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GLOBAL ACTION PLAN
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SPRING 2012 Date 19/01/2012
Welcome to the new Global Action Plan Newsletter. Over the past few months we have been busy redesigning our newsletter to bring you a new look with fresh new content. We welcome any feedback or comments you have to help us improve your reading experience. 2011 has been a busy and rewarding year, during which time we launched new programmes and events, and we also continued to coordinate longstanding programmes in the community.
Calendar Competition The theme for this year’s ‘Ballymun Framed’ calendar competition was ‘Trees and Nature’ and we received over 250 entries from schools and youth organisations in Ballymun. The standard of entries was very high, as can be seen in the beautiful calendar, which you can view here: To celebrate the creativity and work involved we held an awards ceremony where the winners were given their prizes in the Civic Centre on the 7th of December.
Ballymun Christmas Market The Ballymun Market launched their Christmas market in the Ballymun Shopping Centre, which the Lord Mayor of Dublin Andrew Montague attended. The market continues to run every Thursday from 9am to 3.30pm and is full of gifts, crafts and food.
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Launch of the Global Action Plan Youth Gardening Club. Fairtrade Fortnight events will begin in the last week of February. Please contact us for more information.
National Spring Clean events will take place throughout April. Contact Global Action Plan or Ballymun Tidy Towns to get involved and give Ballymun a spring clean!
The theme for the Global Action Plan Ballymun Framed calendar competition this year will be ‘Water and Nature’. GAP will be approaching schools and youth groups with more information in March, and encouraging young people to start snapping!
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Environmental Champions Global Action Plan worked with a group of young adults from Ballark training centre from October to December on the Bin It! Anti-Litter Campaign. They developed a poster and video campaign after carrying out a litter survey in Ballymun. Litter Hotspot Map
Park Stewardship Programme It was a successful first year for the programme in Gaelscoil Bhaile Munna, Holy Spirit Girls NS and St. Joseph’s Senior NS. Cllr. Bill Tormey officiated the awards ceremony for the programme with the 3rd class pupils from St. Joseph’s Senior NS on the 16th of November.
Highlights Youth Environmental Network (YEN) Bin It! Anti-litter Campaign by the Global Action Plan Environmental Champions Web: www.globalactionplan.ie T: 018625846
The participants have developed a ‘Green Visions’ document that includes information on their work, a youth survey of Ballymun and their visions for a greener community. This has been presented to policy-makers and community leaders in Ballymun. View it here. YEN participants will be linking with local committees and initiatives on projects and activities this year, including Ballymun LIFT Youth Arts Festival, the Ballymun Otherworlds Halloween Festival, and the Ballymun Tidy Towns. Eco Clubs
Youth Environmental Network The participants created a giant spider sculpture made from reclaimed materials, which they brought through the parade in the Ballymun Otherworlds Halloween Festival. The sculpture also decorated the main stage during the festival!
After years of successfully engaging local children in environmental activities the Eco Clubs will get a new lease of life and a new title in 2012; The Green Fingers Youth Gardening Club. Previous Eco Club members aged 10 to 12 years are welcome to join. Please contact us for further information.
Park Stewardship Programme Eco Clubs The Eco Club participants got into the spirit of Halloween in Ballymun and created paper mache skull heads, which were exhibited in the Ballymun Otherworlds Halloween Festival.
After a successful pilot year the programme will continue in 2012 with four new projects in four primary schools in Ballymun. We aim to continue linking with local stakeholders in the community, including Safer Ballymun, local parents and residents, the Gardai and local gardening and environmental groups.
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The Muck & Magic Community garden in Coultry garden’s kick started from scratch in March 2011. The garden is committed to growing fruit, vegetables and herbs in an organic sustainable way. The gardeners meet twice weekly and are keen to welcome anyone who might have an interest in gardening to come along and join in the gardening activities.
Highlights ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The GAP gardening programme are delighted to congratulate Lisa Mc Kenna on winning the best garden & the biodiversity award at the Ballymun Tidy town’s competition. Lisa completed the home gardening program with GAP in 2011. Her enthusiasm for organic gardening is inspirational and her garden in Poppintree is a haven for birds, insects and wildlife.
The Ballymun Garden club was formed in 2011 by keen gardeners who wish to talk gardening, share skills, knowledge and knowhow. They run workshops teaching and passing on practical skills such as plant propagation. The members meet on the 1st Wednesday of each month in the Drop in Well Family Resource Center, Coultry, D9. New members are always welcome.
★The Ballymun Garden Club will host their AGM on the 7th March. The garden club are always looking for new club members, they meet on the first Wednesday of each month in the Drop in Well Family Resource Center, Coultry, D9. ★ The Muck & Magic Community gardeners meet on site in Coultry Garden’s on Monday & Wednesday’s 10.30 am until 1 pm, so come along and check out the garden and see what we are up to. ★GAP’s Home gardening programme will kick off in March, so if you would like to tackle your garden, learn how to garden in a sustainable and organic way, then give us a call.
St. Joseph Plunkett Tower residents got busy planting container and basket gardening to brighten up their balconies, these residents also went on to work in enhancing the community garden to the front of their tower, and others undertook a home gardening program and learned how to grow plants & vegetables on their balconies.
For more information on any of the GAP gardening programs please contact the GAP Gardening co-ordinator on 01-8625846
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Green Living Programme
Highlights
Global Action Plan delivered six Green Living programmes throughout Ballymun in 2011 with participants learning new ways to reduce their Carbon footprint and save money. During 2012 Global Action Plan will be delivering 5 more programmes in the Ballymun area.
Ballymun Tidy Towns held there first ever AGM with more residents becoming involved in this very worth while programme. If you are interested in being involved with Ballymun Tidy Towns please contact (01) 862 5846
Mobility Week During 2011 many schools within Ballymun put there best foot forward running funky feet days, where the children opted to walk to school. In 2012 Global Action Plan hope to work with more schools making this a bigger and better event.
Ballymun Market
Heritage Week As part of Heritage week in 2011 Global Action Plan ran a number of events to get people out into or parks and to help them understand the importance of Biodiveristy. During 2012 Global Action Plan endeavor to build on last years events which were so successful.
Global Action Plan acknowledges the support of all our funders.
Global Action Plan Ireland gapireland Global Action Plan 13 Balbutcher Lane, Ballymun, Dublin 11 T: 01 8625846 F: 01 8620989 Email: info@globalactionplan.ie Website: www.globalactionplan.ie
Registered in Ireland / Number: 6366806R / Charity Number: CHY 15448
During 2011 the Ballymun market moved to an indoor location (Ballymun Shopping Centre). This has proved to be a very positive move where the project has gone from strength to strength giving a much needed focus to Ballymun Town Centre while offering choice and variety to local shoppers. The Market operates every Thursday from 9am 3.30pm.
Ballymun Fair Trade Committee hope to encourage new member as they strive to encourage people to be more Fair Trade aware. For more information please contact 01 842 5846