SOUNDING BOARD on tour across the county
SOUNDING BOARD, Sligo LEADER’s music technology and tuition programme for rural youth, is going on tour. Sessions will take place in venues across counties Sligo and Fermanagh during the Halloween midterm and anyone aged 12 to 18 living nearby is welcome to attend.
Majella Flanagan, Programme worker at SLPC explains what will happen. “SOUNDING BOARD has now been running for a year. We have offered evening, full day and day trips away to 150 young people from across rural Sligo and Fermanagh areas. Learning from our summer scheme series, we will offer day-long workshops in DJ, Sampling, Recording, percussion, guitar and percussion tuition. Making the most of the Halloween mid term break when children are off school, we will offer workshops in each area over the week.”
Sessions will be as follows: Tuesday 1 November: Ballisadare and surrounding areas, St Mary’s College, Ballisadare.
Tuesday 1 November: Grange and surrounding areas in Grange Post Primary
Wednesday 2 November: in SE Fermanagh Foundation, Manderwood Centre, Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh
Thursday 3 November: Tubbercurry, St Attracta’s College
Friday 4 November: CLASP/Ballymote in Colaiste Mhuire
Sessions will run 10.30am to 4pm. There is no cost to attend but please bring a lunch. The workshops will have assistance from SOUNDING BOARD’s graduates who have just completed the Diploma in RAPP Leadership.
To register and for information, contact Majella on 071 9141138, mflanagan@sligoleader.com
Communtiy Workers Co-operative
Seminar 21/10/2011: Has Cross Border Co-operation and Partnership Enhanced the work of Peacebuilding?
The CWC Harnessing Equality for Lasting Peace (HELP) project and Community Dialogue in association with the North West Community Network are hosting a seminar entitled Has Cross Border Co-operation and Partnership enhanced the work of Peacebuilding? in The Station House Hotel, Letterkenny on Friday 21st October from 9.30am to 2.30pm. Cross Border Seminar – Invite – 21.10.2011
Ceolaras Coleman Celebrity Bodhran Event
This Sunday 9th October at 8pm in Gurteen Community Centre.
This promises to be a very enjoyable night with debuts by 14 personalities Admission €10, bar facilities available, with music and dancing afterwards by Junior Davey & Friends.
You can pledge your sponsorship as a vote in advance and/or on the night for your local personality or work colleague Cllrs Margaret Gormley and Jerry Lundy are also performing, representing their electoral areas.
Participants:
Cllr Margaret Gormley, Cllr Jerry Lundy, Michael Carty, Ross Donovan, Fr James McDonagh, Tony McLoughlin TD, Michael Colreavy TD, Joe Lavelle, Paddy Casey, Camilla Smyth Kelly, Teresa McGuinness, Seamus McCormack, Padraig McCormack, Noel Mooney.
There will be prizes for the best performance (judged) and the highest votes (total sponsorship).
LOCAL AGENDA 21 PARTNERSHIP FUND 2011
Environmental Awareness
Do you have a project or initiative that could help to increase local levels of environmental awareness, or that could help your community to become more sustainable?
If so, you may qualify for financial assistance from the Local Agenda 21(LA21) Environmental Partnership Fund 2011. This Fund promotes sustainable development by assisting small scale, non-profit environmental projects at local level.
Does Your Project Qualify?
Projects should focus on environmental awareness and actions which complement national environmental policies such as those on waste, biodiversity, water conservation and climate change.
A wide variety of projects and schemes have been supported under the Fund in previous years, including community gardens and allotments, compost schemes, rainwater harvesting, biodiversity projects, waste reduction initiatives, educational initiatives and environmental exhibitions. Lists of previously funded projects can be viewed online at www.environ.ie.
How to Apply
Applications are made directly to your local authority. Further information, application forms and contact details for your local authority are available online at www.environ.ie
Completed applications must be sent to:
Sligo Borough Council / Sligo County Council no later than 5pm, Wednesday 19th October, 2011.
Sligo Borough Council Community & Enterprise
City Hall, Sligo County Council,
Quay Street, Riverside,
Sligo. Sligo.
Telephone: (071) 9114400 Telephone: (071) 9111111
For general information on this Fund contact:
John Kennedy
Environment Policy and Awareness Section
Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government
Newtown Road, Wexford
Tel: 053 911 7345 e-mail: awareness@environ.ie
Mental Health Week
Building Resilience
Mental Health Week
Sign Up – Link In – Get Involved in Sligo
Tuesday 11th October 7.00pm – 9.00pm at the Merville Centre
Sligo Sports and Recreation
Sligo County Community Forum
Sligo LEADER Partnership Company will have stands with information on the range of porgrammes for people to Sign Up and Get Invloved and Link into in Sligo.
- Peer Education Support Programme for Women.
- Mens Network for Sligo
- Parents Support Network
- Community Steps Programme
- Sligo Rural Transport Programme
- Jobs Clubs
- Older Persons Programme
- Walking in Sligo
World Mental Health Week 2011
This year, World Mental Health Week (WMHW) will run from:
Monday 10th October to Sunday 16th October 2011.
Mental Health Ireland have chosen to focus on the theme of “Building Resilience” both at an individual and a community level.
The current economic down turn coupled with the cut backs in services and resources mean that the resilience of individuals and communities is being seriously challenged
“Building Resilience is developing individual strengths and abilities to bounce back from the challenges and setbacks that life presents us with” (Mental Health Association New South Wales Australia)
Mental Health Ireland recognises that there are a lot of organisations and groups out there who are actively involved in building the resilience of their communities, through the services they provide and the courses they offer. However, very often, information about these organisations does not find its way to everyone in the community.
World Mental Health Week offers an opportunity for a wide range of agencies to come together to encourage local communities to build their resilience by “signing up, linking in, and getting involved”. A range of organisations from sectors such as youth, education, sports and community will set up information stands to inform the public about the groups/activities they run and the opportunities they offer. If you are interested in building your resilience, just “drop in” to this informative event on Tuesday 11th October in the Merville Community Centre anytime between 7pm and 9pm and see what is on offer in your local community.
Rachel Reilly, Development Officer Sligo/Leitrim
Mental Health Ireland
Health Promotion Department
JFK House
JFK Parade
Sligo
Office: 071 9135901
Mobile: 086 8539010
SLIGO COUNTY COUNCIL / COMHAIRLE CHONTAE SHLIGIGH
SLIGO COUNTY COUNCIL / COMHAIRLE CHONTAE SHLIGIGH
“Providing high quality services for the people of Sligo in partnership with the Community”.
Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons for inclusion on a panel from which offers of employment may be made for the following post:-
PEACE III Programme Development Officer
(for the implementation for the Sligo Peace & Reconciliation Partnership Committee Action Plan 2011-13)
The overall objective of the PEACE III Programme is to reinforce progress towards a peaceful and stable society and to promote reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Region. The overall aim is to challenge attitudes towards sectarianism and racism and to support conflict resolution and mediation at local community level.
A PEACE III Action Plan for Sligo approved by the Special EU Programmes Body has been developed by the Sligo Peace and Reconciliation Partnership Committee (formed under the auspices of the Sligo County Development Board) by way of application under Priority 1.1 of the PEACE III Programme. The Sligo Peace & Reconciliation Partnership Committee Action Plan 2011-13 can be accessed at www.sligocdb.ie
As lead partner of the Sligo Peace and Reconciliation Partnership Committee, Sligo County Council wishes to recruit a Programme Development Officer to manage the implementation of the Peace Action Plan in Co. Sligo.
It is expected that a contract will be offered to the successful candidate up to December 2013.
Salary: €44,000 per annum
Application form, details of qualifications and full particulars are available from Ms. Geraldine McCloat, Human Resources Section, Sligo County Council, County Hall, Riverside, Sligo – Tel: 071-9111074 E-mail: gmccloat@sligococo.ie at www.sligococo.ie or at www.localgovernmentjobs.ie
Completed application forms must be returned to the Human Resources Section not later than 4.30 p.m. on Friday, 21st October, 2011.
Applicants may be shortlisted for interview on the basis of information supplied on or with their application form with regard to qualifications and experience of relevance and value. Incomplete applications received by the closing date will be considered invalid and such applications will be rejected. The acceptance of supporting documentation after the closing date will not be considered.
SLIGO LOCAL AUTHORITIES ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER
The post is funded by the EU’s PEACE III Programme managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by Sligo County Council on behalf of Sligo Peace & Reconciliation Partnership Committee
Making Positive Ageing Happen
Title: Making Positive Ageing Happen
The involvement of Older People in Wicklow and throughout Ireland has been vital to the success of Older & Bolder’s previous campaigns.
Right now the time has come for action on the National Positive Ageing Strategy. Older people have told us in repeated consultations that the right kind of planning, information and supports make the crucial difference between independence and dependence. We expect the Government to produce a draft positive ageing strategy soon so, at this crucial period, Older & Bolder will be reminding decision makers about the key commitments required for an effective strategy.
Older & Bolder intends to make the coming 12 months a remarkable campaign year for older people that can, we believe, change forever ideas about ageing in Irish society. Over the year we will provide opportunities to drive home our message of maximising independence. For more information or to get involved call us on 01 878 3623 or www.olderandbodler.ie
Mary Cleary Older & Bolder, Jervis House, Jervis Street, Dublin 1
Tel: 01 878 3623, Fax: 01 878 3624, e: mary.cleary@olderandbolder.ie, www.olderandbolder.ie
Volunteer Week in Sligo
Volunteer Week in Sligo expect record crowds
Related Articles:
http://www.sligotoday.ie/details.php?id=16608#.ToLRDyv8hUs.email
• Volunteer Week in Sligo expect record crowds
• North West Hospice offers rewarding outlet to volunteers
• HAVE A LOOK HAVE A GO – SLIGO
• Efforts of Irish Volunteers worth €3 Billion Per Annum
• Contribution of Sligo Volunteers Highlighted in Samaritans Exhibition
Sligo Volunteer Week kicked off on Monday and promises a trail of events throughout the county this week. The North Sligo Volunteer Fair will run in Grange Parish Hall today (Wed) from 3pm – 6pm and volunteers and volunteer organisation form throughout North Sligo have taken up the invitation to gather in Grange and tell the wider community about their work. People are welcome to drop in any time for a chat to decorate a cup cake. This event follows Hot on the heels of yesterday’s South Sligo Volunteer Fair in Ballymote.
Friday is National Day of Volunteering and Sligo Volunteer Centre will celebrate the work of volunteers and organisations on O’Connell Street from 3 – 6pm. Sligo people are invited to take a few minutes to paint a mural, make a cup-cake or drop into the Volunteer Fair in the Yeats Building. VolunTours will run every hour from 3pm bringing people on a tour of voluntary organisations in their area with a chance to see and chat about their work.
Throughout the day, everyone is encouraged to carry out a Random Acts of Volunteering as Friday is also National Random Act of Volunteering Day. All the details for this are on www.volunteer.ie.

Brothers: Scott and Cameron Lumsden enjoying sampling some goodies in Ballymote yesterday.
Photo:SligoToday.ie
Last year more than 8,000 volunteers participated in hundreds of charity and community projects across Connacht and the country – and an even bigger number is anticipated this year. Research carried out by Volunteer Ireland in advance of the National Day of Volunteering has found that being affected by the economic downturn makes people more likely to volunteer. 70% of those affected by downturn are more likely to volunteer. Among respondents in the Connacht region who were either not working or working less as a result of the recession, 70% said that the change in their employment had made them more likely to volunteer.
The research also found that what people most wanted from the organisation they volunteered for was to ‘be accepted as a valuable team member’ (63%), followed by receiving ‘feedback about their contribution’ (13%). No respondent said they wanted public recognition for the volunteering work they did.
The survey is reflective of a growing participation in volunteering in Ireland highlights the National Day of Volunteering as an opportunity for more people to try something different, have good fun and bring benefit to the community.
All the details of Sligo events are www.volunteersligo.ie. If you can’t make it to any of the events during Volunteer Week, call into the Sligo Volunteer Centre at 1 Gaol Road, Abbeyville Terrace, Sligo, email us on info@volunteersligo.ie or phone them on 071-911 1042.
More photos to follow……
Library
The new state-of-the-art library in Ballymote became the HQ for yesterday’s volunteering activities. The new facility is the pride of the region and has been warmly welcomed by the residents of the south Sligo town. Opened earlier this year the modern bright spacious building offers an unbelievable range of facilities from books to commuters, CDs, DVDs, meeting rooms, music lessons, children’s play area, book club, exhibitions with more to come.
SligoToday.ie spoke to the chief librarian Patricia Keane who explained what the library provides.
“The children are delighted with the range and variety, there is a huge selection for them to choose from…” she said.
Sligo Volunteer week 26th-30th September
TAKE A VolunTour!
‘Have a look and have a go’ – that’s the message from Sligo Volunteer Week (26 – 30 September) which will celebrate the diverse range of volunteers and volunteer organisations throughout Sligo. Organised by Sligo Volunteer Centre and launched by Marion Harkin as part of the European Year of Volunteering, the week will be packed with events and fairs celebrating the range of voluntary activity in the county.
If you ever wanted to find out more about volunteering, this is the week for you. Even if it’s only for a minute, an hour, or a day – volunteering can make a big difference and be a lot of fun. Volunteer Week in Sligo runs from Monday 26 to Friday 30 September and encourages everyone to give volunteering a try. There will be chance to visit voluntary organisations throughout Sligo, chat to volunteers and maybe find your volunteer niche. Key activities in Ballymote, Grange and Sligo Town will give people an opportunity to find out what is happening in their areas and what voluntary help is needed.
The week will culminate on Friday 30 September with the National Day of Volunteering. On this day we will be encouraging people to carry out Random Acts of Volunteering. All the details for this are on www.volunteer.ie. You can also register your Random Act of Volunteering on this website and get lots more ideas about volunteering on National Day of Volunteering.
Volunteer Week in Sligo will celebrate current volunteers for their efforts, giving a big ‘Thank You’ to them and encourage new people to volunteer. ‘We are very excited to be running the first ever series of ‘VolunTours’ which will bring people on a tour of voluntary organisations in their area’, says Ciara Herity of Sligo Volunteer Centre. How many times have you walked past the door of a voluntary organisation and wondered what exactly it is they do? This is your chance to find out more about voluntary groups in your area – no strings attached. A VolunTour will take about an hour and will give you an insight into the work of five different organisations. Who knows, you may be inspired to Volunteer!’
On Tuesday 27 September, Ballymote will celebrate volunteer work in South Sligo. A diverse range of organisations will take part in the Volunteer Fair from 3pm – 6pm to give out information and display the work they do and services they provide. Ballymote will be the first town to launch VolunTours - a tour of some of the voluntary organisations in Ballymote.
Grange will host a Volunteer Fair in the Parish Centre on Wednesday 28 September from 3pm to 6pm. Friday 30 September is National Day of Volunteering and O’Connell Street in Sligo will be a hive of Volunteer Activity from 3pm – 6pm. It will include a Volunteer Fair, more VolunTours on the hour, every hour from 3pm and fun activities for all ages.
‘There is a huge variety of volunteer opportunities available’ says Ciara. ‘People work around their lifestyle. They might want to help with a once off event or work with an organisation on a regular basis. You’d be amazed at the choice of opportunities. Some link to an organisation that is linked to their hobby, others offer their professional skills or use the opportunity to keep these skills up to date. It could be gardening, literacy, or arts related. Or it may be working in a particular section of the community such as with young people or older people.
We have a list of Voluntary Organisations that are seeking help, and the Volunteer Centre helps make the match by putting potential volunteers in touch with these groups. Volunteer Week is a great opportunity to informally meet and see volunteer groups and talk about how you could help. We have lots of events happening and invite people of all ages to come along to the events. All the details are on our website www.volunteersligo.ie and on our Facebook and Twitter pages. If you can’t make it to any of the events during Volunteer Week, call into Sligo Volunteer Centre at 1 Gaol Road, Abbeyville Terrace, Sligo, email us on info@volunteersligo.ie or phone us on 071-911 1042.’
Sligo Volunteer Centre is one of 23 Volunteer Centres around the Country and is a member of Volunteer Ireland.



