CLDC under it’s Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) have a Training Support to Employment (TSE) fund that may help people who are unemployed to complete a training course that will lead to employment.
Applicants must;
- be a minimum of 9 months unemployed
- have Leaving Certificate, QQI Level 5 or less
- be experiencing disadvantage
Training Support to Employment (TSE) Fund Criteria
- All applications are subject to eligibility and funding constraints.
- Training courses must lead directly to employment/self-employment.
- The focus is on short-term courses, maximum length is 12 months.
- Only courses up to and including QQI level 5 will be considered under this fund.
- Industry related training can be considered.
- Applications can only be made towards the cost of course and exam fees, no other costs are eligible.
- Only one successful application is allowed per year.
- If in receipt of a Social Welfare payment, evidence is required if unsuccessful in accessing funding from DEASP
- The maximum amount of funding anyone can apply for is €500.
- If the course cost exceeds €500, they will have to show that they are able to pay the additional costs.
- If the course cost is under €500, if successful with the application, SICAP will aim to cover up to 90% of course costs with the remaining 10% covered by the person, subject to availability of funding.
For Further Information Contact: Helen Derham 087 9328168, hderham@cldc.ie
Clare Local Development Company (CLDC) is delighted to announce that a collaborative application to the Department of Rural and Community Development’s Pilot Project Community Development Fund has been successful. This application was made on behalf of four organisations in Clare which include CLDC, Clare Women’s Network, Clare Public Participation Network and the HSE’s Mid-West Traveller Health Unit and endorsed by many other community and voluntary organisations around the county.
More than 120 projects around the country applied for this funding and the Clare collaborative group are delighted to have been one of only 7 successful applications to the one million euro fund. Doirin Graham, CEO of Clare Local Development Company welcomed the news saying that this much needed funding would secure a Traveller specific initiative. ‘We want to ensure that Travellers are involved at every level of this project and are front and centre in the decision making roles. With our organisations’ support we can lend the institutional and governance guidance to help to get the project up and running and to support it until it is on a solid footing’.
The application itself highlighted the urgent need for a Traveller specific organisation in Clare and where effective methods of participation by the Traveller community in the decisions that affect their lives have not been established. One of the issues for the Traveller community in Clare is accessing funding available for training, mentorships, social enterprises, educational and political advocacy. Without a dedicated organisation there is no entity working with the community to support them to identify these needs and to apply for funding to respond to them.
It is this gap in targeted support that prompted the four collaborating organisations to apply for this fund. It is their explicit aim that over the proposed three years of the scheme the Traveller Community Development Organisation will become fully independent and Traveller –led and develop a strong grassroots voice to address social exclusion, poverty, and to advocate for Traveller’s Human Rights.
On hearing the news, Sarah Clancy of Clare PPN, noted that in recent years “Ireland has seen members of the Traveller community making huge strides in fields of education, literature, sports, music, politics, law and the art and she hopes that this fund will be a stepping stone towards equality for the Traveller community and that it will be able to build on previous work done by Ennis Community Development Project, the Traveller community themselves and other such organisations in Clare”.
It is hoped that the final details of the project will be finalised over the coming weeks and CLDC and their collaborating partners welcome people who would like more information to contact Darina Greene on 0879086561 or dgreene@cldc.ie.
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Clare Local Development Company through its SICAP program aims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality in Clare through supporting communities and individuals using community development approaches, engagement and collaboration.
Clare PPN is a network of community, voluntary, environmental and social inclusion groups from Clare. Its primary purpose is to facilitate the formal participation by the community sector in Clare County Council’s policy formation structures.
Clare Women’s Network supports and encourages the coming together of women’s groups and individual women in Clare. Its work is guided by women’s equality, inclusion, community development and feminist principles.
The Traveller Health Unit (THU) is underpinned by the social determinants of health that are at the root of Traveller health inequalities. This approach enables a holistic approach to health and wellbeing.
In an effort to demonstrate the work of SCIAP 2 we have produced a number of case studies. Read our 2020 Working Life in Ireland case study here
Read our latest newsletter here
Survey shows urgent need for supports for Clare’s LGBTQ+ community
80% of respondents to an online survey aimed at members of the LGBTQ+ community in Clare said they would like to have more connection with other LGBTQ+ people. Over half of all respondents did not feel sufficiently connected and supported in their community.
The survey, which was conducted during March as part of a short-term project called LGBTQ+ Clare, highlights an urgent need for supports and services for the LGBTQ+ community in the county.
More than 70% of respondents had faced discrimination based on their gender identity or sexual orientation. Many respondents felt there was a lack of LGBTQ+ focused mental health supports in the county and that they would benefit from improved mental health services. More than 30% of respondents did not feel their sexual orientation and/or gender identity are understood when they engage with services in Clare.
Some also called for community specific sexual health clinics and better access to gender-affirming hormones.
Many respondents said they would benefit from an LGBTQ+ cafe, pub or community space in order to meet others who identify in a similar way. Others felt that businesses in Clare could openly show their support for the community by placing flags, stickers, etc. on their premises.
The survey results point to several key issues that need to be addressed:
• Education concerning sexual orientation and gender identity in schools and other spaces.
• Improved visibility and support from the wider community.
• Access to healthcare, particularly sexual orientation and gender identity focused mental health supports.
• The formation of an LGBTQ+ social/peer group in Clare.
• The creation of a confidential helpline that those struggling with their sexual orientation or gender identity can reach out to.
Overall, there is evidently a strong desire to form a social group, preferably a meet-and-greet to improve inclusivity and visibility in the Clare area. There is a lack of gender-neutral spaces for trans and non-binary individuals such as locker rooms and bathrooms.
The survey results point to a lack of education both in schools and other spaces on issues pertaining both to sexual orientation and gender identity.
To conclude, the LGBTQ+ community in Clare would greatly benefit from better access to healthcare and mental health supports. Many members of this community report a lack of connection within their community and many are still facing some form of discrimination here in Clare. There are steps which can be taken in order to improve the experience of this community, as outlined above.
More than 50 people from across Clare took part in the survey.
LGBTQ+ Clare is a short-term project run jointly by Clare PPN, Clare Women’s Network, Clare Local Development Company and Rape Crisis Midwest, and supported by The Department of Rural and Community Development and Clare County Council.
LGBTQ+ Clare is currently planning its next steps. If you would like to be part of the organising group or you would like some more information, please get in touch by emailing: lgbtq.clare@gmail.com
What would bring out the rainbow for LGBTQ+ people in Clare? What services and supports could make this community more visible, more connected and improve their quality of life? These are among the questions asked in an online survey launched today by LGBTQ+ Clare, a new project to establish the needs of this community in the Banner County.
LGBTQ+ Clare would like to hear from LGBTQ+ people about how connected they are to other LGBTQ+ people in Clare, whether they feel their identity and/or gender are understood and respected, or whether they experience discrimination.
The county-wide survey is being launched by LGBTQ+ Clare, a short-term project run jointly by Clare Local Development Company, Clare Public Participation Network, Clare Women’s Network and Rape Crisis Midwest, and funded through Clare County Council.
The survey will be available until the closing date of March 31st, 2021 and can be found here
The survey results will help to assess what services and supports would improve local engagement and community spirit within the LGBTQ+ community in the Clare area. The organisations involved also hope to use the survey results to organise activities and opportunities including social meet-ups, political participation, campaigns and possibly a Pride event in Clare.
“The aim is to make the supports and services that are available for LGBTQ+ people in other parts of the country available to you in Clare, whether you’re in Killaloe, Kilfenora or Carrigaholt,” said Meabh Sexton of LGBTQ+ Clare.
“Considering the pandemic, now more than ever it is important to have these local services. We don’t want members of the community traveling to other counties to avail of services that could be provided here in Clare and we need people to engage and reach out within the LGTBQ+ community.”
Njabulo of LGBTQ+ Clare added: “This is Clare reborn, we are ensuring our visibility and taking up space in society with pride. For so long, we have been invisible. We really encourage members of the LGBTQ+ community in Clare to take this survey. This is a great opportunity to have your voice heard.”
“We know there are LGBTQ+ people in Clare of all ages, we know disability activists who are LGBTQ+ and we know too that there are LGBTQ people of migrant, Traveller and Roma backgrounds in Clare and we want to make sure that we hear every voice and view possible. Hopefully this survey can help us set up ways to communicate and build a supportive LGBTQ+ community across these differences.”
The survey is anonymous and confidential, although the findings may be published and used to inform the work of the organisations involved. No one will be identifiable from any report or publication arising from the survey.
