Applications are now being invited by the HSE for National Lottery Funding Grants.

 This funding is distributed by the HSE each year to community-based groups and voluntary organisations under the Respite Care Grant Scheme and the National Lottery Grant Scheme.

Groups and organisations involved in the provision of Health and Personal Social Services can apply for once-off funding of between €500 and €10,000 for suitable projects.

Click here for more information including the application form

Closing Date for Applications is 12 noon on Wednesday 23rd March 2022. Applicants will be advised as to the outcome of their application by 8th July 2022.

Public bodies, including the HSE, are not eligible to apply for this funding.

Free Online Sustainable Gardening Course

 

Cork County Council is delighted to announce a FREE online Sustainable Gardening course that is suitable for beginners and more advanced gardeners alike. Horticulturist Aoife Munn will be delivering this course which will be lively, interactive and covers everything from pollinator planting, creating wildflower areas to growing vegetables and much more. This course is particularly interesting for Tidy Towns groups, Allotment Holders, Green Schools Coordinators and those wishing to really reduce their impact on the planet. The course will run every Thursday morning at 10am for 5 weeks beginning 10th February 2022. Numbers are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Register online today.

SHEP Spring 2022 Community Education for Health & Wellbeing Short Courses

 A few places remain on a number of SHEP’s Spring 2022 programme of SHEP Community Education for Health & Wellbeing short courses (20 hour).  All of these courses are at No Charge and are supported with tutor hours through Cork ETB. There are both on-line and in-person options. A number of the courses are organised collaboratively with the Lantern Community Project. Please pass on the information to people you think might benefit from the opportunity and who might be interested to know of them or to apply. Details of courses are also available on the SHEP Website at https://www.socialandhealth.com/short-courses-in-the-community/.

Your School Could Win €10,000 for Your School Garden

Biodiversity in Schools have partnered with Applegreen for an exciting new ‘BioDive’ competition. Applegreen are offering primary schools throughout Ireland the opportunity to win an amazing €10,000 for the creation of a biodiversity garden at their school – assisted by Biodiversity in Schools.  They also have 134 other prizes including school workshops and biodiversity resources.  Just 124 primary schools will be chosen to take part.

Closing date for registrations is 4th February 2022. 

Registration/further details available at https://www.biodiversityinschools.com/news/new-partnership-with-applegreen-on-biodiversity-competition

 

Free online Stress Course

 FREE Stress Control programme, beginning on 7th February 2022 (Monday next). Stress Control is a very practical course that offers easy to understand information about anxiety, stress and low mood and offers practical steps to start managing your difficulties.

The programme helps us to recognise the signs of stress. It covers topics including how stress affects our bodies and our thoughts. It teaches skills to overcome panicky feelings and tips to getting a good night’s sleep.

The sessions are presented by Dr Jim White, an internationally recognised expert in stress management who has teamed up with the HSE.

How to take part:

This is a free programme offered online. To take part simply see www.stresscontrol.ie and click on the orange button to access Stress Control Online or go straight to Youtube where sessions are available on the dates below.

Dates 

The six sessions are 90 minutes a session and will cover different topics. You are encouraged to watch all sessions, but participants can join at any stage for one or more session.

1. Session 1: Monday 7th February : Session 1 is available from 9am on the 7th, until 10th February, 8am
2. Session 2: Thursday 10th February 9am, until 14th February, 8am
3. Session 3: Monday 14th February 9am, until 17th February, 8am
4. Session 4: Thursday 17th February 9am, until 21st February, 8am
5. Session 5: Monday 21st February 9am, until 24th February, 8am
6. Session 6: Thursday 24th February 9am, until 27th February, 8am

Community Monuments Fund 2022

 The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has advertised the 2022 Community Monuments Fund with €5 million available nationally. The fund will be administered locally  by Cork City Council Archaeologist Ciara Brett.

The funding is prioritised for the care, conservation, maintenance, protection and promotion of archaeological monuments. In 2021 €135,000 was made available for 4 projects in Cork City at Blarney Castle, Ballincollig Gunpowder Mills, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral and Rathcooney Church.

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 (including COVID 19 public health measures).

Further information and application form is available here.

The closing date for applications to the Local Authority is 15th February 2022. Applications should be emailed to archaeology@corkcity.ie

Please contact Ciara Brett, City Archaeologist ciara_brett@corkcity.ie if you wish to discuss a possible project.

 

OLDER PEOPLE’S COUNCIL LAUNCHES DRIVE FOR MEMBERS IN COUNTY CORK

 New members are being encouraged to join the Cork County Older People’s Council which provides a way for older adults to take a more active role in their communities and have their voices heard. The Council is free to join and is open to all County Cork residents, aged 50 years upwards.

Members of the Older People’s Council can raise issues of importance and inform the decision-making process of the Cork County Age Friendly Alliance. Members are also kept up to date on social events, issues of relevance to them and various Age Friendly initiatives.

Successful initiatives to date include securing a dedicated Customer Care number for Eir customers over the age of 65. Chairs from the 31 Older Person’s Councils across the country and Age Friendly Ireland met with Eir and Comreg to negotiate the new facility. ‘Age Friendly Care from Eir’ is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm on 1800 252 252.

The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan said, “Cork County Older People’s Council is making a real difference. It is vital that older people have a role in local decision making and I would encourage new members to join and have their say. The value of being a member was magnified over the last two years and became a lifeline for people during lockdown. The Older People’s Council and the Age Friendly Office kept in contact with members through Zoom, offering online exercise and singing classes as well as providing phone contact when needed. There were also regular emails and even surprise packs through the letterbox which provided a much-needed boost when most needed.”

A new tabletop calendar is being distributed through the network of eight Age Friendly Towns encouraging members of the public to consider joining the Older Peoples Council.  The eight Age Friendly towns at present are Kinsale, Bandon, Mitchelstown, Cobh, Bantry, Charleville, Millstreet and Passage West/Monkstown. It is the ambition of Cork County Council that every town will be Age Friendly.

Liz Maddox is Chair of Cork County Older People’s Council, added, “On behalf of our committee, I am delighted to be at our Age Friendly Towns calendar launch. Inside each calendar is an application for membership to the Older People’s Council.  If you are a member already, please pass it on to a family member or friend. Check you are still on our list. Enjoy the calendar, which will be distributed by our Age Friendly towns.”

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey, highlighted how, “Cork County Council signed up to the Age Friendly Strategy in 2016 with eight Age Friendly Towns across the county and ambitions to make every town age friendly. This is about improving the quality of life for older people in County Cork. The Cork County Older People’s Council is an essential element of this. There are quarterly meetings where the executive members and wider committee members can raise issues and concerns. These issues are followed up with various stakeholders in the Age Friendly Alliance including the Council, the HSE, Gardai, transport providers and voluntary organisations. We truly want the Older People’s Council to be as inclusive as possible, to reflect the views of all older people right across the county, which is why we’ve launched this membership drive.”

With over 300 members, the Cork County Older People’s Council will always welcome persons who may wish to join. New members can fill in the application form or join online by visiting www.corkcoco.ie Weekly emails will be issued with news, events of interest and information about services available. Email addresses and contact details will not be shared. For more information, email agefriendly@corkcoco.ie