COMMUNITY, RECREATION, AMENITY
COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
Carlow County Council continued to build on the strong working relationship it enjoys with all communities throughout County Carlow during 2017. With the Council’s assistance, communities are continuing to enhance and develop their areas socially, culturally, environmentally and in a sustainable manner.
Tidy Towns
In 2017 County Carlow maintained its strong and proud reputation for being a County proud of its beautifully presented villages and towns that strive to be litter free and environmentally friendly.
In the 2017 National Tidy Towns Competition Clonegal once again received the highest marks in County Carlow just 4 points behind the overall winner Birdhill,Co.Tipperary. Clonegal and Leighlinbridge retained their gold medals status, Carlow town retained its silver medal and Clonmore retaining its bronze medal. Borris won the Endeavour Award with an increase of 9 points on last year’s results (highest % increase on last year’s marks).
The majority of the 21 entrants from County Carlow increased their points reflecting the dedication and hard work of the Tidy Towns Groups and their volunteers. The high standard is achieved and maintained by the positive co-operation and partnerships that exists between the community groups, Carlow County Council and other agencies. Tidy Towns Groups throughout the county are supported by personnel in the Community Section.
Carlow’s Pride of Place
Carlow’s Pride of Place continues to be a great success, in 2017 over 100 groups from across the county entered, with over 187 entries in the different categories from Tidy Towns Groups, Residents Associations, Community & Voluntary Agencies, Schools and Businesses. This initiative encourages all individuals and communities in the county to enhance the presentation of their town, village or estate; keep their area litter free, preserve local heritage; continue to build community spirit and reflect the pride generated by enhancing the environment in which one lives, which has both a social and an economic spin off.
The coveted Overall Winner in the Town and Villages Category was awarded to Leighlinbridge.
The awards were presented by Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council Cllr. William Paton, Mayor of the Municipal District of Carlow Cllr. Jim Deane and Cathaoirleach of the Municipal District of Muinebheag Cllr. Willie Quinn.
New Oak Estate, Carlow won the 2017 Overall Award for Estates.
Carlow County Council presented over 60 prizes to the value of €20,750 to community groups throughout the county under this initiative.
IPB Co-operation Ireland Pride of Place Competition 2017
New Oak Estate was nominated to represent County Carlow in the IPB Co-operation Ireland Pride of Place Competition 2017. A Recognition Night to celebrate and acknowledge the work and commitment shown by the residents of New Oak Estate in representing the County in the competition was held in September in the Council Chamber County Buildings.
Environmental / Amenity Grant Scheme 2017
A total of 152 grants were awarded to Community Groups/Residents Associations and schools throughout the county. Qualifying works included landscaping and development of open-spaces; amenity development on river/stream banks; provision of picnic facilities; painting; provision of litterbins/anti-litter initiatives, improvements in burial grounds and general enhancement of areas. Grant funding of €48,000 was awarded in 2017.
Community Development Grant Scheme 2017
A total of 27 grants were awarded to Community Groups throughout the County under this scheme. The aim of the scheme is to support community and voluntary groups in County Carlow who undertake projects that will:
• Carry out a service or activity that makes a contribution to the quality of life in their local community.
• Increase voluntary activity.
• Target the social excluded and increase their opportunities for participation.
• Support the valuable contribution of community and voluntary organisations in County Carlow.
Grant funding of €11,200 was awarded in 2017
Discretionary Funding
A total of 122 grants were awarded by Elected Members to Residents Associations, Tidy Towns Groups, Community Voluntary Organisations, Schools and Sporting Organisations from their Discretionary Funds to the value of €58,203.51
Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund
Through funding from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, and match funding from Carlow County Council, a total of €19,550 was allocated to 24 community groups in County Carlow. These groups have undertaken projects that contribute to increasing environmental awareness at local level or which promote building greener, more sustainable communities.
Other Grants
The Community Section prepared applications, administered, oversaw the assessment of the following grants schemes: Anti Graffitti & Anti-Litter €19,000, Community Capital Facilities €64,500 and RAPID €64,500
CLÁR
CLÁR funding of €178,760 was received for five project as follows:
• Ballymurphy Community Centre €30,000
• St Michael’s N.S Newtown Borris €50,000
• Drumphea N.S €30,000
• Newtown Hall €18,760
• Drumphea Community Centre €50,000
This Programme is a key enabler in supporting rural communities through targeted investment for rural areas that aims to provide funding for small infrastructural projects in areas that experience disadvantage.
Outdoor Recreational Infrastructure Scheme
The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme is part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development and provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure and necessary maintenance, enhancement and promotion of existing outdoor recreational infrastructure in Ireland. Funding of €32, 500 was received for the following projects: Carlow Autumn Walking Festival, Bahana Forest, Wicklow Way and Cycle route development.
The Plots Community Garden & Allotment Project
This continues to be a very successful working partnership with the communities of St Mary’s Park and Rathnapish, St Catherine’s Community Services Centre and Carlow County Council.
The Steering Committee were successful in their application to the Community Facilities and RAPID grant schemes for funding to extend the area of the allotments. Raised beds will be built in the new area which will ensure greater access for older people and people with disabilities.
Carlow Traveller Interagency Group
Carlow Traveller Interagency Group (TIG) monitors the implementation of the actions contained in the Interagency Traveller Strategy. Once again a very successful Traveller Pride Week was organised in June by Carlow Traveller Network with support from St Catherine’s Community Services Centre. Forward Steps Tullow and Tullow School Completion Programme hosted a morning of celebrating Traveller Culture.
A successful funding submission was made to the Department of Justice and Equality to employ a part -time Community Development Worker to develop and support Carlow Traveller Forum.
Famine Walk
Each year Afri (Action from Ireland) in conjunction with IT Carlow, Gael Scoil Cheatharalach and Carlow County Council organise a Famine Walk to the Workhouse Plots Graveyard. An oak tree is planted each year. Mohammed Rafique from the Carlow Rhingyan Community spoke about the parrallels beween the Irish famine and the experience of the Rhingyan community in Burma.
Healthy Ireland
The Community Section coordinated and supported the development of the successful Healthy Ireland Strand 1 submission for €100,000 on behalf of the Carlow Local Community Development Committee. Seven projects were funded: Development of a Healthy Ireland Carlow Strategic Plan; Great Outdoors Family Programme with a focus on social inclusion; an Inclusive Sports programme for People with Additional Needs, a Social Inclusion Community Fitness Programme, Youth Inclusive Activity programme for early school leavers and those at risk of early school leaving; Deliver a tobacco free programme in conjunction with four other Local Community Development Committee's led by Tipperary Local Community Development Committee and an LGBTI community engagement project in Carlow. The projects must be completed by March 31st 2018.
Special Projects
The Community Section initiated a project with IT Carlow and Borris Tidy Towns to conduct a heritage assessment of Borris. Fifteen second year students from the BA in Culture and Heritage Studies at IT Carlow conducted the heritage assessment of Borris in the 2016/17 college year. The study examined the heritage value of both the built and natural landscape. The research catalogued the extant and lost components of the estate settlement and also offered advice as to the preservation and enhancement of these elements going forward. A number of posters were produced by the students which encapsulated their research. These are on display in Borris Town Hall.
New Oak Community Centre
Community staff continue to provide support for New Oak Community Centre Steering Committee. Probation & Welfare, Tusla and Carlow County Development Partnership use the centre as well as local residents’ associations.
Supports to Other Groups
The Community Section supports the Carlow St Patrick’s Day Committee, the Joint Policing Committee Raise & Give Sub Group, Royal Oak Development Group in current projects.
Duckett’s Grove and Walled Gardens
A project Manager/Gardener is employed on this project since July 2017 and the user experience has been enhanced by the maintenance and upkeep of the Georgian Kitchen Gardens and grounds. Funding was received under the Towns and Villages programme for this project which will further enhance the visitor experience to the gardens.
Carlow Local Community Development Committee (LCDC)
The LCDC is a committee of the Council but independent in the performance of its functions.
The LCDC consists of 19 members both statutory and non-statutory including four elected members. The following members resigned from the committee in 2017, Brian Hand (Civic Society), Mary Walsh (Social Economic and Community Interests), Cllrs William Quinn and Arthur McDonald, Andrea Dalton and Josephine Tierney (Social Inclusion).
These members were replaced by Jules Michael (Civic Society), Karl Duffy (Social Economic and Community Interests), Cllr John Murphy, Cllr Andrea Dalton, Eileen Doyle and Ann Shortall (Social Inclusion) respectively.
Mr Eamonn Moore Chairperson and Mr Thomas Kelly Vice Chairperson resigned in accordance with the terms of the LCDC guidelines and regulations having served three years in their respective positions, at meeting held on the 15th June 2017. Mr Moore was replaced by Ms Andrea Dalton and Mr Kelly by Mr Noel Barry. Ms Dalton resigned as Chairperson due to her co-option to the membership of Carlow County Council on the 9th October 2017. Mr Noel Barry who was elected Vice Chairperson acted as Chairperson until Ms Dalton successor, Mr John Brophy was elected at LCDC meeting held on the 14th December 2017.
Carlow LCDC Members are:
Twelve LCDC/LAG Meetings were held in 2017 as follows:
• 12h January 2017
• 9th February 2017
• 9th March 2017
• 13th April 2017
• 11th May 2017
• 15th June 2017
• 13th July 2017
• 17th August 2017
• 14th September 2017
• 17th October 2017
• 16th November 2017
• 14th December 2017
The LCDC/LAG has programme oversight and programme management in respect of the following activities:
• Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 (LEADER).
• Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2015-2017.
• Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) 2016-2021.
Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 (LEADER)
Carlow was allocated €6,416,803.43m under the Rural Development Programme for the period 2014-2020. The LCDC has approved Carlow County Development Partnership CLG as Lead Implementing Partner. The LCDC/LAG approved 40 LEADER Expression of Interests to the value of €2,088,890 in respect of Rural Tourism, Tourism Accommodation, Festivals, Enterprise, Rural Towns, Social Inclusion and Environmental projects. 9 projects to the value of €810,556.72 were also approved.
The LCDC/LAG approved /considered the following matters:
• LEADER Procedures Manual.
• LEADER Evaluation Scoring Record.
• Establishment of LEADER Monitoring Group.
• Policy on Tourism Accommodation.
• Policy on Enterprises over 10 employees.
• LEADER Project Evaluation Form.
• Protocol between Carlow County Council, Carlow Local Community Development Committee and Carlow County Development Partnership regarding arrangements in respect of commercial enterprise support at local level between the Local
Enterprise Office operated under a Service Level Agreement with Enterprise Ireland and LAG operation of the LEADER programme delivered by Carlow County Development Partnership.
• Standing Orders Amendments.
• Service Level Agreement between Carlow LCDC (Local Action Group), Carlow County Council (Financial Partner) and Carlow County Development Partnership CLG (Implementing Partner) in respect of the LEADER Programme.
• LEADER Financial Report.
• Adjustment to Economic Development Tourism Budget.
• LEADER Appeal Application.
Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP)
The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) is the successor programme to the Local Community Development Programme. SICAP is a local social inclusion programme focussed on the most marginalised in Irish Society.
SICAP Vision
To improve the life chances and opportunities of those who are marginalised in society, living in poverty and unemployment, through community development approaches, targeting supports and interagency collaboration where the values of inclusion are promoted and human rights are respected.
SICAP Aim
To reduce poverty, promote social inclusion and equality through local, regional and national engagement and collaboration.
SICAP has three goals:
1. To support and resource disadvantaged communities and marginalised target groups to engage with relevant local and national stakeholders in identifying and addressing social exclusion and equality issues.
2. To support individuals and marginalised target groups experiencing educational disadvantage so they can participate fully, engage with and progress through life-long learning opportunities through the use of community development approaches.
3. To engage with marginalised target groups/individuals and residents of disadvantaged communities who are unemployed but who do not fall within mainstream employment service provision, or who are referred to SICAP, to move them closer to the labour market and improve work readiness, and support them in accessing employment and self-employment and creating social enterprise opportunities.
SICAP Target Groups
The target groups are:
• Children and Families from disadvantaged areas;
• Lone parents;
• New Communities (including Refugees/Asylum Seekers);
• People living in Disadvantaged Communities;
• People with Disabilities;
• Roma;
• The Unemployed (including those not on the live register);
• Low Income Workers/Households;
• Travellers;
• Young unemployed people from disadvantaged areas;
• NEETs-Young People aged 15-24 years who are not in employment, education or training.
SICAP funding of €536,428 was allocated to County Carlow for the year 2017. The LCDC is the contracting authority and Carlow County
Development Partnership is the Programme Implementer. County Carlow is one Lot for the purposes of this programme. This present SICAP programme has run for three years 2015 - 2017.
The LCDC reviewed the 2016 SICAP Annual Plan in January 2017 and approved the SICAP Annual Plan for 2017. The 2017 SICAP Annual Plan Mid Term review for the period January–June 2017 was reviewed by the members in 2017 and the SICAP Annual Plan for 2017 will be considered in January 2018. A sub group of the LCDC committee comprising of Andrea Dalton and Noel Barry including Michael Brennan, Chief Officer and Margaret Moore, Community Section of Carlow County Council met on a number of occasions during 2017 to examine and review the implementation of the programme with Karl Duffy Carlow County Development Partnership, Programme Implementer. All headline targets in the SICAP Programme will be achieved by the Programme Implementer for 2017.
A new SICAP Programme for the period 2018-2022 was tendered during 2017 and the successful Programme Implementer is Carlow County Development Partnership CLG. The budget for 2018 will be €547,157 and over the period of the programme funding of €2,682,140 will be spent on the programme.
Local Economic & Community Plan (LECP)
The Local Government Reform Act 2014 provides a stronger and clearer role for local government in economic and community development. This is a key element in achieving the vision set out in the Action Programme for Effective Local Government – Putting People First “local government will be the main vehicle of governance and public service at local level, leading economic, social and community development.”
Section 44 of the Local Government Reform Act 2014 provides for the making of a six year integrated Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP).
The preparation of the Plan was the responsibility of the Carlow Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) and Carlow County Council. The Community elements of the Plan were developed by the Local Community Development Committee and economic elements by Carlow
County Council through the strategic Policy Committee (SPC) for Economic Development, Enterprise Support and Planning.
The purpose of the Local Economic & Community Plan (LECP) for County Carlow, was to identify and implement actions to strengthen and develop the economic and community development dimensions of the local authority area over the six year period 2016-2021 and in a manner that both reflects and supports the implementation of the existing Carlow County Development Plan, Joint Spatial Plan for Carlow and the Draft Guidelines and proposed Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSESs), to be prepared by the Regional Assembly and the new National Planning Framework which will replace the National Spatial Strategy. In preparing the LECP, it was necessary also to consider the proposed Rural Development Strategy for County Carlow 2014 to 2020, the Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme (SICAP) and Government’s Action Plan for Jobs.
The role of the LCDC is to implement, oversee, coordinate, monitor and review the plan in partnership with Carlow County Council. The National Oversight Audit Commission (NOAC) and the LECP Advisory Steering Group will also have a monitoring role in the implementation of the Plan.
The Plan will be implemented in three cycles of two year periods through an Implementation plan and the Implementation Plan for the period 2016-2018. During
2017 the following LEAD Agencies reported to the LCDC by delivering a verbal/written progress report on the actions detailed in the Implementation Plan:
• Carlow Volunteer Centre.
• Carlow Public Participation Network.
• Southern Regional Drugs & Alcohol Task Force.
• Carlow Children & Young People Services Committee.
• Carlow Local Sports Partnership Committee.
• Carlow County Council – Environment Section.
• Carlow County Council – Library Service.
• Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
• County Carlow Joint Policing Committee.
• Carlow Integration Forum.
The LCDC also approved/considered the following matters:
• LCDC, 2016 Annual Report.
• Role/Function of the LCDC.
• Presentation by Waterways Ireland – Barrow Blue way.
• Ireland 2040 – Our Plan – National Planning Framework (NPF).
• Action Plan for Rural Development “Realising Our Rural Potential”
• Co – Ordination of Service Delivery at Local Level.
• Community Facilities Capital Scheme 2017-Considered 95 applications and recommended 76 applications for funding to the
Municipal Districts of Carlow and Muinebheag to the value of €64,500 for approval.
• CLAR 2017 Programme – 5 applications received and approved to the value of €178,760.
• Establishment of Social Inclusion Forum and agreed Terms of Reference.
• Pathfinder Programme – Pilot Programme for the Development of Local Community Development Committees.
• National Healthy Cities and Counties of Ireland.
• Town & Village Renewal Scheme.
• Presentation by St Luke’s Hospital Kilkenny on Age Friendly Initiatives.
• RAPID Programme – Considered 15 applications and recommended 10 applications to the Municipal Districts of Carlow and Muinebheag to the value of €64,500 for approval.
• Healthy Ireland €100,000 funding received and programme prepared.
• Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy RSES for Southern Region- Consultation process.
Training was organised at National Level by the Department of Community and Regional Development and Pobal for members of the LCDC in respect of:
• Operations of the LCDC
• SICAP
• LEADER
Carlow Public Participation Network (PPN)
Membership
At the end of 2017 381 groups were registered with Carlow PPN.
Training and Capacity Building
• 2 Training Programmes for members took place in 2017.
• Training Programme for Secretariat members and Representatives took place. Focus for this training was ‘how to influence policy’.
• Capacity building for Secretariat members and Co-ordinator took place throughout the year also.
Plenary Meetings and Linkage Group Meeting
• 2 Plenary Meetings in 2017.
• A meeting of all our Linkage Groups took place in May and focused on the workings of linkage groups. Second Linkage Group meeting cancelled due to amount of apologies.
1st Plenary Meeting
2nd Plenary Meeting
Linkage Group Meeting
Strategic Plan
• Work continued throughout the year on Carlow PPN’s Strategic Plan 2018 – 2021 which will be launched at our Plenary Meeting on 24th April 2018.
Consultation Toolkit – ‘Consultation – Bridging the Gap’
• Went out to tender for the above project. The Wheel, Ireland’s national association of community and voluntary organisations, won the tender and will facilitate this process and capture your ideas in a participative and creative way.
Carlow PPN Team
• 2 15 hour part-time staff employed in October:
• Allocated office space in Carlow Town Hall
Other achievements
1. Presented to LCDC as Lead Agency on 3 Local Economic and Community Plan Actions
2. Secured €32,400 under the Town & Village Scheme 2017 to create a Digital Strategy for the communities of County Carlow
3. Attended and presented at regional SJI meetings and attended national meetings
4. E-Bulletin distributed monthly
5. Completed a training survey from our members
6. Took part in county Roadshow where different events and locations were attended to raise the profile of the PPN
7. Animation on what the PPN is available on our Youtube page - @CarlowPPN and on our website – www.carlowppn.ie
8. SalesForce – Client Relationship Management system up and running in October
9. Secretariat Sub-Groups now in place:
Carlow Children and Young Person’s Services Committee (CCYPSC)
This Inter-agency Committee is responsible for improving the lives of children and families at local and community level through integrated planning, working and service delivery and ensures that professionals and agencies work together, 2017 was a busy year for this interagency committee.
• Seed funding of €25,000 from DCYA accessed to support 4 actions through CCYPSC
• Setting up website
• Training of facilitators by Carlow Regional Youth Services to deliver ‘Friends’ programmes to children in out-of-school settings
• Programmes to address the issue of domestic abuse in the county
• Publishing of leaflets to support children in care to participate more fully in their care planning
• A calendar of parenting courses and supports was published an distributed in each quarter of 2017
• The Healthy & Active subgroup has adapted a Referral Pathways poster for mental health services in the county
• The Safe & Protected subgroup has worked with Barnardos to put on training for Non-Violent Resistance, TLC Kidz (post-domestic abuse programme for children and their mothers) and an awareness raising workshop on domestic abuse and its prevalence in the county
• This subgroup has also set up and interagency Domestic Abuse Action Network to support the work against domestic abuse in the county
• Healthy Ireland funding was accessed to support the ‘Healthy Streets’ healthy nutrient and lifestyle pilot programme being delivered in the 2 Family Resource |centres and St. Catherine’s and also a Sexual Health workshop to begin the conversation around a sexual health strategy for County Carlow
• Information sessions were provided on the launch of the new Children First legislation
• Parenting subgroup provided a series of Drop-in mornings on parent support in Hackettstown.
A very well attended workshop on Domestic Violence delivered by Linda Finn for CCYPSC.
Comhairle na nÓg
Comhairlí na nÓg/Youth Councils were established in response to the 10 year National Children Strategy launched in 2001 by the Department of Health and Children and was set up in 34 City and County Development Boards around the Country. Under the auspices of these City/County Development Boards, Comhairle na nÓg is the responsibility of the local authority in each area. In County Carlow, Comhairle na nÓg is managed by Carlow Regional Youth Services in conjunction with the Community Section of Carlow County Council. It is a forum for structured input into decision making by children and young people in the development of local services and policies that impact on young people’s lives.
• In January the Community Section and the programme implementer Carlow Regional Youth Services reviewed 2016 action plan and prepared 2017 Plan and submitted both to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
• Received confirmation on 28th February 2017 that the review and 2017 plan submitted was successful in achieving the maximum grant of €20,000.
• On 26th October Carlow Comhairle na nÓg held their annual AGM with excellent participation from the Post-Primary Schools around the County. The AGM was opened with a specially recorded address from An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at the request of Comhairle na nÓg Advisory Committee member Cllr Brian O’Donoghue. The topic chosen for next year is in the area of mental health.
Comhairle Members at their AGM
An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar delivering his specially recorded address to the AGM participants.
Carlow Age Friendly County
The Carlow Age Friendly Subgroup continued to support the delivery of actions of the County Age Friendly Strategy. The majority of the focus for 2017 of the Committee were as follows;
• The Age Friendly Interagency Committee has started forward planning for the development of the new 5 year strategy for the period 2017-2022. Debra O’Neill, Consultant was engaged to lead the development of this strategy which took place from December 2016 to February 2017. This was in the guise of individual surveys, interviews with the relevant stakeholders and two public meetings held in each Municipal district – Carlow in Carlow College on 6th February and Muinebheag in Leighlinbridge Parish Centre on 7th February.
• Presentations were made to the SPC on Community, Housing and Amenity in February and at the March meeting of Council in respect of the Age Friendly Strategy 2017-2022.
• The Carlow Age Friendly County Strategic Plan 2017 – 2022 was launched on 13th September in Gairdin Beo by Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Jim Daly.
At the launch of the new Carlow Age Friendly County Strategic Plan 2017 – 2022 is (L to R) Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council Cllr William Patton, Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Jim Daly, Chairperson of the Carlow Age Friendly Committee Eileen Brophy, Chairperson of the Carlow Older Persons Forum Joe Butler, Pat Deering, T.D.
Carlow Volunteer Centre
Carlow Volunteer Centre had a very busy year, surpassing many of its main targets that were set and engaged in a range of activities that have effectively promoted and supported volunteering across the County of Carlow, activities such as the vital placement service, Volunteer Management Training, Garda Vetting, working with community and local development groups.
• Due to consistent significant cuts in budget over the last number of years, Carlow Volunteer Centre remained in accommodation provided by Carlow County Council.
• After the resignation of Regina Duane in late September, interviews were held on 13th October and a successful candidate was chosen – Helen Rothwell who commenced employment as the new Manager of Carlow Volunteer Centre on 19th October.
• The Carlow Volunteer Centre is a Lead Agency in the Carlow Local Economic and Community Plan 2016-2021
• Personnel in the Community Department continued to support the Volunteer Centre.
To give a flavour of their core work which is the Placement Service, their work with the Volunteer includes the following;
• Information on volunteering options
• Support and advice for those with extra support needs
• Placement & brokerage
• Recognition and appreciation events
• Text-message alerts
• Media profiles/Awareness raising
• Social media
• Schools Transition Year Volunteering
• 3rd Level Outreach Volunteering
• I.T Carlow Volunteering Award
• Corporate volunteering team days
• Presentations on specific volunteering themes – i.e. environmental, disability, unemployment
Their work with Voluntary Organisations includes the following;
• Advertising volunteer vacancies
• Advice and support
• Documentation templates – e.g. volunteer policies, role descriptions etc.
• Consultancy on specific issues
• Volunteer Management Training
• Garda Vetting access
• Seminars on relevant topics
• Recruitment events - Volunteer Expo, Carlow IT Volunteering Fair
• “Once-off/Event Volunteers” list
• Regular email updates
• Access to national volunteer recognition
