Plans are underway for a public confernce ‘Building Equal Communities’ to be held on September 16th 2010 in Sligo.  This conference will look at how we can build more equal and integrated communities.  It will also include training workshops where community leaders, workers and volunteers can gain skills for working in their communities.  We hope that people involved in community development and those in local fora will attend.  We will post more details later.  For further information contact Claire Galligan at 071-9111814.  This event is supported by the Sligo Peace and Reconciliation Partnership Committee.

The AGM of the Sligo Forum was held in the Sligo Northside Centre on the 1st of July.  Chairperson of the Sligo Forum was returned to her position for another year.  At the AGM there was a call from the floor to the Forum to continue its work to advocate for community groups who are dealing with high water charges ….read more … Sligo Forum pledges support for community organisations at AGM

Fergus Finlay will be the keynote speaker at the seminar

New Date 9.30 to 1.30pm, Tuesday September 7th, Sligo Park Hotel

Sligo County Community Forum with the Support of the Social Inclusion Measures Sub Group of the County Development Board are hosting a half day seminar as part of the European Year against Poverty and Social Exclusion.

2010 is the European Year against Poverty and Social Exclusion.  At the seminar we will discuss the nature of poverty in Sligo and explore what measures we can take to address poverty in our communities – through addressing unemployment, education provision and supports for children and families. 

The keynote speaker at the seminar is the well known Fergus Finlay (CEO Barnardos).  Pauline White from the Western Development Commission will also be speaking at the seminar.  Download a registration form here.  For more details of the seminar click here for the Seminar Brochure.

Forum executive with new members at a recent meeting

The Sligo County Community Forum Executive AGM is scheduled to take place on July 1st 2010 at 7pm in the Sligo Northside Community Centre.  Community Forum members are welcome to attend.

Read the story of Helen O Hara, community worker in our latest edition

Our latest newsletter is now available to download.  If your group would like to feature in our Autumn/Winter newsletter get in touch with us at the Sligo office:  Spring Summer Newsletter 2010

The 2009 annual report of the Sligo County Community Forum is now available.  Click this link: 2009 annual report

January E Bulletin 2010

As part of the Forums ‘Diversity Training Programme’ funded by the Sligo Peace and Reconciliation Partnership Committee, a course entitled ‘Intercultural Training’ is being offered.  This course will allow participants to appreciate their own and others cultures and explore how ideas of ‘culture’ are created and exchanged.  The course will cover six different units: 

• Understanding prejudice and discrimination
• What is racism/sectarianism
• Exploration of Culture
• Building an analysis of how different cultures inter-relate
• The various levels where racism/sectarianism etc are played out
• Intercultural Tension and Conflict
• Responding to intercultural tension and conflict through community development  

The course will be run in a venue in Sligo town and will begin on Tuesday 12^th January 2010.  The course will be held on Tuesday’s evenings and run for 12 weeks.  .  Each session will be from 6.30 to 9.30.  There will also be a 1-day study visit to Northern Ireland to learn more about the issue of sectarianism and the Troubles.  Participants will be able to work towards a FETAC level 5 certificate. 

This course would be of interest to anyone who is working with adults and children in the community.   Applications are open to all, however we would particularly like to welcome applications from members of the Protestant community, Travellers, new communities and young people aged 18-25.  There will be places for 15 participants to take part.  There is already a lot of interest so be sure to get your name in early. 

If you are interested in taking part or if you would like to receive more information you can contact cbrennan@sligococo.ie or phone 071-9111814 to ask for an application form. Participation in the course is free.  Financial support to cover childcare or travel costs will also be considered where there is a genuine need. 

Click the link to see our latest e bulletin:  November EBulletin 2009

Sligo County Community Forum is inviting people involved in the community and voluntary sector to join local networks.  The purpose of the networks will be to bring groups together working at a local level to share information and find out where they could collaborate on projects.  A crucial role for each of the networks will be to nominate representatives to go forward onto the County Community Forum early next year. 

The County Community Forum is putting energy into setting up local networks, to ensure that Forum Representatives are accountable to the community and voluntary sector in each of their respective ‘Local Electoral Areas’.  In March next year 4 representatives will be nominated from each of the Local Electoral Areas to bring forward the views of the community and voluntary sector on the County Community Forum.  These participants will then have the opportunity to represent the views of the community and voluntary forum on other county wide and regional bodies, and on local authority structures. 

We are encouraging everyone involved in the community and voluntary sector in each of the Local Electoral Areas to attend an open evening.  At the event we will explain about the Forum and look at how the establishment of a network could benefit the local area.  Each of the meetings will be facilitated by an independent facilitator. 

 Come along to the meeting in your area…