 1st of July and 31st of December 2007. All small arts festivals/events wishing to apply for a grant of between €1,000 and €20,000. Closing date is 9th March 2007. For further details contact Regina O’Shea, Grants Assistant, Arts Council, 70 Merrion Square, Dublin 2 or www.artscouncil.ie/funding

Greener Homes Scheme Grant

The Greener Homes Scheme Grant from €300 to €6,500 is now available and provides assistance to homeowners who intend to purchase a new renewable energy heating system for either a new or existing home. For further details contact www.sei.ie Greener Homes Scheme, Sustainable Energy Ireland, Glasnevin, Dublin 9. Phone 1850 734 734 or email greenerhomes@sei.ie.

Community Support for Older People.

The Scheme for the Community Support of Older People aims to improve the security and social support of vulnerable older people in their homes by providing grants for:

• Window locks, door locks and door chains designed to strengthen points of entry to the dwellings.
• Security lighting.
• The once-off cost of installing socially monitored alarm systems.
• Smoke alarms.
• Emergency lighting for qualifying older people living on offshore islands.

• Voluntary or Community based organisations working with or providing support for older people can apply to participate in this Scheme.
• The organisation should be well established in their local area and must be able to demonstrate in their application a track record of voluntary and community activity.

For further information contact:

Voluntary and Community Supports Division, Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Teeling St., Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo. Phone No. (071) 9186759/ 9186762/ 9186763.

The heritage council currently has a call out for application which will closed on the 3rd of November; however they will be keeping their call for Buildings at Risk open till the 31st of March 2007. Applications and details can be down loaded from the internet at www.heritagecouncil.ie/grants/grants2007 or by contacting they at 056 7770777. The Heritage Councils offices are based at Rothe House, Parliament St., Kilkenny.

Training programmes. Computer Courses

BNS continues to provide computer courses in basic computer literacy, Information Technology Skills and Introduction to Internet. The Mobile IT unit will provide training in Community Centres, at times suitable to participants. Any community which has nine people interested in undergoing computer training should contact, Bernie Byrne at BNS Rural Development for further information, phone 056 7752111.

Introduction to Fundraising

This two day course will provide participants with a solid foundation for developing their fundraising approach. It will be held in the Carmichael Centre for Voluntary Groups, on the 6th and 7th of March. For further details contact Danielle at 01 8735282 or danielle@carmichaelcentre.ie

Facilitation Skills Training.

Michael Communications and Training will deliver Facilitation Skills Training from on the 13th and 14th of March in Dublin, covering skills where participants can:

Identify the core practices and skills required for effective facilitation.

Understand how to stimulate group participation and positively handle conflict.

Recognise the common symptoms, causes and cures of poor decisions and the pros and cons of the decision making process.
Develop their facilitation skills through live practice sessions. The cost for this training is €300 per person and bookings can be made by contacting Michelle Thomas at 086 2426733 or info@michcom.ie

Policy and Good Practice for Community and Voluntary Organisations.
A number of workshops will be held in March to provide the latest ‘good practice’ information to community and voluntary organisations based on its new resource guide for building strong and effective community and voluntary organisations. It will also provide updated information on Charity Regulation and Fundraising standards. Work shops will be held as follows:

1st March Carmelite Communtiy Centre, Dublin.
8th March Ambassador Hotel in Cork
15th March Galway Bay Hotel.
For further information contact Danielle at register@wheel.ie

Events happening

International Perspectives on Childcare The national Chidrens Nurseries Associations Annual Conference will be held on the 3rd of March in the IMI Conference Centre, Sandyford Co. Dublin. Speakers will present papers on: Experiences of school age childcare in Denmark, Childrens First Child Protection Introduction, Welfare, Safety and Health in the workplace, Vetting for staff working with children, Insurance queries answered, Social skills at an early age. Further information is available from NCNA on 01 4601138.
Interccultural and Anti Racism Week Intercultural and Anti Racism Week takes place this year form the 19-25 March 2007. The week is designed to coincide with March 21, the United Nations designated international day against racism. This year the theme of the week is ‘Improving Government Services to Minority Ethnic Groups’ focusing on: Health, Education, Employment, Housing and Policing. For further information contact 01 8588000 or www.nccri.ie

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