Information on grants and programmes available to community groups

Free Business advice clinics in Slieveardagh Area: If you want to explore a business idea, set up a new business or expand an existing business, you can avail of County Enterprise Board’s free and confidential business advice and guidance service. The next business advice clinics are scheduled as follows:

Killenaule Family Resource Centre Thursday, 4 th Sept. (morning only)

Slieveardagh CITE, Ballingarry Thursday, 4 th Sept. (afternoon only)

For an appointment, please contact Mairead English-Maher on (052) 29466 or by emailing her at Mairead.emaher@southtippcoco.ie

Trail Kilkenny open first section of River Nore Valley Walk. The first section of the Nore Valley Walk has been opened by Trail Kilkenny. The section from Thomastown to Inistioge is fully signposted and a full brochure will be produced soon. The walk starts in Inistioge beside the river behind the square and in Thomastown from the GAA pitch. For more information please contact Eoin Hogan of Trail Kilkenny at 056 7752111 or by e-mail on eoin@bnsrd.com

Community, Sports & Arts Facility Audit. An audit is currently taking place on all Community, Sports & Arts Facilities in Kilkenny. The main purpose of the audit is to:

• Establish current level of provision, and
• Inform future investment in facilities based on the outcome of the audit and having regard for identified local needs.

Ms. Gemma Dowling has been employed to carry out the audit in Kilkenny and will be in contact with members of each community over the summer months. Your cooperation and assistance in facilitating her would be very much appreciated. In the meantime if anyone has any queries in relation to the same please contact Mairéad in our office on (056) 7752111 or email mairead @bnsrd.com.

Are you interested in Community Gardens??

Community Gardens provide wholesome, low-cost fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs & can be a springboard for community residents to learn about good nutrition health, organic growing methods etc. If you require more details or feel your community might be interested in developing one of these gardens in your area please contact Mairead or Gabrielle at our BNS office. Ph (056) 7752111

Autumn Business Courses run by Kilkenny County Enterprise Board

If you are thinking of starting a business or if you are in business and would like access to practical training that covers all aspects of business planning then search no more!

Kilkenny County Enterprise Board has a full range of courses available, starting this autumn; including Start Your Own Business Courses, Sage Accounting, Time Management, Costing your Product, Writing a Business Plan and many more. All courses are price subsidised, delivered in an easy to follow, practical manner and are run in convenient city centre venues at business friendly times. We also run a range of seminars and information events free of charge – all welcome. Join our e newsletter to keep in touch. For further information on our courses and the services we offer go to www.kceb.ie or please email – info@kceb.ie or call 056 77 52662.

Kilkenny County Enterprise Board Technology Initiative – Tech Check . Is your business using technology in the best way possible? Do you think you could be using technology more effectively to grow your business? If so, Tech Check is for you.

Tech-Check is a new programme where small businesses can access independent expert advice on the most effective use of their existing technology as well as practical suggestions for appropriate development of technology use in their businesses.

A Tech Check Advisor is assigned to participants businesses and will examine existing technology to identify opportunities for improving their business.  This is used to develop a brief action plan based on the best of these opportunities. For most businesses, the process can be completed within a day.  This can be split into two half-day sessions. The standard fee is €150.

Contact Des Doyle or Fiona Deegan at Kilkenny County Enterprise Board (056) 7752662 or email des@kceb.ie or fiona@kceb.ie

Dormant Accounts Fund 2008: Call for applications for suicide prevention initiatives. Funding applications submitted under this Measure should be directly relevant to ‘Reach Out National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention 2005-2014. For further information contact Pobal at 01 2400700 or www.pobal.ie. The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 26 th of September 2008.

Eu Prize for Cultural Heritage Awards 2008: There are four main categories: Architectural heritage, Cultural landscapes, works of art and collections of artistic and historic significance, archaeological sites and Industrial and Engineering heritage. Deadline for Entries: 1 October 2008 For further information go to www.europanostra.org

The National Youth Council of Ireland offers the Artist in Youth Work Residency in order to extend and enhance opportunities for young people in experiencing and participating in the arts. Funding of up to 15,000 euro will be awarded to successful residency applications. For further information contact Emmet Sheerin, Youth Arts Project Officer at 01 4784122 or email him at emmet@nyci.ie Closing date for the receipt of applications if Friday the 3 rd of October 2008.

The National Youth Council of Ireland offers the Youth Arts Development Award The aim of this award is to encourage the formation of partnerships between relevant agencies and organisations at a local level, to work towards integrated development of long term youth arts programmes in specific geographical areas. Funding of between 5,000 and 20,000 euro will be awarded to successful applications. For further information contact Emmet Sheerin, Youth Arts Project Officer at 01 4784122 or email him at emmet@nyci.ie Closing date for the receipt of applications if Friday the 3 rd of October 2008.

Awards for services to children and young people. The Children’s Act Advisory Board developed this award in 2007 to recognise the invaluable work and contribution made by service providers to children and young people nationally. These awards aim to promote and bring together organisations working in partnership with children and young people, acknowledge their individual and collaborative efforts and to further support effective practice in service delivery. The closing date for entries is the 31 st ofOctober2008 and the awards ceremony will take place in Croke Park on the 19 th of February 2009. For further information visit the following website www.caab.ie

The National Adult Learning Organisation is inviting nominations for the STAR AWARD . It acknowledges the fantastic work being done by adult learning projects throughout the country. Fourteen awards will be granted to adult based learning projects. The closing date for receipt ofapplications is the 14 th of November 2008. Further information is available from www.aontas.com or www.adultlearnersfestival.com.

Supports for Community and Voluntary Groups 2008: Pobal will administer two programmes on behalf of the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs:

Programme 1 : Scheme of Refurbishment grants for community facilities, and Scheme of Equipment Grants. Programme 2: Scheme of Training Grants. Further information on both of these can be got by contacting Joanne at 01 5239049, Helena at 01 2400787 or logging onto the website www.pobal.ie/live/smallgrants. Alternatively a series of information sessions the autumn/winter onthese, contact the above.

Clan Credo – Social Investment Fund – is used by projects to develop social enterprises or address a social need. It has been used for such things including eldercare, environmental projects, community enterprise, accessible transport, services for the unemployed, social housing and childcare. Further information can be obtained by contacting Jennifer Hennessy at 01 4002100 emailing info@clanncredo.ie or www.clanncredo.ie

Ray Murphy fund for leadership education and training. This programme has been set up to assist and encourage managers within the community and voluntary sectors to access leadership education training. It is being administered by the Community Foundation. Five grants will be awarded annually and will be for a maximum of €4,000 each. Further information can be gained by contacting their office at 01 8747354 or on their website www.communityfoundation.ie/grants/

St. Stephens Green Trust Grant Scheme 2008 . This scheme has four focus area:

• Specific areas of disability.
• Development and integration (older people in isolation, new communities,
• Breaking the link (homelessness, offenders)
• Christian values and social change.

For further information on the scheme contact Orla O’Neill at info@ssgt.ie or 045 480666, www.ssgt.ie

Closing date for applications is 5 th of September 2008 .

The Community Foundation for Irelands Small Grants Scheme 2008 The Community Foundation for Ireland works to complement the work of charitable organisations in Ireland. It has set the following as deadlines for applications in 2008 29 th August and 31 st of October. Areas which will be eligible include: support for carers, reducing social isolation of older people, supports for people leaving institutional care, supports for sexual minorities, assisting the building of networks and structures for ethnic minorities, and supports for initiatives involving parents and their children risk of poverty and exclusion. Further information is available from Helen Beatty, 01 8747354 or at hbeatty@foundation.ie

Publications Grants from Citizen Information Board. The Publications Grants Scheme supports voluntary organisations with an information dissemination role to meet specific publication needs. Small grants are available ranging from €254 to €3000. Publications are generally part funded. Further information is available from Administrator for Information Publications and Social Policy Service, Citizens Information Board, 7 th Floor Hume House, Ballsbridge Dublin 4 or 01 6059000.

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.

Renewable Heat Deployment Programme (ReHEAT) Under this programme grants are available for the use of qualifying renewable heat systems such as boilers fuelled by wood chips and or wood pellets, solar thermal systems and heat pumps. This programme will provide assistance towards heating systems in industrial, commercial, public and community premises in Ireland. The programme is administered through Sustainable Energy Ireland, who can be contacted at www.sei.ie Sustainable Energy Ireland, Glasnevin, Dublin 9. Phone 1850 734 734.

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. 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 .

Information

Comhlamh Development Forum will be held on Saturday 6 th of September 2008 in the Ormonde Hotel Kilkenny. For further details check out the website www.comhlamh.org.

Challenge of Change Conference takes place on the 18 th of September in Dundalk. This conference will examine the challenges for the public, community and voluntary sectors arising from extensive inward migration to Ireland, north and south, and the progress that has been made to date. For further information contact Taucher at 042 9324225 or email taucher.macdonald@loughcoco.ie

National Positive Ageing Week takes place form 26 th of September to 4 th of October 2008. For further information contact poreilly@ageaction.ie or www.ageaction.ie or 056 7771976 and talk to Philip directly.

National Community Enterprise Conference will take place in the Mullingar Park Hotel, Mullingar on the11 th of September. The theme is: supporting the community to develop and grow local employment. For further information contact Enterprise Ireland.

Employer Based Training Programme is seeking host companies : The National Learning Network is currently seeking host companies who are interested in taking trainees who can be trained into specific vacancies. This service is free to the employer as the trainee is paid a training allowance through the programme. For further information contact Kevin Harvey, National Learning Network, 087 9195215 or email kevin.harvey@nin.ie.

Give it a Swirl Day 2008: National Day of Volunteering 26 th of September 2008. The aim of the day is to promote and raise awareness of volunteering in Ireland, create new avenues for people of all ages and form all walks of life to volunteer in their community, provide a day of national volunteering which takes place at a local level. To register your interest in Give it a Swirl Day or for more ideas about projects please contact Eva from Volunteer Centres Ireland or email her at eva@volunteer.ie or call 01 7994519.

Childrens Act Advisory Board National Conference, ‘More than Rhetoric: Improving Outcomes for Children and their Families through Inter-agency working. ’ It will take place in the Grand Hotel, Malahide, Co. Dublin on the 15 th and 16 th of October 2008. For further information contact Marion at 01 6724116 or log onto www.caab.ie.

Meals on wheels for Older People in Ireland: Food for Thought: 6 th of November in the Sheraton Hotel, Athlone. The aim of the seminar is to present and consider findings on the role and benefit of the Meals-on-Wheels for Older people in Ireland. To provide a forum for exchange of views, experiences and innovative practices relating to operational, staffing and nutritional aspects of Meals on Wheels. For further information contacts the National Council on Ageing and Older People, 11 th Floor, Hawkins House, Hawkins Street, Dublin 2. at 01 6743299, email Samantha.kenny@ncaop.ie or www.ncaop.ie

Community Development and Intercultural Society . A range of organisations will host an inspiring conference in Dublin to examine the role and contribution of community development in the creation of an intercultural society. It will take place on the 6 th and 7 th of November 2008. To express your interest in attending contact intercultural@combatpoverty.ie

National Youth Council of Ireland will hold a conference on ‘Shaping Interculturalism in Youth Work’ This will take place in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Northwood, Santry Co. Dublin on 28 th of November 2008. The conference is aimed at heads of organisations, policy makers, decision makers, youth workers, volunteers and anyone interested in interculturalism in youth work. It will showcase successful youth projects and promote debate on the barriers and challenges facing the youth sector as it embraces interculturalism. For further information contact Lisa Hyland at 01 4784122 or email lisa@nyci.ie

Citizens Information Board Group Insurance Scheme for Voluntary Service Organisations: Any voluntary organisation or community group involved in providing a social service can avail of this scheme. Organisations need to complete an Affiliation Form and Proposal Form that meet the criteria of membership of Citizens Information Board Group Insurance Scheme. For further information contact Delores at 01 462 0444 or www.citizensinformationboard.ie/providers/providers_voluntary_insurance.html

Teenspace is a new nation website which will provide information on events, activities and recreation services aimed at children and young people from ages 10 to 18. Check out www.teenspace.ie

Training programmes.

Europe for Citizens Training Day will take place on the 25 th of September in the Tullamore Courte Hotel. The programme includes a general overview, informationo on the priorities for 2009, key factors for successful applications, common mistakes made by Irish applicants and training in submitting on line applications for funding and town twinning in particular. For further information contact 01 2403666 email training@ipa.ie or log onto europeforcitizens@ipa.ie

Financial Management and Project Funding Course, run by Dtalk will take place in Cork from the 23 rd to the 26 th September 2008. It aims to provide participants with the basic knowledge, skills and confidence to analyse interpret and use financial information. This will enable participants to have a constructive input in their own organisation and that of their partner organisation. For further details contact: Niamh or Selam at 01 4064307 or email dtalk@kimmagedsc.ie or long onto www.dtalk.ie/applyingforcourses/applyonline/

Empower Training is offering the following course:

Diploma in Life and Personal Coaching commences in Kilkenny on the 6 th of September 2008.

Supervisory Management Kilkenny December 3 rd, 10 th 17 th and Jan. 14 th and 21 st.

People Management Kilkenny December 1 st, 2 nd, 8 th, 9 th and 15 th.

Professional Cert. in Sales Excellence Kilkenny December 3 rd, 10 th 17 th and Jan. 14 th and 21 st.

Train the Trainer Kilkenny September 2 nd, 9 th, 16 th, 23 rd, 30 th and October 7 th.

Professional Cert in Faciliation Skills Kilkenny October lst, 8 th, 15 th, 22 nd and 29 th.

NPL practitioners programme Kilkenny September 16 th, 17 th, 23 rd, 24 th, 30 th and 31 st.

Cert in Healthcare Support commences in Kilkenny on the 7 th of October.

For further information on any of these programmes contact Therese Kearney at 056 7756736 or email info@empowertraining.ie

NUI Certificate in Performance and NUI Certificate in Directing (Kilkenny). National University of Ireland Maynooth, Kilkenny Campus will be offering the above programmes on part-time bases to older students. For further information on either of these contact Lisa Condon at 056 7775910 or email Lisa.Condon@nuim.ie or check out the website www.kilkenny.nuim.ie

NUI Maynooth Certificate in Creative Writing for Publication (Kilkenny ) This part-time course will commence in September. For further information contact 056 7775910 email Kilkenny.campus@nuim.ie or log onto www.kilkenny.nuim.ie

MA in Partnership Studies, is being offered by University of Limerick, further information on this programme can be obtained at www.ul.ie or by contacting 061 202633.

URRUS Irelands Community Addiction Studies Training Centre , a Ballymun Youth Action Project Initiative is offering the following programmes:

• Community Addiction Studies Course: Autumn 2008 and Spring 2009 (20 sessions)

For further information contact Horizons Centre, Balcurris Rd., Ballymun, Dublin 11 01 8467980 or email urrus@iol.ie

Master of Arts in Management: Community and Voluntary Services will be offered at All Hallows College and accredited by DCU. This is a taught Programme which is offered at Masters Level. The course can be completed in one year full-time or two years part-time study. For further information contact 01 8520756 or email postgrad@allhallows.ie

Carmichael Centre for Voluntary Groups – National Governance Project. Offer customised board training. The Carmichael Centre has been delivering training courses to the boards or management committees of community and voluntary organisations since 2000. They will tailor a training course or workshop for your and deliver it to you at the time and place that suits you. For further information contact Danielle at 01 8735285 or email Danielle@carmichaelcentre.ie

Training courses in Carrig Dulra organic farm and training centre, Glenealy, Co. Wicklow.

• The Art of seeing: Tracking/Permaculture the weekend of the 2-4 th August.
• Permaculture Design: Date to be confirmed.

For further information check out the website at www.dulra.org or email info@dulra.org

Certificate in Health and Community Services: The aim of the programme is to introduce students to the social and psychological factors that impact on Children and Families to enhance the personal and professional skills required to pursue a career in childcare and family work. The course will take place in All Hallows College Dublin 9 for further information call 01 7979553 or email carol.hamilton@docharity.net

More Power to you-th: Training course BT the National Youth Development Education Programme . For further information on this training please contact Alan Hayes at 01 4255932 or alan.hayes@nyci.ie

Suggested websites:

www.bnsrd.com BNS’s website is updated regularly, and includes contact details and information on the organisations activities throughout the area.

www.kceb.ie/ts.shtml Kilkenny County Enterprise Board provides training for business and enterprises. They are currently enrolling for their autumn classes.

www.kilkennyvec.ie/content/read/title/introduction-to-adult-education The VEC offers a variety of adult education and training programmes for individuals and community groups throughout Kilkenny. Many courses are currently enrolling.

www.kkccc.ie Kilkenny County Childcare Committee offers training programmes for childcare providers, childminders and individuals, interested in childcare training programmes.

www.kilkenny.ie

www.wheel.ie

www.activelink.ie

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