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June 2020
COMMUNITY
NEWSLETTER INFORMATION & UPDATES
DLDC’s Teresa McDonnell presenting Hand Sanitiser supplied by The Irish Rural Link, through the National Community Call/Champion Programme to ChefAid Donegal volunteer John McGroary.
Donegal’s ‘Community Champions’ Respond to COVID-19 Pandemic Within a matter of days, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way that we live, the way that we work, the way we go about our day to day routines, and the impact of the pandemic has been far-reaching. As events unfolded across Europe and within Ireland, the pandemic created a deep sense of fear in the hearts and
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minds of everyone in society as we adapted to a different way of living that even brought about a new language – with new terms such as shielding, cocooning, self-isolating, transmission, infection rates (R), amongst other terms that we didn’t use just six months ago....... Continued on page 2.
Call 1800-928-982 Email covidsupport@donegalcoco.ie
Employment Supports Weekly Job Listings Mary Higgins
EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT OFFICER
This year at DLDC we celebrate our 25th anniversary. We setup in 1995 and have been working for 25 years to support people and communities across Donegal. For now our celebrations will be on hold due to the pandemic, but we look forward to working with people, community groups and partners in Donegal in the years ahead.
Donegal’s ‘Communty Champions’ Respond to COVID-19 Pandemic By Aisling Sharkey, Editor, DLDC Community Newsletter
Cont...And at the same time that we collectively faced into the greatest challenge of our time, thousands of volunteers across Ireland and in Donegal set about putting in place local community responses to care for, shield and protect the most vulnerable people living in our community areas.
supplies, food parcels and essentials to the most vulnerable to name but a few. Family, friends, neighbours, community groups and volunteers have all played a key role through daily welfare checks, phone calls, shop runs, socially distanced personal calls – helping out those most in need.
Volunteers across Donegal lead the response in real-time, responding to the crisis as it unfolded, and they truly deserve to be recognised as ‘Community Champions’ for local responses that have operated around the clock, 24/7, 7 days a week. Responses have included delivering hot meals, medicines,
The response within Donegal is something that we can all be proud off and every volunteer deserves to be recognised as a ‘Community Champion’ in their own right in caring for people and families that have been isolated, vulnerable, living alone, at risk and impacted by the crisis.
We’re all in this together.
DLDC’s COVID-19 Community Response Fund Social Inclusion & Community ActivationProgramme - Community Development Team
In response to the pandemic, to support the ‘Community Response’ in Donegal, DLDC through the SICAP programme adapted also by setting up a ‘Community Response Fund’ in DLDC. We wanted to recognise and support groups and volunteers leading out on responses in different community areas. We are delighted that 47 groups accessed support through the fund that we set-up. While we don’t have enough pages or space here that would be needed to fully document and showcase the amazing work that volunteers and groups have done throughout the pandemic, the staff in DLDC would like to take this opportunity to say thanks to all groups and volunteers that responded to the pandemic, for your tireless and selfless commitment and dedication to people living in your area.
Groups that accessed DLDCs COVID-19 Fund Included: The Bluestack Centre Drimarone Donegal Intercultural Platform Manor Childcare Scheme Robert Emmets GAA Club Castlefinn Finn Valley Family Resource Centre Inver Community Centre We Care LK Food Bank Crossroads & Killygordon Enterprise (ChefAid) CLG Ard an Ratha The Irish Wheekchair Association Cairdle Le Cheile Committee CLG Fanad Community Care of the Aged Glenties & Fintown Covid19 Response Group Glenties Day Care Centre Ballyshannon Regeneration Group, (ChefAid) Foroige’s Teen Parents Support Programme Downstrands Family Resource Centre Letterkenny Community Development Project Mary Immaculate Conference SVP Stranorlar Kilmacrennan Community Group CLG Lifford/Clonleigh Resource Centre Lifford Covid Community Response Group St Johnston & Carrigans Family Resource Centre Creeslough Day Care The Forge Family Resource Centre Connect Mental Health Ozanam House Residential Unit The Base Enterprise Centre Stranorlar (ChefAid) CLG Sean Mac Cumhaills (Twin Towns) GAA The Ramelton Community Care of the Aged Mevagh Day Care Centre The Doorway Project CLG Bundoran Community Development CLG Comharchumann Forbartha & Fostaíochta Arainn Mhóir (CFFAM) Comharchumann Forbartha Ghaoth Dobhair Ionad Naomh Pádraig St. Cronas SVP CLG Chloich Cheann Fhaola Gleann Fhinne Teo Isaac Butt Heritage Lár Comhairle Paróiste Ghleann Cholm Cille Arranmore Day Centre Togra Fiontar & Cultúr Uladh CTR Mná Phort Mhaise Ionad Pobail Cholmcille Faoi Theorainn Rathaíocht SVP Falcarragh Cloughaneely Mental Health Association
Refugee Resettlement Programme By Ciara Cronan, Project Co-ordinator & Resettlement Worker
Art Attack Our Refugee Resettlement Team had lots of fun delivering colouring packs that they made for the young children on the programme. They also made up some art therapy colouring packs and delivered them to the teenagers. The busy team delivered the art supplies to Donegal Town, Letterkenny & Buncrana and brought smiles to the faces of both parents and children throughout the county in these difficult times.
Employment Supports By Eleanor Rooney, Job Club Co-ordinator
Weekly job listings
Lifelong Learning (SICAP) By Susan Kierce Marsh, DLDCs Lifelong Learning Coordinator
Our SICAP Lifelong Learning Team was delighted to assist 11 people in completing a 2 day HACCP training programme in the Bluestack Centre, Drimarone recently. The training was delivered with adherence to social distancing measures, with a training floor plan in place that had been approved by the Health & Safety Authority. The pandemic has impacted all of our lives however we have found that people have used the lockdown time productively to explore personal development and lifelong learning opportunities and we have seen strong interest in our wide range of courses to be delivered in the Autumn. Our Team is currently working to create & compile a directory of online courses and resources to provide people that are seeking education and training opportunities with the most up to date information on the opportunities available. The directory builds on a ‘Health & Well Being Supports’ document that was produced by DLDC in April 2020. Throughout the pandemic, we have been busy making phone calls to participants that have registered to take part in our learning opportunities, keeping them updated and providing them with information as quickly as possible. We are currently exploring a pilot model through which we hope to
deliver IT supports to older people in the South of the County, and we hope to roll this out to other areas in the county in the year ahead so stay tuned for further updates on this. In conjunction with NCCWNDonegal Women’s Network, we are planning to deliver 2 ‘Women in the Home’ courses in the Autumn. These courses will be delivered over 8 weeks by Emily Whelan and are intended to support women by promoting personal development, well-being and positive mental health. We have set-up these courses because we recognise that it is important for women to feel valued, to recognise the transferable skills they already have, and to realise their full potential. When we believe in ourselves, anything is possible, and that is our core message for women that are interested in registering to take part. If you are interested in training or would like to find out more information about Lifelong Learning opportunities that we have on offer, you can contact our Lifelong Learning Team by calling or texting me on 087 9849386 or by emailing: susan.kiercemarsh@dldc.org We would love to hear from you so why not make contact with us today - you’ll be glad you did!
It is great to see that there are still employment opportunities for job seekers in the county. DLDC are following the COVID-19 Safety Guidelines and still providing our normal range of supports. We upload job vacancies that are available within the county on our website every Monday. Job Club staff will continue to engage remotely with jobseekers on a One to One basis, determined by each persons needs, either by phone, email, WhatsApp, Zoom or MS Teams. We will support you in CV creation and development, Letter writing, Job searching, Interview preparation and techniques and guide you in the use of job search tools. We would be delighted to assist you on any of the above so please feel free to contact Lareina on 086 1722961 or myself Eleanor on 086 6029680 We can achieve this together while staying apart!
Community Employment Childcare Scheme Vacancies
JOB VACANCIES
By Margaret Carlin, CE Childcare Supervisor
Community Employment is an employment programme which helps long-term unemployed people to re-enter the workforce and to enhance and develop their skills. It offers participants parttime and temporary placements in jobs based within local communities. The Community Employment Childcare Scheme is funded by the Department of Social Protection. The Scheme currently operates in a total of 25 different childcare settings in 22 different towns/villages around the county. We have Childcare Assistant vacancies in several locations.
Childcare Assistant
Vacancies: - The Playhouse Dunfanaghy - Little Smarties Childcare Pettigo - Bundoran Community Childcare - Little Rascals Rossnakill Fanad - Creeslough Community Childcare - St. Gabriel’s Community Childcare Letterkenny - Niall Mór Community Childcare Killybegs - Donegal Town Community Playgroup - Saimer Childcare Ballyshannon - Milford Community Playgroup - Learn N’Play Playschool, Glendale, Letterkenny
Our Community Hands Vans Are Available
- Raphoe Community Playgroup
By Patrick McDaid, Schemes Department Manager
- Drumkeen Community Childcare
Our Community Hands Vans are available and providing delivery support to local community groups. This is a free service. If your local community group needs a Van & Driver please get in touch by calling Louise McCafferty on 087 3341729 to see how we can help. We have vans available to provide support in the following areas; Ballybofey/Castlefinn/Convoy/ Raphoe/Lifford and Donegal Town.
Start Date: August 2020 Contract Date: Until 23rd April 2021 based on 19.5 hours per week. Eligibility: Over 21 years of age and in receipt of a Social Welfare payment or One-Parent Family Payment for at least one year. For more information contact: Margaret Carlin on mob: 0876354367 or email: mcarlin@dldc. org or contact Kate Campbell on mob:086 8535524 email: kate.campbell@dldc.org
Enterprise Team By Louise Brogan, Individual Supports Manager
New Business Start-ups ‘Start Your Own Business Course’ If you are interested in self-employment and accessing supports through the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance or the Short Term Enterprise Allowance Schemes, we are offering the following: Start Your Own Business Course Online - Two Sessions delivered on zoom platform as follows: ■ Session 1 - Monday 8th June 11:30am – 1:00pm ■ Session 2 - Tuesday 9th June 11:30am – 1:00pm
Donegal Volunteering From Home Opportunities By John Curran, Donegal Volunteer Centre Manager
Over 12,000 new volunteers have registered on the national volunteering database, I-VOL, in the last few weeks. While many people are volunteering in direct response to COVID-19, for the majority of people the best thing they can do is stay home and stay safe. The most important thing we can all do right now is to stay home and limit the spread of COVID-19. But that doesn’t mean people can’t still give back and get involved. We have seen such a huge outpouring of support from people willing to help and there are so many organisations that still need ongoing support during this crisis. We know that many people have lost jobs, hobbies and connections. Volunteering is a great way to contribute and it can help give a sense of purpose. It has also been proven to be beneficial for our mental health and well-being – something which is of the utmost important right now. Our volunteering campaign will run for the duration of the COVID-19 restrictions and showcase the different ways people can get involved. Volunteer Ireland is also developing resources for organisations to support them to engage existing and new volunteers remotely. For More information on the campaign and ways to volunteer contact Eamonn Bonner Placement Officer on 074 9126740 or email: eamonn@volunteerdonegal.ie
For more information or to book a place, contact Colette Callaghan – Email: ccallaghan@dldc.org or Mobile: 086-8177293
Already Self –Employed on BTWEA or STEA? The Enterprise team continues to deliver supports to existing entrepreneurs by providing online training/supports in the following areas: ■ Book-keeping ■ Marketing
■ Business Network Meetings ■ Mentoring
To avail of supports in any of the above areas please contact an Enterprise Officer in one of our offices: Eileen Diver (Gweedore) enidhuibhir@dldc.org 087-2236585 Colette Callaghan (Letterkenny) ccallaghan@dldc.org 086-8177293 Mark Willis (Donegal Town) mwillis@dldc.org 087-9857386
Employment Supports – If you are looking for a job
or support with your CV, job applications or job interview preparation, free support is available. Local job listings are uploaded to our website every Monday. Contact: Employment Supports Officers: Paula Mc Garvey (Gaeltacht) 087-3120139 Mary Higgins (Letterkenny) 087-9926681 Siobhan Nugent (Donegal Town) 087-9981827 Traveller Job Coach: Maeve McIvor (Letterkenny) 087-1305866
DLDC Business Support Network
CLÁR 2020 Programme The National programme is now open for applications. This fund is available for small scale projects in designated rural areas that have experienced population decline areas outlined blue on map below. CLÁR is tailored to help responses to COVID-19 this year. The measures being funded under the 2020 CLÁR programme are:
1: Schools/Community Safety measures 2: Community Recreation Areas 3: Community Wellbeing Supports, comprising: • Meals on Wheels and linked services • Mobility and Cancer Care Transport Application deadline: 28th August 2020 More information on the programme is available through the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/91ba52-clar/
Community Health By Siobhan Coyle, Community Health Coordinator
DLDC’s FREE community health project (CoH-Sync) is continuing to support people in the border counties via phone and online platforms including our Facebook page. We are looking for your ideas on other ways that we can support YOU during the COVID-19
lock-down. What is it that would help you? The topics that we cover are physical activity, mental health & well-being, nutrition, alcohol awareness, and smoking cessation. Supports involve the creation of individual health plans and/or group workshops. We would appreciate your feedback by completing a short online survey. You can answer on behalf
of yourself, a family member, your community, or an organisation. Link to our online survey https:// forms.gle/12rtapWK9hDE7J6n6 Survey closing date is the 8th June 2020, by completing this survey you will be entered in a draw for a â‚Ź50 one-for-all voucher. For further information contact Siobhan on 0873601503 or email: scoyle@dldc.org
Career as a Childminder? Have you ever thought about becoming a childminder or would you like to know the facts about becoming a childminder? Supports are available to help you set up. To find out more contact Bridgid Casey on 0858446277 or email: bridgidcasey@ donegalchildcare.com
Supporting Communities (SICAP) Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme
FOODBANK At the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, DLDC began an exercise of mapping the great voluntary and community effort being undertaken daily in communities right across Donegal in response to the crisis. Frontline community and voluntary responses have been of critical importance to people and families that are vulnerable, isolated, or impacted by the crisis. The response in Donegal is something that communities and volunteers can be proud of. The mapping exercise identified that there was an additional need for food supplies in different community areas within Donegal. To help address this need, DLDC worked with ‘We Care Foodbank’ in Letterkenny to support the Foodbank with increased food supply and distribution to areas of need within the county. ‘We Care Foodbank’ are approved by FoodCloud, and DLDC has supported We Care Foodbank by coordinating the collection of food supplies from the FoodCloud hub in Galway weekly and with the distribution of this food to community organisations in Donegal. Four allocations of food have been collected from Galway to date using the DLDC Community Hands Van. Cairde Le Cheile in Letterkenny has provided a venue for additional food storage and has supported this work by carrying out deliveries throughout the county. Local volunteers are also assisting with delivers countywide using the DLDC Community Hands Van. Food supplies have been delivered to the following Community & Voluntary organisations:
■ St. Johnston & Carrigans Family Resource Centre ■ Falcarragh Foodbank ■ The Exchange Inishowen ■ Raphoe Family Resource Centre ■ Ionad Naomh Padraic ■ Finn Valley Family Resource Centre ■ Togra Fiontar & Cultúr Uladh CTR ■ Lifford Food Bank
DLDC would like to thank the team at Cairde Le Cheile and the committee of We Care Foodbank for their dedication and commitment in delivering this initiative. COVID-19 RISK ASSESSMENT TRAINING Donegal Local Development CLG and Donegal Volunteer Centre in conjunction with the Carmichael Centre hosted two sessions of our Zoom Post COVID-19 Risk Assessment Training recently with 81 participants joining the session. This Training Course aims to provide support for Community Groups as they plan for the reopening of community building such as halls, offices and shops in the coming weeks and months. For further information contact Margaret Larkin on 087 7633790 or John Curran on 086 8186035.
Community Champions – COVID-19 Community Outreach By Teresa McDonnell, Community Call /Champion Program
COVID-19 Community Outreach (CCO) is a national response to the societal impact of the coronavirus outbreak, coordinated by The Wheel and Irish Rural Link, and funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development. It seeks to ensure that vulnerable people across Ireland — such as older people, people with long-term medical conditions, and people with additional needs — have access to the highest quality information and support while helping to ease pressure on state services.
How does it work? CCO will link and support the thousands of community groups across Ireland who are already working to support the most vulnerable people in our communities. CCO engages a network of Community Champions across every county in Ireland. These individuals already have strong links within their local communities, the existing experience of working with volunteers and community and local organisations and are already in contact with the people that the programme seeks to reach.
Community Champions work with local community groups to: 1.Disseminate accurate information quickly throughout their local area, with a particular emphasis on hard-to-reach, vulnerable audiences; 2.Connect existing community and volunteer efforts, in relation to ensuring safe and effective non-medical services; 3.Identify emerging gaps in community services, communicate them promptly to local organisations as relevant (statutory or community-based), and, where necessary, to the National Coordination Team; and 4.Liaise with relevant regional services to ensure that people recovering at home or returning from hospital receive necessary social supports. DLDC Tús, RSS and SICAP Community Development teams are playing an integral role carrying out needs analysis on a regular basis to ensure that relevant and timely supports are provided to groups and individuals in our county. You can find out how COVID-19 Community Outreach can help you by contacting Teresa McDonnell on 087 117 6867 or Email: communitycall@dldc.org
Community Champions 1. Pictured is Renata from DLDC delivering face masks and hand sanitisers under the Community Champions Programme to Chef Aid Bundoran.Also pictured is Cllr. Michael McMahon and the 2 chefs Brian Gallagher and Brian Loughlin who were delighted to get the protective gear to keep them and all of their volunteers protected and safe while volunteering in the community. 2. Patricia Sheils, Fanad Care of the Aged/Day Centre, on her deliveries
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3. On behalf of ChefAid Ballyshannon our thanks to Brendan for the hand sanitizer from Irish Distillers via Irish Rural Link. 4. Seamus McMenamin, ChefAid Killygordon 5. Kathy Kelly, Secretary, & Marie McColgan, Treasurer, Red Hughs GAA
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6. Chef Zara Love and Paul Kelly from Chef Aid Pettigo who were delighted to receive the hand sanitiser from Irish Rural Link. 7. Chef Aid Inver – Breedge Burke delighted with Irish Distillers hand sanitizer distributed via Irish Rural Link
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DLDC Board of Directors Community Elections
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Irish Distillers produced hand sanitiser and distributed it via Irish Rural Link and the Community Call/Champion Programme to many organisations providing meals and food during the COVID -19 crisis.
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The community election for the DLDC Board of Directors in East Donegal & Gaeltacht was due to take place in June 2020. Due to COVID-19, this has now been postponed until 2021.
Get in Touch Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic our staff have been in contact with community groups, people working in community placements and people seeking employment, self-employment and training opportunities on an ongoing basis. Our office remains closed for one to one meetings but we are still working remotely. You can still contact our Receptionist Louise on 087 362 8964 or by email info@dldc.org with general enquiries or you can make direct contact with the staff that lead out on operating DLDC programmes (details below).
Employment & Business Setup Support
Volunteer Support
Community Group Support
Community Call/ Champion Programme
Lifelong Learning Support
Employment Schemes
Health & Wellbeing Support
Rural Development
Louise Brogan Mob: 086 8124250 Email: lbrogan@dldc.org Margaret Larkin Mob: 087 7633790 Email: mlarkin@dldc.org
Susan Kierce Marsh Mob: 087 9849386 Email: susan.kiercemarsh@dldc.org Lorraine McGowan Mob: 087 1804593 Email: lmcgowan@dldc.org
John Curran Mob: 086 8186035 Email: john@volunteerdonegal.ie
Teresa McDonnell Mob: 087 1176867 Email: communitycall@dldc.org Patrick McDaid Mob: 087 1871159 Email: pmcdaid@dldc.org Frank Kelly Mob: 086 8178854 Email: fkelly@dldc.org
Contact Us
The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2018-2022 is funded by the Irish Government through the Department of Rural and Community Development and co-funded under the Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020.