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 19^th 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

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 10^th October to Sunday 16^th 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 11^th 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

 “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, 21^st 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

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 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.

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.

This is the sixth year of the County Tidy Towns Competition which is organized by Community & Enterprise in co-operation with Environment, Housing, Planning and Infrastructural Services Sections. In total, in excess of 100 applications were received and judging took place in early June. 

Sligo County Council wishes to acknowledge the level of community effort of this event; evidence of this voluntary work was very visible during the assessment visits at all the entry locations. At its September meeting, Sligo County Council approved the grant recipients and prize-winners in this year’s Competition.
The following are the results awarded under the various categories:

CATEGORY 1:   Best Kept Housing Estate

A 1-30 Houses in Estate

Overall Winner (€500):   Hill Crest Park, Strandhill
Runner Up (€250):    Culfadda Housing Association, Culfadda

B 31-60 Houses in Estate

Overall Winner (€600):   Gort na Sí, Coolaney
Runner Up (€350):    Kiernan Ave, Collooney

C 61+ Houses in Estate

Overall Winner (€700):  Ard Aisling, Tubbercurry  
Runner Up (€450):   Woodbrook Heights, Ballisodare

CATEGORY 2:   Best Kept National School

Overall Winner (€300):   Holy Family N.S., Tubbercurry

Joint Runner Up (€200):                 Mary Immaculate Girls N.S., Collooney
Joint Runner Up (€200):   Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal, Ballymote

CATEGORY 3:  Best Kept Shop Front/Business

Overall Winner (Plaque):   Kennedy’s Picture Framing, Tubbercurry                    
      
1st Runner  Up (Plaque):   Gormely’s Corner House, Ballymote
CATEGORY 4:          Best Kept Village/Town
Overall Winner – Small Town (€1000):  Tubbercurry
Overall Winner – Village (€900)   Culfadda 

Joint Runners-Up (€800):    Mullaghmore & Coolaney
 
A Special Merit Award is awarded  to the following Residents Association
in recognition of their recent enhancement works:

• Hillview Drive, Ballymote
 
A Special Merit Award is awarded to the following school in recognition of their organic gardening project: 
• St. Patrick’s N.S., Calry
A Special Merit Award is awarded to the following villages

 in recognition of community involvement at the Bring Bank area:
• Enniscrone Tidy Towns Committee

in recognition of their re-developed Amenity Area:
• Balinafad Tidy Towns Committee
Tidy Towns Grant Scheme 2011
The Tidy Towns Grant Scheme is available to Committees who have entered the National Competition. The amount awarded will be dependant upon the level of expenditure incurred by Committees, details of which will be requested prior to payment of grant. 
Further information is available from Community and Enterprise Office, Sligo County Council Development Centre, Cleveragh Road, Sligo. Telephone 071 – 9111800.

Sharon O’ Connor is the newly appointed Administrator for the Sligo County Community Forum. Contact details: 0719111814, email soconnor@sligococo.ie.

Would you like your community organisation to be on the internet and set up your own website?

Sligo County Community Forum and Sligo Leader Partnership Company are hosting a

Social Media Training Course

For members of community organisations

The course will be run in two venues, over 4 evenings on the following dates:

By the end of the course, participants will have set up an internet/blog site for your community organisation that you can update, a facebook page and a twitter site.

This is a great opportunity to update your skills and get your group onto the world wide web at little cost.

The course is free, however places are limited

If you wish to apply, please contact Martina Dilucia at 071 9141138 or mdilucia@sligoleader.com

Play Day 3rd July 2011

Doorly Park, Sligo 2-5pm

For children up to 12 years

Booking essential 071 9148860 or e-mail sheilaryan@sligochildcare.ie

Free activities include

• Tag Gaelic,
•  Art & Craft,
• Tag Rugby,
• Multi sport,
• Messy Corner
• Fun Races

Organised by Sligo County Council, Sligo Borough Council, Sligo Sport & Recreation Partnership and Sligo County Childcare Committee