The Secretariat of Mayo Public Participation Network (PPN) asked the membership of Mayo PPN to vote on the feasibility of mid-term elections last month and the membership voted no.  Therefore the PPN will proceed to fill vacant seats on the various committees over the coming months.

Linkage Group is the name given to a number of PPN members groups who come together to research and advise on specific areas of interest. We will be establishing 10 of these in Mayo over the coming months. Linkage groups elect representatives to certain Mayo County Council and other committees and they inform and direct the work of the PPN representative on that committee.

Our Linkage Group Registration form is available at this link http://mayoppn.net/docs/MAYO_PPN_Linkage_Group_Registration_Form.docx or from Ann Marie McGing, Resource Worker office@mayoppn.net | 094-9047054.  

Street Feast is the national day of street parties & community celebrations.

This year it takes place on Sunday 11th June!

Street Feast is an Irish initiative to bring back life onto our streets. The idea is a simple one - to get as many people as possible across Ireland to sit down to a lunch with their neighbours in their local communities. It’s a not-for-profit, all-for-fun, do-it-yourself celebration.

A Street Feast can be anything from a few neighbours getting together in a front garden to a full-blown community street party. They can be held anywhere; on the pavement, in a laneway or a local park. Everyone is invited to bring something to contribute, be it a tasty dish, some chairs or a musical instrument.

It’s the 8th year of Street Feast. Check out what happened last year when 120,000 neighbours took part in 1,215 Street Feasts, 14 of these took place in Mayo!

The Street Feast organisation supports individuals and community groups to host their own celebration. This year we’re posting out free party packs to Street Feast hosts. Each free party pack contains a handy guide to help make your feast a success, as well as posters, invitations, balloons and bunting to help you get the party started!

This is a people-powered initiative - we need your help to spread the word about Street Feast. Please forward this email to your friends, neighbours and network and inspire them to take part.

Get involved and register your feast on www.streetfeast.ie !

Background

CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais) is a targeted investment programme for rural areas that aims to provide funding for small infrastructural projects in areas that experience disadvantage. The aim of CLAR is to support the sustainable development of identified CLÁR areas with the aim of attracting people to live and work there. The funding works in conjunction with local/Agency and other Departmental funding programmes and on the basis of locally identified priorities. The programme which was effectively closed for new applications since 2009, reopened in a limited but very successful way, in 2016.

Funding Allocation for 2017

There is an allocation of €0.75million under the CLÁR programme for the First Response Support Measure. This measure will be operated directly by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional and Rural Affairs and is open to established organisations/groups that operate entirely on a voluntary basis, and are involved in emergency rescue/first response efforts. It is important that applicant groups/organisations can demonstrate that they are formally established e.g. registered charity or not for profit etc. and are recognised as an acceptable supplementary support body by public service bodies such as An Garda Síochána and the HSE in relation to such activities.

Given the nature of the possible activities involved in relation to this measure and the need to ensure that support is made available to organisations/groups that are acceptable as part of the wider emergency response systems; applications will only be considered from organisations that can fully demonstrate this. In that regard it will be necessary to provide information/certification regarding the formal establishment of the group/organisation and also that demonstrates the status of the group/organisation from either An Garda Síochána or the HSE in support of the application.

Timelines

Scheme launch 31st March

Applications to be received by the Department By May 5th

Assessment and decisions By May 31st

Drawdown of funding Sept/Oct (progress dependent) 

Detailed Measure Outline

Measure 4: First Response Support Measure

Recognising the critical role that first responders play in communities, particularly in the context of rescue efforts from remote and often hard to reach rural areas, CLÁR 2017 will consider support for established organisations that operate entirely on a voluntary basis and are currently involved in emergency rescue/first response efforts, to allow for the replacement of old and/or upgrade of existing vehicles/equipment directly involved in emergency rescue/first response efforts.

It will be necessary for applicants to demonstrate that the majority of their activities relate to emergency/first response/rescue situations as distinct from more routine, non-emergency, situations.

In the normal course CLÁR eligibility is based on projects being physically located within a designated CLÁR DED. Given the nature of the activities envisaged as well as the need to travel considerable distances in some cases to assist in rescue efforts and the need to maintain vehicles/equipment in practical/convenient locations, eligibility in this instance will be based on the ‘catchment area’ being served by the equipment and by demonstrating that the majority (at least 80%) of the need can be attributed to CLÁR DED’s.

Rate of Aid

The scheme will provide up to 85% of the total cost of the equipment being applied for or a maximum of €50,000, whichever is the lesser. A match funding element of 15% is required.

Grant Payment arrangements

Grant payment arrangements will be in arrears and the details of payment will be agreed with the successful grant recipient directly.

Application Process

Applications should include detailed costings (estimates at this point) and supporting documentation. Successful applicants will be required to comply with relevant public procurement guidelines. Documentation should provide a clear evidence base for the assistance being requested and should be submitted directly to the Department at clar@ahg.gov.ie, by the 5th of May and on the attached application. 

Mayo North East will hold a free Governance training workshop in the Newman Institute in Ballina on Tuesday evening April 11th 2017 from 7pm – 10pm. The training is for Type B community groups. The role of these groups is primarily governance but with some management and operational responsibilities also. They employ one or more full time or part time staff member. This training is funded under the Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme (SICAP) and will be delivered by the Carmichael Centre.

The workshop will provide practical guidelines on compliance with the Governance Code for Community Voluntary and Charitable organisations. Participants should familiarise themselves with www.govenancecode.ie The course content will cover the following:

Leadership and Control.

Transparency & Accountability.

Working Effectively.

Integrity.

Places are limited, to reserve a place contact Patricia Crawley on 087 2135960 or email patriciacrawley@mayonortheast.com

Inclusion Ireland is pleased to provide a series of information sessions on

assisted decision making and practical advocacy supports.

Who should attend? parents, siblings, friends and carers of children and adults with intellectual disability in Mayo and neighbouring counties.

Venue: Swinford Library and Cultural Centre, Swinford, Co. Mayo.

Cost: Attendance is free. To register interest or for more information call Noirin 083 8236126 or Inclusion Ireland: 01 8559891. E: admin@inclusionireland.ie

Tea/coffee and an opportunity to network with other family members

Additional information will be available at the session

Wednesday 12th April 2017 7.30pm - 9pm

Swinford Library & Cultural Centre

Assisted decision-making – new challenges

The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act was signed into law in 2015. How will this law affect people with intellectual disabilities and the role of families / carers in supporting people to make their own decisions?

Sarah Lennon

Equality & Human Rights Officer, Inclusion Ireland

FURTHER SESSIONS:

SATURDAY 6 MAY 2017. 11am-1.30pm. Swinford Cultural Centre

Introduction to advocacy – Nóirín Clancy & Mary Lee, Inclusion Ireland

The Role of the National Advocacy Service - Clare O’Neill, National Advocacy Service.

SATURDAY 10 JUNE 2017 - 11am-1.30pm Swinford Cultural Centre

Advocacy Skills for Families -Noirin Clancy & Mary Lee, Inclusion Ireland

Family Advocacy Supports – Speaker t.b.c.

Mental Health Ireland has a new Mind Your Mental Health training workshop, which is currently being delivered to community groups and workplaces throughout Ireland.

Mind Your Mental Health has been developed to:

• Increase awareness and understanding of mental health and well being

• Provide participants with tools and strategies to enhance their mental health and well being

• Promote supports and resources available both formal and informal

If you would like to organise a workshop for your community group, please feel free to contact Teresa Keane on 087 167 9549 or email me at teresakeane@mentalhealthireland.ie.

For further details about Mental Health Ireland and to learn more about what we do please visit: www.mentalhealthireland.ie

Mayo University Hospital, Castlebar are compiling a directory of community based organisations to support clients to avail of community supports, particularly those that have the potential to ensure older people can remain living in their own homes for as long as possible.  

If you would like the opportunity to be included then please submit, by email: The name of your organisation, contact details to include a telephone number, postal address, geographic area covered by your organisation, email and a specific contact person (if applicable).

Please send this information to Victoria.mcguinness@hse.ie. 

Should you have any further inquiries Victoria can be contacted by telephone on 094-9021733.  

The Irish Central Statistics Office (CSO) conducts a number of Household Surveys. Such surveys gather information on the economic and social situation of households in Ireland.

The Household surveys include: The Census, The Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC), The Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS), The Household Budget Survey (HBS) and Planning Permissions.

Central and local government, businesses, community organisations and many others rely on this information to help them make decisions that affect the lives of everyone living and working in the Ireland.

Taking part in a survey

Household surveys are conducted to collect valuable decision making information for the country. The information that householders provide is a vital tool in planning for the present and future needs of Ireland. It enables the CSO to measure our country’s progress, on important social and economic issues, such as employment, poverty, childcare, health and crime.

The CSO employs Field Officers in the collection of Household Survey Statistics. All CSO interviewers carry an ID card with a photo. In the case of some surveys, the interviewer will use a tablet computer to record your answers.

If you have been asked to take part in one of our surveys, we will:

• identify ourselves as from the CSO whenever we contact you, displaying our logo on all letters and leaflets and on our interviewers’ photo ID cards.

• when interviewing you in your home or by telephone, arrange a time convenient to you.

• try to make the experience of taking part in a survey as straightforward and as worthwhile as possible.

• only ask as many people to take part as necessary for the accuracy of our statistics.

• be honest with you about your participation being voluntary and give you a realistic idea of how long the survey may take.

• remember that you have kindly taken the time to speak to us - in your home, on the phone or in a port or airport - and respect your privacy.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is a priority for the CSO and all information given to the interviewer is

encrypted, transmitted securely and is used for statistical purposes only. Results are published in aggregate format only, and it is impossible for individuals or households to be identified. This confidentiality is guaranteed by law under the Statistics Act, 1993.

Further information

If you would like more information on CSO household surveys you can contact information@cso.ie / eolas@cso.ie.

www.cso.ie

If you have already taken part in one of our surveys we thank you for your time and welcome your views on what you thought of your experience.