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GCCN News 2020
9th December


Welcome to this edition of GCCN Network News. Below we have information on:
 

GCCN Network News

Webinars and Meetings
  • UN Human Rights Webinar: Recover Better - Stand Up for Human Rights - read here
  • Home Truths Online Panel Discussions & Live Exhibition - read here
  • Upcoming Meetings - read here
Updates
  • Funding to Strengthen the Development and Growth of Community Work - read here
  • Meals4Health Named Social Enterprise of the Year 2020 - read here
Have Your Say
  • Irish Water Draft Framework Plan - Consultation - read here
  • REMINDER: Galway City & Other National Consultations - read here
Open Calls
  • FoodCloud Appeal to Charities that Use Food as Part of Their Service - read here
  • LGBTI+ People Using Mental Health Services: Focus Group - read here
  • REMINDER: Community Water Development Fund 2021 - read here
Resources and Supports
  • Free Online Living Well Programme - read here
  • Survey of Rights and Living Conditions of Travellers - read here
  • Act FAST When Stroke Strikes: Awareness Campaign and Resources - read here

COVID-19 Related Updates

  • €1.7m COVID-19 Supports for Community and Voluntary Groups - read here
  • Allocation Strategy for COVID-19 Vaccines - read here
Reminders
  • Galway City COVID-19 Community Call Helpline - read here
  • Keep Well Campaign - read here
  • Reminder: Support for the Older People - read here
  • Galway City Community Response Map - read here

 Don't forget!
If you have information to share with other groups and organisations in Galway City, members of GCCN, please drop us a quick email at communications@gccn.ie.
Thank you!
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GCCN Network News
Webinars and Meetings

Celebrate UN Human Rights
Recover Better - Stand Up for Human Rights
Webinar 

The 10th of December marks the United Nations Day for Human Rights. On this occasion, join Community Work Ireland for the webinar Recover Better - Stand Up for Human Rights to be held on Thursday, 10th December, 2020 from 3pm - 5pm.

This year’s global Human Rights Day theme relates to the COVID-19 pandemic and focuses on the need to build back better by ensuring Human Rights are central to recovery efforts.

The event will be a unique opportunity to:

  • Gain an overview of current Irish and Global discourses regarding COVID-19 and human rights
  • Discuss different strategies to address emerging issues
  • Network and dialogue (remotely) with practitioners from across the country

For details and registration see this link.


For further details on the Human Rights Day visit the UN website at https://www.un.org/en/observances/human-rights-day.

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Home Truths Online Panel Discussions & Live Exhibition
Thursday 10th December at 2 pm

Thursday 10 December is Human Rights Day and to mark this day and the end of the 16 Days of Action campaign we will host a special panel discussion involving some of the Home Truths artists alongside advocates working in domestic violence support services.

The discussion will explore the role of the arts in raising awareness around issues such as domestic violence and also the impact that the lockdowns of 2020 have had on incidences of domestic violence and abuse. Joining the discussion will be Sarah Benson (Women’s Aid), Donna Murphy (COPE Galway), Rachel Doyle (Domestic Violence Response), Evelyn Glynn (Artist and Domestic Violence Response), Alison Lowry (Artist), Áine Phillips (Artist) and Catherine Morris (Writer and Academic).
The Home Truths Discussion will be live-streamed on Galway 2020’s Facebook page at 2pm on Thursday 10 December.


Home Truths is an exhibition inspired by women’s testimonies of their experiences of and engagement with the Irish courts and legal system in dealing with domestic violence and abuse.
The exhibition takes is located in the Cornstore, Galway, and is open from 12pm to 4pm daily until December 11th.

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Upcoming Meetings

The following local structures will meet in December as follows:

SPC/LCDC                                   Date       Check the links below for details and documentation

Economic, Community and Cultural Development SPC
11th Dec

Read more here
     
Local Community Development Committee
16th Dec
Read more here

If you wish to submit any appropriate suggestions for consideration for any of the upcoming meetings please contact communications@gccn.ie.

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Updates

Funding to Strengthen the Development and Growth of Community Work

Joe O’Brien TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, today (Wednesday, 9 December 2020) announced funding of €254,000 to support the work of the All Ireland Endorsement Body for Community Work Education and Training (AIEB) between 2020 and 2022.

The funding will support the future growth and development of community work in Ireland. It will do this by promoting the highest standards of community work education and training at all levels in the context of the agreed all-Ireland standards.

The AIEB was established in 2010 as an all-Ireland body for supporting and promoting community development. It also ensures quality and standards in community development practice.

The AIEB is hosted and supported by Community Work Ireland, the national community development organisation, and is independent and autonomous of education providers and institutions.
For further details go here.

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Meals4Health - Social Enterprise of the Year 2020
Charity Impact Awards

COPE Galway’s Meals4Health has been named the Social Enterprise of the Year at the 2020 Charity Impact Awards. The 2021 Charity Impact Awards, now in their 4th year, took place in an online ceremony on Tuesday, 8th December.

Meals4Health provide support to some of the most vulnerable in our community. Throughout the pandemic, Meals4Health have been working with their team and volunteers to provide delicious and nutritious meals to the older people in our community across Galway. All of the meals have been designed by a team of professional chefs and dieticians to meet a variety of nutritional needs.

During the first lockdown in March, Meals4Health saw a 300% increase in demand for their services.

COPE Galway congratulated everyone involved on the Meals4Health team on their victory, as well as the public who supported them at the Charity Impact Awards.
See more on Facebook here and watch the Meals4Health short video here.

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Have your Say

Irish Water Draft Framework Plan
Consultation

Irish Water has published the draft Framework Plan of the National Water Resources Plan (NWRP), now for public consultation. The NWRP is Ireland’s first 25-year strategic plan enabling us to move towards safe, secure, reliable and sustainable water supplies for all of our customers and communities, whilst safeguarding public health and the environment.

For the first time, the NWRP will provide a country-wide analysis to identify the water we have, the water we use, the water we need and any potential risk to water quality. It sets out the methods and options to meet these shortfalls in a resilient and environmentally sustainable way and is accompanied by a Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report and Natura Impact Statement, which looks at how our Plan considers its impact on the environment.

A 10-week public consultation will seek feedback on the NWRP Draft Framework Plan and associated environmental reports from the 8th December until the 16th February 2021.
Following this consultation period, the Framework Plan will be finalised and adopted and Phase 2 will commence - the development of four Regional Water Resources Plans. The public’s views will then be sought again as each of the Regional Plans will be subject to public consultation.

The reports can be viewed online and downloaded at www.water.ie/nwrp and comments and feedback sent to Irish Water as follows:

  • Email: nwrp@water.ie
  • Post: National Water Resources Plan, Irish Water, PO Box 13216, Glenageary, Co. Dublin

The documents can also be viewed at your local authority's (LA) planning office or County Library (depending on LA) during their normal opening hours for ten weeks ending on Tuesday the 16 February. For more information please visit www.water.ie/nwrp and https://www.water.ie/news/irish-water-publishes-its/.

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REMINDER
Galway City & Other National Consultations

Galway City Draft Development Contribution Scheme 2020 – 2026
The Draft Development Contribution Scheme will be on public display until Thursday 21st January 2021. 
For further details visit the Galway City Council Website here.


Galway City Development Plan 2017 – 2023: Proposed Variation No. 7
Submissions or observations in relation to the Proposed Variation and associated environmental assessments may be made in writing before Tuesday 5th January 2021.
For further details visit the Galway City Council Website here.


Adult Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy: Consultation Paper 
This consultation closes at 6pm on 31st December 2020. 
Find the Consultation Paper - here and further details at the link here.

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Open Calls

Are You a Charity that Uses Food as PArt of Your Service?
FoodCloud is Looking for New Charities to Partner with Local Retailers
Join hundreds of Irish Charities and Community Groups who are making a difference in their communities by redistributing delicious surplus food to the individuals they support.

Surplus food is perfectly good food that for a number of reasons cannot be sold by the retailer. This food is in date and perfectly safe to eat. When you work with FoodCloud to collect this surplus, you are not only helping to ensure good food does not go to waste, but you may also save on your food budget and enhance the services you offer.

If you are a registered charity that is interested in collecting food from a local supermarket, please get in touch with FoodCloud by contacting the Community Team on 01 5313478 or at charities@foodcloud.ie.
Download the flyer here.

LGBTI+ People Using Mental Health Services 
Call for Focus Group Participants
Mental Health Reform and LGBT Ireland are currently running a research project aimed at documenting the lived experiences of LGBTI+ people using mental health services and are looking for people to take part. The purpose is to gain insights into the unique needs and experience of the LGBTI+ community to then campaign and advocate for any improvements that are needed.
 
See the promotional flyer here and please feel free to distribute to your networks. 
 
Mental Health Reform and LGBT Ireland are looking for LGBTI+ people who are 18 or over and have used mental health services in Ireland within the last two years. These services can be public or private. Mental Health Reform and LGBT Ireland are will continue to recruit participants until there are enough people to make for a robust study, but anyone that is interested is encouraged to get in touch sooner rather than later.
 
All details can be found at https://www.mentalhealthreform.ie/my-voice-matters/.

Community Water Development Fund 2021
Open Call
 
For the Community Water Development Fund 2021 Open Call, applicants are asked to complete the application form online and in conjunction with the guidelines provided online at http://watersandcommunities.ie/community-water-development-fund/
Closing date for receipt of applications is Tuesday 9 February 2021 at 12 noon. 
If you experience any technical difficulties on the website or need advice please contact Sheevaun Thompson, Funding Lead, Local Authority Waters Programme at 087 2436804, email funding@lawaters.ie or contact Conor Ruane on 085 8083059 or at cruane@lawaters.ie.
Resources and Supports

Free Online Living Well Programme
Starting in January

The HSE’s Living Well programme will be rolled out again in the new year. Living Well is a free group self-management programme. Self-management is what a person does every day to manage their long-term health condition.

Please spread the word to anyone you think might benefit from this free online self-management programme (poster attached for promotion and circulation).
 
There will be four programmes starting in January, start dates and times are outlined below. For more information visit www.hse.ie/livingwell or contact Bonnie King on 087 9176354 or email bonnie.king@mayocil.ie.

Programme Start Dates:
Thursday 7th January 10.30am - 1pm
Tuesday 12th January 10.30am-1pm
Monday 18th January 10.30am-1pm
Wednesday 20th January 7pm-9.30pm

For further details please download the poster here.

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Survey of Rights and Living Conditions of Travellers
In 6 Europen Countries, Including Ireland

Minister O’Gorman has recently launched the results of the Survey of Rights and Living Conditions of Travellers in Ireland.
The results illustrate significant barriers to equality faced by Travellers. Key findings from the survey included:

  • Employment – Travellers in Ireland report lowest rates of employment in all countries surveyed at 15%.
  • Poverty and Social Exclusion – 10% of Travellers (including children) surveyed report ‘going to bed hungry’ at least once in the last month, rising to a fifth in some countries surveyed..
  • Accommodation – Over 90% of Travellers report that there is insufficient and inadequate accommodation available, including halting sites.
  • Racism and Discrimination - Ireland had the second highest rate of reported discrimination within the countries surveyed - 68 % of men and 62 % of women reported experiencing discrimination. This is reflected in the general respondents surveyed with 46% stating they would feel “uncomfortable with Roma and Travellers as neighbours.”
  • Education – Ireland has the second highest rate of Traveller children participating in early childhood education (75%), however, it continues to lag behind that of the general population. There is a 70% rate of early school leaving among Irish Travellers, compared to 5% for the general population.

The interviews took place between December 2018 and July 2019. In Ireland, the survey covered only Travellers in the Republic of Ireland. Roma were not part of this survey as the Irish Roma population is very small. 518 Travellers were interviewed in Ireland. The survey report is available to read here.
See further details at the link here.

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Act FAST When Stroke Strikes
print materials- posters, leaflets and wallet cards

This winter the Irish Heart Foundation together with the Government of Ireland renewed the F.A.S.T. campaign for stroke. See details here.
The public is asked to know the signs of stroke and to act F.A.S.T. by calling 112 or 999 at the signs of stroke.
Please help spread the word and ORDER HERE your postal delivery of free posters and leaflets by providing your full address and Eircode in the email.
When someone has a stroke, minutes matter: because two million brain cells die every minute after a stroke.
Encouraging others to act F.A.S.T. by calling 112 or 999 you are saving lives and giving people a chance at recovery.
You can also help by spreading the F.A.S.T. message by telling 5 people you know about the F.A.S.T. campaign, so others know to act F.A.S.T.

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COVID-19 Related Updates

€1.7m COVID-19 Supports for Community and Voluntary Groups

An additional €1.7 million is being provided by the Government to support community and voluntary groups to deal with COVID-19.

The funding, under the COVID-19 Emergency Fund, is in recognition of the important role played by community and voluntary organisations across the country as we head towards the Christmas period.

The additional investment was confirmed today by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, and Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien TD.

The funding will enable groups to embrace the Government’s ‘Keep Well’ campaign which focusses on the themes of staying connected, switching off and being creative, and minding your mood.

It brings the total funding provided under the COVID-19 Emergency Fund to €4.2 million in 2020.

The funding will be used to assist local community and voluntary groups to adapt to COVID-19, for example:

  • Allow for changes to premises to provide for social distancing;
  • Funding for on-line activities;
  • Provision of critical social supports.
The Department of Rural and Community Development has allocated a total of €1.7 million in funding to Local Authority areas, and Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) will now administer the funding to groups in each area.

For further details go here.

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Allocation Strategy for COVID-19 Vaccines

Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, has today announced the allocation strategy for COVID-19 vaccines, following sign-off from Cabinet.

The strategy prioritises those over the age of 65 living in long-term care facilities, frontline healthcare workers who are in direct patient contact and those aged 70 and over.

The Minister also announced that there should be no barrier to people accessing a vaccine, and therefore the vaccine programme will be available free of charge to everyone in Ireland.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy was based on a Department of Health and National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) paper. It sets out a provisional priority list of groups for vaccination once a safe and effective vaccine(s) has received authorisation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). This paper was endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) on 3 December.
The COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy is available to read in full here.
For further details go here.


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Important Reminders


REMINDER

The Galway City Community Call Helpline
New Flyer Graphics
The helpline is open to anyone who needs it
from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.
If you need support or help to get access to shopping, food, medication or if you feel isolated or lonely and need someone to talk to, please get in touch at:
☎️ 1800 400 150
📧 covidsupport@galwaycity.ie
 
REMINDER

Keep Well Campaign
The Keep Well campaign provides guidelines, information, and tips on how we can add healthy and helpful habits to our daily and weekly routines around five simple actions: keeping active, keeping in contact, switching off and getting creative, eating well and minding your mood
REMINDER
Support for the Older People This Winter
With the winter months approaching, we would like to share once again some of the main helplines for older people to access, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 alert.
  • Galway City COVID-19 Community Call Helpline: 1800 400 150
  • COPE Galway Helpline: 085  87 67 785
  • Alone Helpline: 0818 222 024
  • Senior Line: 1800 804 591
We highly encourage you to share these numbers with any older person you know.
REMINDER
Galway City Community Response Map

As part of the ongoing work of the Galway City Community Response Forum, Galway City Community Network and Galway City Council have developed a map of the COVID-19 related responses, activities and services available to people in Galway City.

The map is publicly available and can be used as a useful information resource both for individuals made vulnerable by COVID-19 and by organisations or agencies that need to know where they may refer their clients to for support.

The map is online at the following links:
Further details are available on the GCCN Website.

 


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