Worklink: another volunteer-led support for job-seekers

An expanding network of volunteers is providing help to job-seekers in Dublin, Limerick, Sligo, Athlone, Cork, Galway, and Waterford.

The Worklink project employs two paid staff in Dublin with most of the work being done by the volunteers.

Unemployed people are offered mentoring and work experience opportunities (eg through Jobbridge) as a step towards full-time employment.

The project has the backing of the INOU and this year Worklink won €50,000 and backroom support from Diageo through the Arthur Guinness Fund.

If you live in any of the areas listed and are interested, either in volunteering or in getting support to find suitable work experience, the project is worth approaching as it has direct links with a number of companies that appreciate its aims.

T: 01-2916603.

W: www.worklink.ie

“On the cusp of a huge opportunity” Interview with: Ryan Howard in Brussels

Ryan Howard

By Allen Meagher

“We’re standing on the cusp of a huge opportunity here,” claims Ryan Howard, talking about Ireland’s potential to unlock EU funds for communities from 2014 onwards.

From 18 months time, the European Commission (EC) proposes just one “programming tool” for all structural funds.

In doing so, the EC has given official recognition and backing to a process knows as Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) and Ireland is better prepared than most to make use of the funding that’s been earmarked.

For a country to have access – by the hundreds of million – it needs to have a network of local action groups in place to channel the funding.

Leading the field, Ireland already has a national network in place, namely the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP).

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MOST POPULAR IN GALWAY - Google "Fact"

Is Community Development on the slippery slope in Ireland today?

It appears there is most interest in "community development" in Galway, with Cork and Limerick following next, followed oddly by the capital Dublin.

However, if 'Google Analytics' is any kind of reliable guide (and we're not saying it is) the relative slide in Irish interest in the concept of community development may be a cause for concern.

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

According to Google's chart here people are not looking it up online as much as before