August 2020 
Hello and welcome to the second e-Bulletin of the year from the Dublin Northwest Partnership.

While our offices are not yet open to the public, all of our services and supports are still available to you. We are here to help via phone and e-mail. 
We have been busy adapting our services around the Covid 19 restrictions so that we can continue to provide our services to people in the community. It is a big adjustment for both staff and clients as meeting in person has always been so central to our work, however, we have been very proactive in trying out new technologies and modes of delivery to meet these challenges head on. 

Patricia Whelan
Community Outreach & Communications
Dublin North West Area Partnership
Connecting with others is so important !
Our 'Tell your Story' workshop back in June was delivered online via Zoom. Facilitated by the awesome Geoff Finan #thepoetgeoff with amazing people from the Meakstown Community Council, CDETB Adult Education Service Finglas, Ballymun Youth Action ProjectSt Vincent's Basketball ClubPride of Place Stoneybatter#camcabinyoga


The above photograph taken during a Zoom workshop is a great example of how we're adapting our services/supports /training to individuals and groups. We have had a great response to our Managing Stress, Grant Writing, I am Remarkable and conflict Management Online Zoom  training/workshops. We would like to thank each and everyone of you for your participation. 
Nursing Homes Tablet Donations
Phase one of the lockdown kept us busy here in the Partnership contacting Nursing Homes within our catchment areas to donate tablets for use for the residents to ensure they could keep in touch with family to try help ease the isolation of the lockdown restrictions

DNP were delighted with feedback from the various Care Homes that residents had been able to video call their loved ones. In total DNP donated 66 tablets that were put to use for over 600 plus residents

Below are two staff members from the TLC Centre in Northwood, Santry with two of the four tablets we donated



Meals on Wheels 

During the phase one COVID-19 Restrictions in Cabra the Meals on Wheels project in the Sancta Maria Daycare Centre was asked to ramp things up for those cocooning in the local area.  

This meant that extra delivery drivers were needed. A call for help came from Amy Cusack, Assistant Meals on Wheels Co-ordinator, Northside Home Care Services, and our trusted LESN Co-ordinator, Berni D'Arcy, rallied the troops in Dublin Northwest Partnership.  
Berni managed the logistics whilst working from home and kept updates via regular phone calls and emails with route details and contact numbers. 


DNW staff member Patricia McMahon had this to say about her experience 
 
"I was lucky enough to be one of the chosen volunteers for the Navan Road, Kinvara, Villa Park and Ratra Road routes.  The cooks in the centre had everything ready to go at 12, with extra mash, no gravy and diabetic options and needs met.  Google maps were needed for those first few trips, which took longer than they should have, but as the weeks went by, I got to know where Anthony, Dermot, Carmel, Angela, Elizabeth, James and the rest of the "Cabra Cocooners" lived with my eyes closed and they were always ready for a socially-distanced chat.  I looked forward to my twice-a-week visits.  They were an instant mood booster during scary times and allowed me a renewed perspective on who really keep our communities going behind the scenes."

Supports for Full Time Students

Dublin Northwest Partnership Education Access Fund is now open for full time students starting/returning for the 20/21 academic year.  

If you would like to apply, be supported with SUSI or would like more information about education and/or supports, please get in touch. Our guidance team are also here to talk through available education options for school leavers and those thinking of returning to education.  
 
Any queries you may have please contact our Education Programme Coordinator  jo.toomey@dnwap.ie  Tel:085 8050850.



GreenView Community Garden - Leaf Mulch Project

Greenview Community Garden is delighted to announce our Involvement  in the a local initiative  which we call the  Leaf Mulch Project.
 
The leaf mulch project is a public awareness and environmental pilot project involving DNWP, DCC, G.A.D.R. A. and our Lady of Victory infant school.
The idea behind the project is a simple one. There are thousands of trees in the DNW area of Dublin and each year they shed their leaves.   

The leaf mulch project is designed to help individuals and local community groups to collect and store these leaves which over time will turn into compost which people can use to grow their own plants and fertilize their gardens. 

The project which started in 2019 and is run over 2 years. DNWP are providing leaf mulch cages to individuals and local community groups. Local groups also fill bags of leaves which DCC collect and deliver to Greenview Community Garden.  In 2019 the garden received 350 bags of leaves and we hope to compost even more in 2020

For more information/questions 
Please contact  william.creveey@dnwap.ie 01 836 1 666

Job Club Webinars 


COVID Payment Information, Supports and Resources

DNWAP remains committed to supporting our community during this time of crisis. Please find links for COVID-19 related payments and updated information from welfare.ie 



Thank you for taking the time to read our e-bulletin. If you have any compliments, comments or suggestions as to how we can improve the bulletin please do not hesitate in contacting us 

 

patricia.whelan@dnwap.ie Tel: 01 836 1 666

 

To keep up to date on the services and supports available through Dublin Northwest Partnership visit us on our  Facebook  - Twitter and website 

In This Issue
Get Social 
Visit our Facebook or Twitter pages for the latest news and updates. 

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on twitter 
Social Inclusion Network Meeting for Local Community Groups 
Wednesday 2nd September at 10am - 12.30 
Online via Zoom

Contact Jessica Laird 01 836 1 666
A fond farewell to our Employment Centre Manager
Our Employment Centres manager Orla Hicks is leaving Dublin Northwest Partnership for pastures new.
She will be taking up a new position with Dublin and DĂșn Laoghaire Education Training Board at the end of August. 

Orla joined the Partnership in 2005 as a guidance worker. She was passionate about helping people develop career plans and worked tirelessly to ensure they were presented with all of the options open to them
Her position changed in 2016 when she took on the role of Employment Centres Manager. 

Once again her commitment and innovation shone through and she quickly became a pivotal member of the organisations Senior Management Team. She will be hugely missed by her colleagues in both a professional and personal realm and will be big boots to fill. 

We wish her all the best in her future career as she turns the page on the next chapter of her life


Adult focused Education Programmes

September 2020 will bring a return to adult focused education and training across Finglas, Cabra and Ballymun. Courses will be delivered through a mixture of face to face and online workshops.
September: Connect (Basic IT) & Connect Plus (Improvers IT) - aimed at anyone wishing to start developing or improve their computer skills.

October & November: Your Time to Shine - aimed at women returners who want to explore education, training and employment options in addition to workshops on decision making, motivation and goal setting in bringing personal, social and professional change.

Ongoing: STEPS in the Community - available to all community groups who wish to support and empower their community and service users through the STEPS programme.
Please contact Fergus Craddock, Education Programmes Coordinator at fergus.craddock@dnwap.ie or 086 0080568 to find out more and next programme dates.    



Try It Out 

The Try It Out programme has taken place online weekly throughout the summer months. 

The Try It Out programme gives the opportunity to find out what is available across the city, develop new digital skills and meet new people. The Try It Out programme has worked with the National Neighbourhood initiative throughout the summer and has had virtual tours of a number of cultural spaces in Dublin including 14 Henrietta Street, The National Gallery and the Abbey Theatre. A number of images from the visit to Henrietta Street are included below. 

The programme is supported by the Dublin City Council Culture Company, The Ireland Funds and the Irish Local Development Network.
Please contact Cathy Smyth at cathy.smyth@dnwap.ie or (01) 836 1666 if you would like to find out about our autumn schedule.



COVID Payment Information, Supports and Resources
 DNWAP remains committed to supporting our community during this time of crisis. Please find links for COVID-19 related payments and updated information from welfare.ie
 

Social Media Training  "Leveraging Your Online Presence
Do you want to attract more members, volunteers and gain more funding opportunities or to develop a more professional online presence? 

Then this is the training for you

When: Wednesday September 16th from 10am - 12pm
 
Please note* This course is full but we will take contact details for our waiting list and if demand is high enough will run a second course. 


  
HR Training 

DNP will run a 4 part HR Training  Workshop Oct/Nov 2020. When the date is finalised we will advertised on our various social media platforms and mailing lists




QMark

DNWAP were delighted to have achieved a higher score than the previous year proving that we are dedicated to providing  an enhanced service to our clients and the community in general.

   
Dublin Northwest Partnership
01 836 1 666 | patricia.whelan@dnwap.ie| http://dnwap.ie
Rosehill House
Finglas Road
Finglas
Dublin 11