Videos of Cork Cultural Companions Launch online March 9th 2021

 

Videos of Cork Cultural Companions Launch online March 9th 2021

Parent support_ LGBT+ youth

 

New Research re the Benefits of Participating in Creative Activity

 The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, T.D., has welcomed the results of a newly-published report by The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) at Trinity College Dublin. The research, which was commissioned by the Creative Ireland Programme, investigated how creative activity impacts on the lives of older people.  It found that older adults who participated in creative activities enjoyed a higher quality of life and were less likely to be lonely, depressed and stressed than their contemporaries who do not.

Key Findings

• 53.5% of older adults surveyed were involved in creative activities or hobbies on a weekly basis.
• Those with the highest levels of involvement in creative activities reported the highest quality of life, and scored lowest on loneliness, depression, and stress measurements.
• The level of involvement in creative activities was consistent between ages 50-74 years, but declined rapidly from 75 years and older.
• There is a strong correlation between higher educational attainment and higher income and regular involvement in creative activities, reflecting similar patterns of arts and cultural participation observed among the younger population in Ireland.
• Women were over three times more likely than men to read books, magazines or newspapers for pleasure weekly.
• Declining vision and health impacted on participation in creative activities.
• Those adults who reported higher levels of physical activity also reported moderate or high creative activity and those who did not smoke also reported high levels of creative activity.
• 26% of older adults reported doing creative hobbies more often during COVID-19 lockdown.

Minister Martin said: “The findings of this research are a welcome confirmation of the powerful case for promoting participation in creative life amongst older members of our communities. Increased involvement in creative activities in older age can improve health and wellbeing in older age, and I will continue to work with my colleagues across Government to promote, develop and support access to creative initiatives.”

Rose Anne Kenny, Principal Investigator of TILDA and Professor of Medical Gerontology at Trinity College Dublin said:  “With well over a decade of research complete, TILDA has a unique and rich dataset to draw upon to show key aspects of successful ageing. This report highlights that participation in creative activities is high among older adults, and has a strong positive effect on overall physical health, mental health and quality of life. These are important research observations.  In order to help more older adults engage with creative activities, policies that enable participation in creative activities and remove barriers of access irrespective of disability are a potential means of improving health and wellbeing in a fast growing ageing demographic.”

The report - Creative Activity in the Ageing Population - is available on www.creativeireland.gov.ie as well as https://tilda.tcd.ie/publications/reports/pdf/Report_CreativeActivity_OlderPopulation.pdf. The findings of the report were discussed at a webinar jointly hosted by Trinity College Dublin and the Creative Ireland Programme on 22 November, which will be accessible on www.creativeireland.gov.ie. The research was funded through the Creative Ireland Programme by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. 

Coachford 2000 - Proud Past, Bright Future

The 20th December 2021 will be the 200th anniversary of the first known mention of Coachford village. The Coachford 200⁺ Committee (non-profit and entirely run by volunteers) hope to celebrate this, by commencing a programme of local events involving people, organisations and businesses. We aim to have something for everyone. Events are due to begin in December and are to continue monthly, through to the end of 2022. To do this, we need the help of our wonderful community, and also those with connections to Coachford, the wider public, and organisations and businesses. One particular way is to donate, to help get events up and running. There are two easy ways to donate: online at our GoFundMe page (go to www.gofundme.com and enter ‘Coachford’ as the search term) … or there is also a donation box located at Coachford Post Office. All donations will be accepted, are appreciated, and will greatly assist this worthy cause. Help celebrate this proud occasion and the wonderful past, present and future of our thriving and growing mid Cork village. Thank you.

Engaging Men Webinar: The When of Men's Health

 General Health and Wellbeing:

 

Environment, Health & Wellbeing Virtual Conference

You are invited to attend the upcoming Environment, Health and Wellbeing Online Conference which will focus on Learning from the Pandemic, on Monday 29^th from 9.15 – 13.15. Our colleagues Dr. Stephanie O’Keefe and Dr. Philip Crowley will both be speaking at the event. There is free registration at the bottom of this page: https://ti.to/environment-health-wellbeing/2021

 

Exercise Videos: Strength and Conditioning for Beginners

As you may know we have developed 4 sets of Exercise Videos, the 4^th has just gone live which focusses on Strength and Conditioning for Beginners, made up of 8, 30 min videos. You can view these here: https://bit.ly/3qIvaQp and you can see the full range of them here: https://bit.ly/3Cv4fdh

  

  

START webinar for parents – Let’s go easy on treats

To help parents make a start to reducing treats we are hosting a START webinar with nutrition, health and parenting experts on Thursday 25th November at 7:30pm. To find out more and register please click here

Learn to Crochet 4 week programme

 Learn to Crochet 4 week programme Starting 25th of November - 16th December

For more info contact Mary Gubbins on 086 8525992

Email maryg@avondhublackwater.com

Details of the Community Monuments Fund 2022 Announced

 

Malcom Noonan, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, has launched the 2022 Community Monuments Fund, which will invest €5 million in the protection and promotion of archaeological heritage in 2022 - a significant increase on the €2 million allocation made available for the Scheme in 2021, which saw eight successful projects in the county of Cork.   

Building on the 2021 Fund, the 2022 Community Monuments Fund will invest in valuable archaeological heritage and help the owners and custodians of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future for the benefit of communities and the public.

 

The Scheme aims to:

• enable conservation works to be carried out on monuments which are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support;
• build resilience in our monuments to enable them to withstand the effects of climate change;
• encourage access to monuments and improve their presentation.

 

The Community Monuments Fund has 3 Streams:

• Stream 1 will offer grants up to €85,000 aimed at essential repairs and capital works for the conservation and repair of archaeological monuments
• Stream 2 will offer grants of up to €30,000 for development of Conservation Management Plans/Reports that are aimed at identifying measures for conservation of archaeological monuments and improving public access.
• Stream 3 will offer grants of up to €30,000 for enhancement of access infrastructure and interpretation (including virtual/online) at archaeological monuments.

 

Full details of the Fund are set out in the Explanatory Memorandum, which should be taken into account by all applicants when filling in the application form; both available here:

 

2022 CMF Explanatory Memorandum - (Faigh é as gaeilge anseo)

2022 CMF Application Form - (Faigh é as gaeilge anseo)

 

Applications by the public must be emailed to Cork County Council’s Heritage Unit (emailed to corkheritage@corkcoco.ie) by no later than 17:00 on Tuesday 15th February, 2022.

Lights of Love Online Event 2021

The Christmas season is a time to celebrate our blessings with family and friends, and also serves as a time to join together with them in remembering friends and loved ones who are sadly no longer with us.  

 

Fermoy Community Health Project & Fermoy Community Resource Centre in association with the Fermoy Committee of Cork Mental Health invites you to use the ‘Lights of Love - Remembrance Tree' to remember your loved ones this Christmas.  The tree lighting event will be streamed live on Sunday 5^th December at 5.45pm via our Lights of Love Remembrance Tree Event - Fermoy Facebook page.

You can sponsor a light to remember your loved one by making a €5 donation.  For each light sponsored you will receive a unique ‘Lights of Love Pack’, this includes a Christmas remembrance card, which can be sent to family members to let them know that a light is shining in memory of their loved one on the tree in Fermoy, a named dedication will be written into the special memory frame, which will be located next to the Remembrance Tree in the community garden at the Fermoy Resource Centre.  The pack also contains a unique ‘Lights of Love’ candle for you to use as part of our online Wave of Light on Sunday 5^th December. 

 

Lights of Love Packs are available from Jacinta McCormack 085-8742320 and Audrey Sands 085-8131978.  Please call them to arrange sponsoring a light. 

 

The organising committee hope this event will once again provide a space during the festive season to cherish the memories of our loved ones as the lights continually shine over the Christmas season and into the New Year.

 

 

Free Webinars from HSE Health and Wellbeing

 

Upcoming Free Webinars from HSE Health and Wellbeing   Environment, Health & Wellbeing Virtual Conference You are invited to attend the upcoming Environment, Health and Wellbeing Online Conference which will focus on Learning from the Pandemic, on Monday 29th November from 9.15 – 13.15. Our HSE colleagues Dr. Stephanie O’Keefe and Dr. Philip Crowley will both be speaking at the event. There is free registration at the bottom of this page: https://ti.to/environment-health-wellbeing/2021   Tobacco-Free Campus Webinar If you would like to learn more about Tobacco Free Campus, this event will give you insights from the frontline. The HSE Health and Wellbeing Tobacco Free Ireland Programme will host a Tobacco-Free Campus Awards Webinar at 11.00 AM on Thursday 25th November. You Can Register here: https://bit.ly/3qEf2j3 This webinar is a celebration of the sites and services who have worked through challenging times over the past 18 months to quality improve the implementation of the HSE Tobacco-Free Campus Policy. This webinar presents an opportunity to hear examples of good practice in policy implementation and hear about ways in which we can overcome policy challenges. Tobacco-Free Campus policy implementation requires a whole-organisation approach and the buy-in of all management, staff, and service users. Successful implementation of TFC policy requires good leadership and a systematic approach. The HSE Health and Wellbeing Tobacco Free Ireland Programme is committed to supporting all services nationally to achieve the highest level of policy implementation and has consistently employed new and creative supportive strategies.   START Webinar for Parents – Let’s go easy on treats To help parents make a start to reducing treats we are hosting a START webinar with nutrition, health, and parenting experts on Thursday 25th November at 7:30 pm. To find out more and register please click here. Research carried out to inform the current phase of the START campaign highlights that while parents and guardians are interested to reduce the amount of treat foods, like crisps, chocolate, biscuits, their children are consuming, they often find it difficult. These type of foods are the 2nd most consumed food group by children. The Food for Life guidelines say that these type of foods are not needed and recommend that when consumed it should be ‘very little, and not every day’. HSE Christmas Concert Save the Date: 16th Dec 4-5.30 HSE Health and Wellbeing are planning an online Christmas Concert such as was broadcast last year: https://bit.ly/3rkgjtq so save the date and stay tuned for further updates. To stay up to date follow us on Twitter @HsehealthW and at HSE Health and Wellbeing on YouTube.

Cork County Council Arts Grants Scheme 2022 open for applications

  

Cork County Council’s Arts Grant Scheme 2022 is open for applications from today, Friday November 19^th. 

The Arts Grants Scheme provides a number of funding strands for applicants seeking financial support for arts activities and events. 

 

This includes support for

• Arts festivals, performances, exhibitions and other publicly accessible cultural activity throughout County Cork.  

 

Funding is also available to support the work of

• voluntary arts organisations who maintain access to the arts in our local communities.

 

• applications from organisations working with the elderly, migrant or ethnic communities or for people with a disability who wish to carry out projects to deliver creative opportunities for those who experience difficulty accessing the arts.  

 

• Those wishing to develop arts projects through the Irish language, or to enable schools and other organisations involve professional artists in educational or community settings.

 

• Cork County Council also supports the work of individual artists by providing

a number of  bursary and residency opportunities for professional artists of all disciplines. These include funding for the production of new work, support to develop opportunities internationally or for time and space  to reflect and develop new work.

 

Applications are open online from November 19th at Cork County Council

The closing date for applications for all strands is Sunday, January 9th 2022

 

Anyone seeking further information should go to the online portal Cork County Council or  contact arts@corkcoco.ie

Launch of Heritage Keepers Initiative

The Heritage Council, in partnership with Burrenbeo Trust, has launched ‘Heritage Keepers’, a new pilot national Place-Based Learning and Stewardship initiative. Heritage Keepers is a free programme for schools or communities that will enable them to work together to explore the built, natural and cultural heritage of their local place and then plan action or actions to enhance their place. It will be offered to a limited number of schools and communities nationwide in Spring 2022 through a series of five 2-hour workshops. Burrenbeo Trust is now inviting expressions of interest from primary schools, secondary schools and community groups who are interested in participating in the programme. Deadline for submissions is  1st December 2021.  Further details on the programme and the information evenings (November 23rd and 25th) is available at https://www.heritagecouncil.ie/news/news-features/discover-your-place-become-a-heritage-keeper.

Mayor of the County of Cork Cllr. Gillian Coughlan on Cobh’s Tidy Towns Success

 "I wish to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Cobh Tidy Towns for their outstanding performance in this year’s Tidy Towns Competition. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of this community group, Cobh has been named Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town 2021, with an outstanding score of 353 points.

They have also been selected as the Overall Award Winner for the Covid 19 Community Award and secured a Young Persons in TidyTowns Award for the South West and Mid West Region.

The Judges of this year’s competition praised how the groups volunteers enhanced the natural and historical features of the town through painting, decoration and maintenance. They acknowledged how by availing of Cork County Council’s streetscape painting scheme businesses and homes contributed to the bright colourful facades in the town and commented on the success of outdoor dining during their visit.

I echo the judge’s enthusiasm for the proposed Public Realm Enhancements in Cobh, which will see more pedestrian friendly and outdoor dining spaces for this very special harbour town. The results of this competition a clear sign of the level of commitment the people of Cobh have for their town and fills me with optimism for its future. Cobh as a town and as a community is riding high."

 

Be Winter Ready Booklet 2021

Download here

The Be Winter Ready Booklet has been prepared as part of the Government of Ireland initiative to assist households in preparing for winter while also living with the impacts of COVID-19.

Togher 5k 2021

Ryans SuperValu Togher 5k 2021

We were delighted to be able to launch this years  Ryan’s Supervalu Togher 5k this morning at  Ryan’s Supervalu Togher. This years event will take place  on Monday the  27th of December @1pm outside Ryans Supervalu in Togher. Registration for this event is online only and we are  limited to 1000 places so first come first served. We  will be closing registration at midnight on the 3rd of  December so make sure to book early to avoid disappointment. Due to Covid Restrictions we will not be offering a  goodie bag this year and we will not be able to  have our usual tea & coffee afterwards but we would  be delighted to see you at the race on the day. All funds raised go to support both Cork Mental Health  and Togher AC The event will be chip timed and  is AAI registered. So book today on the following link :

Togher 5k Registration

Take the Irish Hospice Foundation Time to Reflect Survey

 The Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) are inviting the people of Ireland to share their views and experiences of death, loss, and grief during the COVID-19 pandemic by taking the Time to Reflect Survey this week.

 

Take the survey here. It is open until the end of November 2021. 

 

Anyone aged 18 years or over living in Ireland can take part, whether or not they 

were bereaved during the pandemic. The survey is anonymous and is for people

 of all ages, genders, ethnicities and cultures. The IHF also want people

 working in health, residential, social, end-of-life and bereavement 

care settings to take part.

 

Email timetoreflect@hospicefoundation.ie if you would prefer a paper 

version of the survey.

 

The information gathered in this survey will provide an important historical 

record of people’s experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 It will also support efforts to ensure a future in which everyone in

 Ireland can die and grieve well, wherever the place and whatever the cause.

 

 

Attachments area

Stay in the Loop Update Your Community Group Contact details

 

Community Groups often change their officers and forget to inform Muintir na Tire.

It is extremely important that groups notify us as soon as possible when new people are appointed as either Chairperson or Secretary within your group. 

This will enable us to keep your group informed about important community events, training and competitions. 

Please click the following link to update your groups details. The process should not take longer than five minutes

https://forms.gle/wV8CxwxvxMh2Z6WU6

 

Abode's Independent Living Programme

Abode's Independent Living Programme is now accepting applications for April 2022.

The Independent Living Programme is for adults with a disability who would like to learn skills to become more independent.

Modules taught at level 3 include:

• Cookery
• Career Preparation
• Work Experience
• Computer Literacy
• Digital Media
• Desktop Publishing
• Spreadsheets
• Word Processing
• Mathematics
• Personal Effectiveness
• Health and Safety
• Health and Fitness
• Art and Crafts

For more information contact Lorna in Abode on 0214916180. We look forward to hearing from you!

Healthy Ireland, Let Get Set Campaign

 

Getting Started

Being physically active is beneficial for your physical and mental 

health and overall wellbeing. It can help you deal with anxiety 

and stress. Getting outdoors, if you can, is really important. With 

many of us spending more time than usual indoors over recent 

months, getting back to an active routine can be challenging. 

Here are some tips to get you going.

• Start small. If you are starting a fitness journey, you need to take
•  things one step at a time. Start with any activity that raises your
•  heart rate, makes you breathe faster and feel warmer. This could
•  be a brisk walk, riding a bike, dancing indoors, or exercising at home.
• Be consistent. Keep at it (even if there are some tough days) and 
• you will see results soon.
• Find ways to fit activity into your day, or to encourage yourself to 
• get moving. Try walking the short journeys that you sometimes drive, 
• doing some stretches indoors, or taking a quick walk on your 
• lunch break (weather permitting).
• Partner up. Getting a friend or family member involved will 
• keep you motivated.
• Don’t overdo it – take it slowly, or you will get disheartened.
• The important thing is that no matter what your age or 
• circumstance it’s important to keep moving - indoors or 
• outdoors - to help you enjoy better health.
• The easiest way to be active is to find something that you enjoy
•  doing. Check with Sport Ireland and your Local Sports Partnership
• to see what’s available in your area.
• The National Physical Activity guidelines recommend 30 minutes
•  of moderate to vigorous physical activity five days a week for 
• adults, and 60 minutes for kids, but short bouts of physical activity 
• (even 10 minutes at a time) can quickly add up.
• Many local and sports clubs run social teams for different age
•  groups. This way you get to play your favourite sport no matter 
• what your fitness or skill level, and it’s a great way to get 
• out to meet like-minded people, while being more active.

For more examples of how to get started, go to our partners 

website in the HSE

Activity for older people

As you get older it is really important to stay active. Being active 

can help your body to stay strong and supple, improve balance and coordination aiding in falls prevention, cheer you up and boost 

your energy.

Just 30 minutes activity a day indoors or outdoors could have a

 huge impact on your health.

Here are some tips to get you going:

• light housework, gardening or walking around your garden are all 
• good ways to keep active while staying safe
• Sport Ireland have developed a series of exercise videos specifically 
• for older adults. You can find them here
• Siel Bleu have some great exercise videos on their YouTube 
• page
• the HSE also have some more tips and info on indoor exercises 
• for older people here
• Age and Opportunity have a Fitline that you can call for tips and 
• advice on getting active
• Age and Opportunity are livestreaming their Movement Minutes 
• exercise videos on Facebook on Mondays, Wednesdays and 
• Fridays at 11am
• Watch more videos from Age and Opportunity

You will find more tips and information at gov.ie/healthyireland

IHF Seed Grants

 

Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) offer Seed Grants to communities /

individuals wishing to creatively process or memorialise loss. In order to

allow people to adapt to Covid-19 regulations, the deadline for this year’s

applications has been extended to Friday 12th November 2021 at 5.00pm.

IHF offer up to 26 Seed Grants to support communities and individuals

across the country with self-directed creative explorations of dying, death,

grief, bereavement, and loss. Grants are a maximum of €1,000 each.

IHF Seed Grant Programme 2021-2022

Supported by the Creative Ireland programme, IHF sets out to inspire and

support the work of groups, organisations, and individuals who wish to

mark in some tangible way their response to the universal realities of dying,

death, and bereavement, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Seed Grants support groups, organisations, and individuals exploring

creative ways to do this. They might use the grant to help start new

local art projects, or support existing projects to gain momentum - this may

involve artists, crafts people, or digital coders. Alternatively, it may be a

group or an individual who has a good idea. Priority will be given to creative

initiatives that take innovative approaches to reflection and remembrance.

During the pandemic, and with the support of the Creative Ireland

Programme, IHF began an Arts and Creative Engagement initiative. With all

citizens affected by loss, normal patterns of grieving disrupted and care

staff fraught, the programme offered a way for people to make meaning in

a difficult time. Watch a short film of projects supported previously here.

Application Process

Full details and a digital application form can be found on the IHF

website. Alternatively, you can download and print an application form via

the IHF web site and post it to: Elizabeth Hutcheson, Seed Grants, Irish

Hospice Foundation, 32 Nassau Street, Dublin 2.

Key Dates

• Thursday October 28th at noon: Online application briefing and

clinic (including Q&A). Zoom link on website. No need to register.

• Friday November 12th at 5pm: Extended closing date for all

applications.

• Tuesday November 23rd: Successful awardees announced.

All applicants will be notified this week.

• Developed to April 30th 2022: Successful projects must be

completed by this date.

About Irish Hospice Foundation

IHF are the national agency focused on death, dying, grief, and loss. They

work with a vision of Ireland where “every death matters” delivering

education, training, and awareness programmes alongside systemic and

social change strategies and policy campaigns. Their ambition is to reduce

the impact of carelessness where it leads to suffering.

Over 35 years IHF has become embedded across the delivery of care in

Ireland. IHF works with multiple HSE Departments, the NGO

sector, and community sector. IHF’s many Friendly Hospitals with Ireland’s

acute hospital service, Compassionate End of Life with the residential care

sector, Nurses for Night-Care delivering care in the community directly to

families, and the Bereavement Network aligning the voluntary

sectors support.