Our focus here is get things done, either by taking the lead on service and project design and implementation or by working in collaboration with other organisations. We make things happen.
Our objectives are
To deliver a first class client focused service to our communities and clients
To be a leader in community led local development projects and services at local, regional and national levels.
Our Work
LEADER Programme
The LEADER Initiative (Liaisons Entre Actions de Development de l’Economie Rurale) was established by the European Commission in 1991. Focussing on the development of sustainable and smart rural communities, it has been highly successful across the European Union and in all rural areas of Ireland, including Carlow Town and County.
Since 2002, the LEADER programme has been a key element of our Rural Development Strategy and has successfully supported communities and rural businesses in a number of ways including providing targeted and relevant advice, training, mentoring, feasibility studies, business planning and community planning, as well as capital assistance for construction, equipment and machinery.
LEADER 2014 – 2020 Themes:
Enterprise Development & Job Creation
Development of Rural Tourism
Development of Rural Towns
Social Inclusion projects focusing on youth and disadvantaged geographical communities,
Rural Environment including water conservation, local biodiversity, and renewable energy
The total budget for Carlow based projects is €4.8 million
The final date for awarding letters of grant offer is 31st of December 2020. Eligibility Criteria Applies.
For a list of LEADER grant aid beneficiaries please contact us.
For further information please contact Clare O’ Shea at 059 9720733.
SICAP
The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2018 – 2023 provides supports to address poverty and social exclusion through local engagement and partnerships between disadvantaged individuals, community organisations and public sector agencies. The delivery of a high impact SICAP is a key priority of our Social Inclusion strategy.
Since 2009, our dedicated social inclusion team has addressed high and persistent levels of deprivation through targeted and innovative, locally led approaches. It supports disadvantaged communities and individuals including unemployed people, people living in deprived areas, people with disabilities, single parent families, people on a low income, members of the Traveller and Roma community and other disadvantaged groups. In Carlow we also work extensively with older persons, members of new and migrant communities and community groups, both geographical and thematic.
Underpinned by a community development methodology and an ethos of equality and social justice we take a collaborative and holistic approach.
While we have countywide remit our priority geographical areas are the Tullow Road area in Carlow Town, Graiguecullen, New Oak Estate, Hackettstown, Rathvilly and Bagenalstown.
The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2018-2023 is funded by the Irish Government through the Department of Rural and Community Development and co-funded by the European Social Fund under the Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020.
For further information please contact Dylan Thomas at 059 9720733.
Tús
Tús is a community work placement initiative which became operational during mid-2011. The Carlow Tús initiative supports up to 140 participants and is a key element of our Labour Market Activation Strategy.
From the perspective of the person who is unemployed, Carlow Tús provides opportunities to break the cycle of joblessness with wraparound supports to develop skills and resilience and improve work readiness by enabling them to work in a community organisation for 19.5 hours per week (nominal payment top-up).
Our experience is that participation on Tús can boost a person’s motivation and confidence through opportunities to gain employment related experience in various work environments to re-enter the labour market.
From the community organisation perspective Tús offers an additional resource for their group to maintain and expand local services, amenities, and facilities.
Eligibility Criteria applies for participants and community groups.
For a list of community groups benefiting from Carlow Tús please contact us.For further information please contact Michelle Byrne at 059 9720733.
RSS
The Rural Social Scheme was launched in 2004 with an overall aim to provide income support to farmers and fisher persons who are in receipt of certain specified social welfare payments and also to provide services to rural communities.
The Scheme in Carlow allows farmers or members of the family to earn supplementary income by working 19.5 hours per week in a community setting. The farmers skills are utilised for the betterment of a community objective while the farmer benefits by developing new and improving existing skills. This is a very popular scheme in Carlow with all 25 places much sought after.
Eligibility criteria will apply.
For a list of community groups benefiting from RSS please contact us.
For more information please contact Niamh Murphy at 059 9720733.
Jobs Club
The Carlow Jobs Club is a key element of our Labour market activation service, designed to give unemployed individuals a better chance of finding employment. It is a free and confidential service providing advice, support and assistance on employment, job seeking and training. The aim of the Jobs Club is to enable clients to take positive steps towards planning, actively seeking and achieving employment and training opportunities
The Jobs Club offers a three-week Group Programme, designed to offer support in the job-seeking process. It covers areas of motivation, self-awareness, and confidence–building, stress reduction, drafting Letters of Application, Interview Techniques and Mock Interviews and how to design a winning CV.
One-to-one services include reviewing existing CV’s, CV writing, drafting Letters of Application, Sourcing Employment or Training Information, and sending Job Applications or Online Applications.
The Jobs Club in Carlow also offers a drop-in service, allowing jobseekers to avail of their facilities such as the internet, telephone, or photocopying, at their own convenience and without charge. The Jobs Club services can be accessed either by appointment or walk-in.
Eligibility criteria applies.
For further information please contact Karen Davis at 059 9135534.
Get in Touch
For more information on our projects and services please contact us at 059 9720733 or reception@carlowdevelopment.ie.
