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Flood-relief Volunteers & Community give it all

- while Government criticised

'Changing Ireland' reporter Darragh Clifford-Cronin spoke to volunteers who came to the community's aid after flooding of St Mary's Park, Limerick, and to local residents. Local and central Government's input was less than desired and, this week, residents published a report which was very critical of the official response and forwarded a copy onto An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny.

Darragh, a media student with Limerick College of Further Education, was on placement with 'Changing Ireland'. Watch out for his print media reports in our Spring 2013 edition.

476 new businesses sprout in Donegal - with a survival rate of 60% after three years

AIB’s Jim McLaughlin, DLDC chair Jim Slevin and winner Michael Conway.  

Ann Styles reports

Entrepreneurs in Donegal have access to a wealth of information and support from their Local Development Company (LDC).

From Start Your Own Business (SYOB) courses to mentoring and workshops, the company provides a comprehensive support system for people, many of who have been long-term unemployed, with a desire to set up their own business. The LDC has two full time project officers who co-ordinate the service which has supported over 1900 people to date.

Volunteers now running 3 job-seekers' centres

Citizens fill in where there are no staff in West Cork

By Robert McNamara

Three community led job-seekers centres, staffed by volunteers, are currently operating in the West Cork area, with plans for three more to be opened.

Only for them, unemployed people in West Cork would be left to swim.

The centres which offer free advice and confidential support in Bandon, Kinsale and Clonakilty are managed by the West Cork Development Board (WCDP) and offer a "holistic" approach to job-searching. A “buddy” system operates, with volunteers assisting the job-seekers in all aspects of the process.

The centres serve a region that comprises of eight mid-size towns, which currently have approximately 10,000 people on the live register. There are no Local Employment Services Offices, or Jobs Clubs, and only 9 per cent of the territory is covered by Local Development Plans.

The huge satisfaction in serving others - Karen Moroney, Volunteer at Clonakilty Job-seekers’ centre

Karen Moroney

INTERVIEW BY ROBERT MCNAMARA

Karen Moroney was unemployed at one stage and appreciated the support she got. She’s now doing the same for others by volunteering with Clonakilty Job-Seekers’ Centre which was set up under the LCDP. Her volunteering is something that’s important to her.

What are you reading at the moment?

I'm reading Tess of the d'Urbervilles. It's set way back in Victorian times and it's about a woman making her way in life.

What’s the last film you saw?

Dark Shadows with Johnny Depp.

Person you most admire?

I don't tend to admire people as such. I may admire actions that people take, but I don't have one particular person that I admire. I don't hold any one person up as a role model.

Clifden’s Mary Kirby – 30 years volunteering

Mary Kirby/Clifden

BY ROBERT MCNAMARA

Cancer survivor, volunteer and community organiser. There are many things that exemplify Mary Kirby of Clifden, Connemara, but it is her unwavering optimism that shines through the most.

“I always look at the glass as half-full, no matter what problems you have, whether it's medical or financial, if you really look for the positive side that will take you through. I have found that in my own life.”

Country will be clean as a whistle shortly

A scrap metal collection

- Communities hoovering up scrap metal to raise funds

Keeping a local community organisation or sports club going can be a costly affair and many took to collecting scrap metal this year to raise money. GAA clubs led the way and the idea spread like wildfire because donating costs nothing for local residents and it’s financially rewarding for the clubs.

Steel, for instance, has seen its value shoot up from €30 to €220 per tonne in less than 12 months. Portmarnock Community School collected scrap to raise funds for a project in Lesotho. Meelin GAA Club in Co. Cork also jumped on the idea. So too did Castleisland Soccer Club. The list goes on.

The first to notice the skyrocketing prices were criminal gangs and across the country they’ve stolen everything from beerkegs to bronzeworks. But in Donegal for instance, it is the GAA that is doing best from the rising prices by holding ‘Scrap Saturday’ collections.

The SPRING EDITION of 'Changing Ireland' has just been published online (click here for a pdf)! The print version will be out later this week.

Inside, we've 24 pages of coverage on:

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• 5000 TÚS 'JOBS' on the way nationwide through the LCDP
• FINE GAEL PLANS for communities
• ANTI-RACISM update
• MEDIATION saves lives and money (in Mayo)
• PILOT delivers (for parents)
• VOLUNTEER interview (Patsy Cronin)
• COMMUNITY RESILIENCE training (Editor's recommended top read on page 23)
• PARTY promises - 5 pages on what the parties promised communities
• News report: GARDA cuts crime by texting
• COMMUNITY Services Programme profiled
• HORACE - EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD NEWS FOR IRELAND!

Examiner gives front page to 4,500 job cuts in Community Sector

Research work last month by Brian Harvey and IMPACT showed that 4,500 jobs and €80m in cuts could hit disadvantaged communities this year.

The research by Harvey and the trade union received front page coverage in the Irish Examiner on Monday.

'Changing Ireland' asked Minister Pat Carey that very day was he pleased with the coverage and he said he was, but he declined to say whether or not he agreed that cuts to the Community Sector were "disproportionate".

Brian's research shows the Community Sector may lose 4,500 jobs in 2010 and is struggling with 9-10% cuts which is above the average.

The Ballyphehane/Togher Community Development Project in Cork, Parents Alone Support Services CDP in Dublin and Minister Pat Carey, SIPTU's Gerry Flanagan, independent councilor Cieren Perry and the Community Worker's Co-op's Ann Irwin were among those interviewed for the 2-page spread inside.

Examiner lead story:

http://www.examiner.ie/ireland/4500-jobs-at-risk-80m-cut-for-social-schemes-123597.html

Brian’s full report for IMPACT can be downloaded from:

http://www.impact.ie/iopen24/pub/general/HarveyReport2010.pdf

There are online links to the Examiner’s coverage of the 2 CDPs:

http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2010/0628/ireland/one-more-cut-and-were-gone-says-lone-parent-group-123539.html#ixzz0sKUbyEOc

AND

http://www.examiner.ie/ireland/theres-work-being-done-that-cant-be-measured-on-paper-123538.html#ixzz0sKUQxens

ALSO SEE:

http://www.examiner.ie/ireland/community-groups-in-crisis-123537.html

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28 pages of news, debate and updates - OUR LATEST EDITION!

Yes, the latest 'Changing Ireland' is out and it features:
- 6 pages of Sector news
- A Community Work report from Palestine
- Volunteering while unemployed
- New Programme: news, debate & updates on the new Local and Community Development Programme
- Social Enterprise Offers A Real Solution for Ireland

- An interview with former Community Minister Eamon O'Cuiv
- Plus letters to our agony uncle Help Me Horace!
HEY, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF IT? ANY STORY IDEAS FOR OUR SUMMER EDITION?
THANKS TO everyone who contributed to the current edition and to those who suggested ideas and/or critical advice.