Kerryman’s ‘Penrelief’ idea

Ger Collins, founder of penrelief.com

A new ‘get-it-off-your-chest’ website set up in March has got people from Ireland and around the world writing about their mental health challenges, REPORTS ALLEN MEAGHER.

It’s attracted the attention of two major suicide prevention agencies which are in discussions with the founder, while a cancer support group are going to take the idea and adapt it for their own use.

VOLUNTEER PROFILE - John Lyons, handyman and social entrepreneur

“I never imagined the volunteering would lead to paid work.”

John Lyons from Limerick worked in construction for 20 years, felt the brunt of the decline, began volunteering and, lo and behold, 18 months later he’s looking at being paid once more for construction related work.

Along the way, he and colleague Ursula Mullane have become social entrepreneurs, though he doesn’t accord himself any fancy titles.

“I’m just the handyman,” he says, modestly. “I saw an advert in the paper looking for volunteers to help the elderly and I said, ‘Yeah, by all means’.”

Payoff beckons for eagle-eyed volunteers

Two volunteers have set up a new company in the Mid-West after spotting a niche area of the construction sector that the multi-nationals are ill-equipped to compete in.

The two directors of Community Repair and Maintenance (CRM) could be in clover by year’s end, REPORTS ALLEN MEAGHER.

The other ‘Big A’ debate - Putting people on horseback first

EDITORIAL

By Allen Meagher, editor 'Changing Ireland'

The public generally understands two things about local authorities. On the one hand, the elected representatives deserve more power - too much rests with officials. The second commonly held view is that local authorities are sometimes responsible for the problems they’re trying to solve.

They struggle to connect with ‘hard-to-reach’ citizens.

Recently, in Moyross, we had 30 balaclava-clad young people riding around on horseback firing stones at public buildings after dozens of horses were taken by the pound on orders from the local authority. More restrained horse-owners protested outside council offices. Neither the crude and dangerous protest nor the dignified one sought jobs or training, just social inclusion and an end to persecution. However, all four could be delivered together if those holding the reins of power put their thinking caps on.

Programme work explained in 3 mins by RTE

RTE's most popular radio programme 'Morning Ireland' this week broadcast a feature showcasing the success of the Local and Community Development Programme in helping over 5,000 people last year to set up businesses.

Here's what was broadcast: 

- RTE's interview with Corkman Paul O'Carroll who was on the dole and who now employs 3 people: http://bit.ly/MKi9c8

- RTE's interview with Tony O'Regan, enterprise officer with Cork City Partnership: http://bit.ly/NTNkB7

- RTE's interview with Allen Meagher 'Changing Ireland' editor providing the national perspective: http://bit.ly/MKhMyg

Or you can listen to the full five minute feature here: http://www.rte.ie/news/morningireland/player.html?20120718,3346247,3346247,flash,257

A dozen useful websites - find out more about Community Development in Ireland

There are a number of useful websites worth recommending to anyone interested in the Community and Voluntary Sector in Ireland and in Community Development.

Irish Times covers Changing Ireland article on racist Facebook sites.

Allen's article in the Irish Times from August 16th relating to our cover story of community groups battling racist websites.
Garda issue warning over online racism