December 2022 e-Bulletin
We are delighted to bring you our final newsletter of the year. We've been busy over the last few months and before we take a break for the holidays, we want to share all our news with you.
If you know of any other group or individual who would like this info, please feel free to send them this email. We want to engage with our community as much as possible and would love to hear from you if you have any feedback or comments.
Have a brilliant Christmas and all the best for 2023,
Roisin Coyle
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Community Celebration Event |
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The Dublin Northwest Partnership held a Community Celebration on the 28th September at the Crown Plaza hotel, Northwood, Santry.
The event was a celebration of Community Development work carried out in the Dublin Northwest area.
Áine Clancy, Chair of Dublin Northwest Partnership Board introduced the opening speaker, The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Caroline Conroy and guest speaker Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development Joe O'Brien. Minister O’ Brien launched the DNP video ‘Celebrating Community Development in Dublin Northwest’.
Sinead Ryan Founder of Little Fitness provided the audience with a fun warm up exercise.
Dublin Northwest Partnership Mentor, Rita Sharkey interviewed Eileen McHugh, Founder of ‘Hair Together’ a Local Social Enterprise, and Rita also interviewed the participants of the video during the celebration.
This event provided an opportunity to network and to celebrate resilience and innovation during the challenging COVID period. There were 43 Groups in attendance at the celebration.
DNP wishes to thank everyone who attended, participated and made the day special.
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Ballymun U3A Memories & Events Book of Short Stories |
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Ballymun University of the Third Age (U3A) were awarded the SICAP Community Grant in 2022. The University of the Third Age is an international movement. Their aim is that of providing education and stimulation for retired members of the community, those in their third 'age' of life. In 2022, Ballymun U3A have worked on the production of wonderful book of reminiscences, poetry, and short stories. The energy and enthusiasm in the group was amazing with 37 contributors to the book. The final product of their labours “Memories & Events” was launched in the Axis, Ballymun on Monday 14th November 2022.
The contributions include stories and poems written by group members. One contributor, Barbara, spoke about the experience of contributing to the book and how she found it easy to write, having completed a course in creative writing with DNP Mentor Geoff Finan some years earlier. Another contributor, Jean, wrote a beautiful story about her lifetime friendship with her pen pal of 65 years, Katherine, who lives in Connecticut.
The U3A Ballymun group are an energetic group and full of life. The oldest member is 101 years of age. They have had many great projects over the years, for example, “The Pawn Shop” a play they wrote, directed and performed in the Axis Theatre in 2021. It will be interesting to see what they have in store for us in 2023!
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Community Workers Network (CWN) |
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Dublin Northwest Partnership held its final Community Workers Network (CWN) meeting of 2022 on November 8th in the Rediscovery Centre, Ballymun.
The network provides an opportunity to meet with other community workers and volunteers from various organisations, community and statutory, to share information about services and upcoming events. At each meeting, two member groups volunteer to do a short presentation about their service followed by Q&A.
At the November meeting Orna Fynes from the CDETB and Sandra Mpanyira from the Ballymun Law Centre presented to the group. We also have a brochure which provides information on services and supports offered by member groups. The brochure will be updated on an ongoing basis.
The next meeting of the Community Workers Network will take place on Tuesday 14th March at 9.30am – 11.30am in Rosehill House, Finglas, D11 T6Y7.
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Recruitment Event in Ballymun |
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Maria McLoughlin, the DNP Employer Liaison Officer, was invited by INTREO Employment and Support Services to facilitate CV, interview skills and confidence building workshops at the Recruitment Event in Ballymun as part of the Department of Social Protection’s “Return to Work Campaign”. Exhibitors at the event included Ryanair, Peter Mark Hairdressers, Centra, and Musgraves Ltd. The event enabled jobseekers and returners speak directly to employers and recruiters who were recruiting for various positions.
"I would like to thank Ann Marie Doyle, Recruitment Officer, ORPEA Group Ireland (a group of 23 nursing homes in Ireland) and Sarah Mackin, Recruitment Officer, Dublin Airport Staff who attended the event and also agreed to record a short video for DNP highlighting their current vacancies and hiring process"
Maria McLoughlin
Maria also connected with several Food & Hospitality employers at the Food, Retail and Hospitality Expo. In the new year, the employment team looks forward to developing strong links with private companies and not-for-profit organisations to enable our clients gain valuable knowledge, work placement opportunities and employment.
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On the 2nd of December, Dublin City Council, the HSE and local community led organisations launched the roll out of Slaintecare Healthy Communities programme in Ballymun. This programme will ensure that a partnership approach will address the health inequalities and improve local health and wellbeing in the Ballymun area.
The event was hosted in the Axis centre and officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Caroline Conroy. In her speech, The Lord Mayor stated that "to make real and lasting change we need to work together to create communities where people can thrive, putting in place the right building blocks for health, stable jobs, good pay, quality housing, good education and accessible amenities that enhance and improve our built environment"
Dublin Northwest Partnership are rolling out the Healthy Food Made Easy and the We Can Quit Programmes in the Ballymun area. To encourage local participation in the programmes, there was a showcase of the Healthy Food Made Easy recipes at the event. Our tutors, Pauline Mc Guinness and Kelly Mc Guinness, prepared some samples of the recipes used in the programme. There was amazing feedback from the public saying the food was delicious and very tasty. Ballymun Child and Family Centre and Young Ballymun are supporting the Social Prescribing and Parents Supports programmes. At the launch, Dr David Gibney said that he has already seen the benefits of the Slaintecare Healthy Communities programme to his patients as he regularly refers patients to the smoking cessation and social prescribing services.
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Social Prescribing is a new, free support available in the community delivered by DNP in partnership with the HSE. Social prescribing aims to reduce social isolation and improve people’s social, mental and physical health and wellbeing.
Emma, the Social Prescribing Link Worker for Finglas & Cabra, will give you information on social groups, exercise classes, wellness, mediation and relaxation sessions, volunteering opportunities, support service and much more all in your local area.
How does it work?
Step 1: You can connect with Emma, the Social Prescribing Link Worker, yourself or be referred by a health professional or community worker.
Step 2: Emma will arrange to meet with you.
Step 3: Emma will listen to what you are interested in and support you to find information on what is available locally.
Step 4: You will choose the activities and supports that are right for you.
Step 5: Emma will contact you to see how you are doing and if your experience is a happy one.
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We Can Quit is a peer-led smoking cessation programme for people aged 18yrs and over delivered by DNP in partnership with the HSE.
The programme runs for 8 to 12 weeks in total and includes free NRT (Nicotine Replacement Therapy) for each participant. During their quit journey, participants are supported via phone and in-person meetings and also receive a resource pack to assist them on their quit journey. The success rate for the programme is very high and growing in popularity.
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New Zoom: Start Your Own Business Course |
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Dublin Northwest Partnership launched their new Start Your Own Business course in September, and to date it has proved a great success. The course is delivered via Zoom and runs on two mornings a week for three weeks. It allows participants to complete the course from the comfort of their own home but also interact with the other attendees and the tutors. The course is specially tailored to meet the needs of people who would like to set up a new small business but are not sure where to start.
The course covers all the information someone starting a new business would need, but in an easily understood way. It starts with self-assessment and goal setting which helps the participant to assess what type of business they want to set up, what they are going to need and what they hope to get from the business. It then covers all the important topics like legal structures, marketing, promotion and advertising. Finance and money management is very important when starting a business and the course covers raising finance, record keeping and tax for the small business owner. Tax and dealing with Revenue is a very common concern for someone starting a new business but the tutors on the course explain everything in simple terms and take the fear out of dealing with Revenue.
The next Zoom Start Your Own Business Course starts on Tuesday 31st January for two mornings each week and ends on Tuesday 16th February. There is a small administration fee of €25 and application forms are available now from Shane, just phone 01 8361666 or email shane.callanan@dublinnorthwest.ie.
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Employment Programmes and Training Workshops |
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Education and Employment Project Officer, Helen Wade, has developed a suite of programmes and training workshops since stepping into the new role in September. The following supports will be available to individuals in the new year:
- Pre – Employment Training
- Ready 4 Work Placement Programme
- Introduction to Digital Skills
- Connect to the Workplace Programme
- Manual Handling Training Workshops
- Apprenticeship Supports
- Advice and guidance on DNP programmes, and potential pathways to further education, training, and employment opportunities
In addition, the first Education Practitioners Network meeting of 2022 was held in Rosehill House on November 7th. It brought together practitioners from local services to information share and connect with DNP. The next Education Practitioners Network meeting will be held in the new year.
For more information please contact:
Helen Wade
Education and Employment Project Officer
Tel: 085 8590699
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We have run a large number of courses this year in person, indoors, outdoors and online. These workshops and courses include:
- Wellness through physical exercise and walking group, meditation, mindfulness, decluttering your mind and surroundings, Yoga and Thai Chi, arts and crafts.
- Gardening and horticulture projects and courses. Composting project at Greenview community garden and Rosehill house.
- DNP took part in the Finglas Community Information Day and Ballymun Summit distributing information to the community
Programme of activities for 2023
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More Wellness courses, such as Yoga and Thai Chi
- English classes for our new community members and Failte Isteach community volunteer led English conversation classes
"I would like to thank each and everyone of you who took part in our courses, workshops, and Projects throughout the year" Leon Kelly
Please contact leon.kelly@dublinnorthwest.ie if you would like to participate in any of these classes or workshop. Feel free to contact us with suggestions for new workshops and watch out for the advertisements on our social media platforms for upcoming courses.
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Healthy Food Made Easy programme
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The Healthy Food Made Easy course is aimed at supporting people who are interested in healthier eating, particularly where cost is a consideration. The main goal is to improve people’s nutritional knowledge and cooking skills. This will help them to make healthier food choices for themselves and their families. Healthy Food Made Easy is delivered in partnership with the HSE.
How long is the course?
The course will run over 6 x 2 ½ hour sessions, some of which have a practical cookery element.
All sessions are designed to be practical and fun.
What topics are covered?
Session1: Building a Food Pyramid
Session2: Fibre Providers
Session3: Focus on Fats
Session4: Food for Life
Session5: Shop Smart!
Session6: The Road Ahead
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Community Development Events & Training Updates
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Grant Writing Workshop
18th January 2023
Helpful Tips to writing a Successful Application
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Conflict Resolution Workshop
1st March
Participants will get the opportunity to learn and practice the skills required to help resolve conflict.
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Community Workers Network Meeting
14th March
This will be the 1st meeting of 2023.
The Community Workers Network provides an opportunity to meet up with other community workers and volunteers and do a little networking. We would love to see you there but don't worry if you can't attend all of the meetings, all are welcome!
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Social Inclusion Seminar 2023
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Our Social Inclusion Seminar will be held in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Northwood, Santry, Dublin 9 on Friday 3rd February 2023 where we will celebrate the Social Inclusion work carried out by local community groups during 2022.
Dublin Northwest Partnership Community Development Manager, Mary Corridan, will launch the 2023 Community Grant at the event. This grant is open to Local Community Groups (LCGs) in the early stages of their development or those that have been established for some time but have identified a need for capacity-building support, particularly in the areas of sustainability and governance.
To help groups apply for our grant, DNP are providing 2 training sessions (both sessions cover the same material) which will be held on Wednesday Feb 8th, 2023 from 6-7.30pm and on Thursday Feb 9th, 2023 from 2.30-4pm. Both sessions will be held in DNP offices in Rosehill House, Finglas.
In early January 2023, the Application forms and guidelines can be found in the Community Development section of our website: www.dublinnorthwest.ie
The closing date for application is set for 4pm on February 24th, 2023. Late applications are not accepted.
The maximum grant available per award is €1500. For full details on what activities are supported under this grant, please see the Community Grant 2023 Application form and guidelines which will be available on our website in early 2023.
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DNP Empowering Communities Programme |
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Dublin Northwest Partnership are delighted to announce that they have been selected to develop the Empowering Communities Programme (ECP) for three Electoral Areas: Finglas South B, Cabra West B and Inns Quay B.
The ECP was established partly in response to a Programme for Government commitment to expand the Dublin North-East Inner-City Model, which developed a range of responses to the profound challenges facing the communities of North-East Inner-City Dublin. Responses identified had an emphasis on supporting the long-term economic and social regeneration of the area.
The ECP is administered by Minister Joe O’Brien’s Department of Rural and Community Development and supported by the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with the support of the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC). 14 Electoral areas have been selected nationally.
The overall focus of the ECP Team is to review existing structures and programmes for economic and social development within these areas, both statutory and non-statutory. There will be an emphasis on community leadership, on engaging with and involving members of the local community and public representatives. Account will be taken of experience and good practice as well as national policy developments.
The ECP Team members will be out and about in the community over the coming weeks and months. ECP Team members will be running focus groups to involve the local community in the process. If you would be interested in participating in one of these focus groups and/or like further information on this programme, we would be delighted to hear from you (see contact details below).
ECP Research Officer, Rory Downey,
ECP Project Development Officer – Individuals, Sharon Jordan,
ECP Project Development Officer – Groups, Patricia McMahon,
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Finglas Lifelong Learning Hub
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The Finglas Lifelong Learning Hub is an initiative between Dublin Northwest Partnership and DCU. It provides academic and information supports to Leaving Cert and mature students from the Finglas area who are interested in teaching as a career.
Hub services run in line with the academic year from September to May. Supports include Irish and Maths Leaving Cert classes, TEG Irish preparation classes and information sessions on routes to teaching.
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DNP Education Access Fund
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DNP’s Education Access Fund supports full time (studying at QQI L5-8), low income students in the catchment with either travel or resources. This video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsTWVDGFSZE&t=65sand gives a flavour of how we are supporting local students.
Please send on these details to anyone that you know who might be interested. To apply call Jo Toomey on (085) 805 0850.
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DNP are happy to support anyone in the Dublin Northwest community with their SUSI application. SUSI is the national further and higher education grant scheme. Give Jo Toomey a call on 085 805 0850 if you would like to know more or are having difficulty accessing SUSI. |
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Welcoming New Staff Members
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DNP Welcomes Refugee Support Officer
DNP is delighted to welcome Abdisalam (Abdi) Hassan who joined the Community Development Team as a Refugee Support Officer in September. Originally from Somalia, Abi studied in Cairo and following graduation spent several years working with asylum seekers and refugees in Cairo. He brings invaluable experience to DNP and since joining has been supporting asylum seekers to access a range of DNP supports including English Language classes, training, education and employment supports as well as facilitating links with Local Community Groups, Community Organisations and NGOs.
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DNP Welcomes Social Research Officer
Dublin Northwest Partnership (DNP) are delighted to welcome Rory Downey, the newest member of the Community Development Team. Rory’s role is that of Social Research Officer, as part of the Empowering Communities Programme. In his role, Rory will prepare a demographic analysis of the three electoral divisions in the DNP catchment which have been identified by the Department of Rural and Community Development as part of the Empowering Communities Programme.
Rory will use the numbers and data available to develop a picture of needs and the assets that these three well established and historically important areas of Dublin hold. The three Electoral Districts are: Finglas South B, Cabra West B and Inns Quay B. All have long suffered from intergenerational poverty and lack of infrastructure and improvement in the area over recent years and decades. However, all are areas, where there remains a strong sense of identity and pride within the local community.
“As a recent (mature) graduate, I’m really excited to have the opportunity to work in an organisation like the DNP which is well established within the Dublin Northwest region and has a reputation for providing top class services to the community in a range of areas.”
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Appointment of DNP Older Persons Support Officer
Dublin Northwest Partnership are delighted to advise that Pauline Hazel has been recently appointed as DNP Older Persons Support Officer. Pauline has worked as Community Development Outreach Officer with DNP for several years and many of you will be familiar with her already. In 2022, DNP conducted several focus groups with older people and organisations working with older people to gather information on needs and challenges being faced by older people in Dublin Northwest. As a result of feedback and experience in the community during the Pandemic, DNP has decided to create the dedicated role of Older Person’s Support Officer. Pauline is currently mapping local services and supports for older people in Dublin Northwest with a view to creating a directory of Older Peoples service.
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Don't forget to link in with our social media for the latest news, job vacancies, courses and events |
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Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter
If you have any comments, or suggestions as to how we can improve the newsletter, please do not hesitate to contact
Roisin Coyle
Phone: 01 8361666
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