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Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of Social Protection, Joe O’Brien, officially visited a number of community initiatives in County Galway today (Monday, 5 September).
Commencing the 2-day event in Connemara, the Minister, hosted by FORUM Connemara, visited the Wild Goat Café in Letterfrack where he met with staff involved in the Community Services Programme (CSP), who organise in-house and meals delivery services and day care activities for the elderly. He also met with the team working in Forum Connemara Local Development Company involved in environmental and foodbank projects.
Moving onto Galway City, the Minister met with the Ukrainian Community Response Forum who are providing local supports to help people arriving from Ukraine to settle into their new communities. He also met with the secretariat of the Galway City Community Network (GCCN), Public Participation Network (PPN) who co-ordinate and support the representation of the community, voluntary and environmental sectors in Galway City.
Minister O’Brien said:
“On my visits in Connemara and Galway City today I have once again had the opportunity to see first-hand the varied and vital work undertaken by community and voluntary organisations in their local communities. The commitment, energy and passion that underpins the work that these groups do has been palpable and I am glad to be able to show mine and my department's continued support.”
Minister O’Brien continued to the Druid Theatre where he launched the Galway Simon Community 2021 Annual Report. The report highlights the range of supports and services that Galway Simon Community provide to people who are homeless and at risk of homelessness in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.
The Minister also met with participants in the Community Employment (CE) Scheme providing supports to long-term unemployed to get back to work by offering part-time and temporary placements in jobs based within local communities. The Minister also discussed CE opportunities for members of the Travelling community.
The final visit in Galway City was to An Mheitheal Rothar, a successful social sustainable enterprise that recycle bicycles and provide servicing and repairing. This award winning enterprise also hosts workshops that show you how to fix and maintain your own bike.
CSP supports over 430 community-based organisations to provide local social, economic and environmental services through a social enterprise model, including the provision of places, spaces and facilities.
CSP funding is provided to these community organisations as a fixed contribution towards the cost of employing an agreed number of full-time equivalent positions (FTEs) and a manager, where warranted.
The CSP contribution is not aligned to the minimum wage and does not meet the full salary cost of supported posts, rather it is a fixed annual contribution towards the overall cost of the employees.
The department currently provides an annual co-funding contribution of €19,033 for each FTE position and €32,000 for each manager position.
A Ukrainian Community Response Forum has been established in Galway City to enable the various organisations and agencies at local level, to work together in the delivery of services for Ukrainian refugees relocating to Galway City. The role of the Forum is to coordinate the community-led response in the provision of local assistance and support to Ukrainian refugees as they are accommodated in Galway City.
A Public Participation Network (PPN) is a network for Community and Voluntary, Social Inclusion and Environmental groups in each local authority area. 161 community groups are registered as members of the GCCN. Providing practical support to member groups to take action on matters of interest at a local level. Currently supporting the Active Travel group to organise, develop a position, and take action to make sustainable transport a reality at a local level.
Galway Simon Community provide a range of supports and services to people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, across Galway Mayo and Roscommon. From January to June 2022, we supported 633 households, including 166 families with 360 children.
Galway Simon Community has successfully managed our Community Employment Scheme for more than 20 years with approval for 25 participants; we also place participants with Galway Rape Crisis Centre and GSPCA who are sub-sponsors of our scheme. The support received through the CE Scheme is invaluable to us at Galway Simon Community. The Scheme enables us enhance the services we provide to our clients and it positively impacts each and every participant. Participants work throughout the organisation including our services, our shops and our office. They grow and develop both personally and professionally during their time on the Scheme as they work in roles with a variety of duties where they are constantly learning new skills and developing their competencies. In addition, they develop a structured routine in a work environment, giving them an opportunity to build their confidence and self-esteem.
The CE scheme is designed to help people who are long-term unemployed (or otherwise disadvantaged) to get back to work by offering part-time and temporary placements in jobs based within local communities.
An Mheitheal Rothar is a successful social enterprise in Galway City who have experience in upcycling bikes via their award winning ReCycle your Cycle initiative since 2018, along with providing cycle mechanic skills training since 2012.