With the seasonally adjusted national unemployment rate heading for 15%, South and East Cork Area Development (SECAD) has secured at least 120 new work places over the next three years for local community and voluntary organisations to support people who are unemployed with an opportunity to work in the community for a twelve-month period.  Additionally, community organisations will benefit by harnessing the skills of people who are willing to work.

SECAD Chairperson, J. J. Harty, welcomed the initiative, and said that ‘providing real support for those who are unemployed is a key priority for everyone.  SECAD recognises that in the current economic climate the voluntary sector across the area has been victim of the competing effects of reduced funding from both public sources and fund-raising, and an unprecedented increase in demand for local services and support.  The Tús Initiative, operated by SECAD on behalf of the Department of Social Protection, will enable both the community and voluntary sector and the unemployed to benefit, and for better services to be provided across the area.’

Tús will provide short-term, quality opportunities for unemployed people to work in community and voluntary bodies providing a broad range of services of benefit to communities.   Participants will be paid the full jobseekers rate plus, an additional €20 per week. Under 25-year-olds will be paid the maximum Jobseekers Allowance plus €20 per week which makes Tús attractive to this group.   The employment will be insured for all benefits under the social insurance system.

Participants will work for 19½ hours per week for a duration of 12 months in quality employment, and those who are unemployed for more than 12 months and in receipt of Jobseekers Assistance will be offered the opportunity to consider a placement by the Department of Social Protection.  This will help support unemployed people in remaining job-ready for re-entry to employment as the economic environment improves.

All of the work undertaken while participating on Tús will be beneficial to the local community and the types of projects carried out are likely to include: -

1.      Energy conservation work in homes and community buildings;

2.      Social care of all age groups and people with disabilities;

3.      Caretaking, securing, supervising of community buildings and spaces;

4.      Renovation of community and sporting facilities, including the regeneration and enhancement of community, recreation and sporting spaces;

5.      Work in support of cultural and heritage activities;

6.      Community administration and community event management;

7.      Coaching for sporting activities; and

8.      Repair of equipment for developing countries – Farm Tools, bicycles, computers, sewing machines, health equipment etc.

SECAD, in partnership with the Department of Social Protection, are organising six community workshops across south and east Co. Cork to explain the Tús Initiative to local community and voluntary groups who are interested in providing work placements in their local communities.  All community leaders are encouraged to attend any one of the workshops so that they can register an interest in the Tús Initiative with a view to obtaining work placements.

r     Tuesday, 29^th March 2011 – SECAD Offices, Midleton Community Enterprise Centre, Knockgriffin, Midleton.

r     Wednesday, 30^th March 2011 – The Old Village Shopping Centre, Station Road, Ballincollig.

r     Thursday, 31^st March 2011 – Cobh Community Centre, Orelia Terrace, Cobh.

r     Wednesday, 13^th April 2011– Cumann na Daoine, Catherine Street, Youghal.

r     Thursday, 14^th April 2011 –Togher Community Centre, Togher Road, Togher, Cork.

r     Tuesday, 19^th April 2011– Carrigaline Community Complex, Church Road, Carrigaline.

Further information can be obtained from Nuala O’Connell, South and East Cork Area Development (SECAD), Midleton Community Enterprise Centre, Knockgriffin, Midleton, Co. Cork.  Tel: 021 4613432, Email: info@secad.ie

See also Department of Social Protection website:

www.welfare.ie/EN/Schemes/RuralandCommunitySupports/Pages/tusfaq.aspx

Cork Coastal Clean-up to Sweep the County - Saturday 2nd April 2011

‘Clean Cork Harbour and Beyond’ initiative to take place as part of the National Spring Clean and Clean Coast Programme

A large number of diverse groups from the Cork Coastal region will come together for a massive clean-up of the coastline on Saturday April 2^nd. The clean-up will kick-start An Taisce’s National Spring Clean, Ireland’s largest anti-litter initiative which takes place throughout the month of April. The event which is being called ‘Clean Cork Harbour and Beyond Weekend’ is being organised by the Clean Coast Programme in the area.

An Taisce’s National Spring Clean Campaign is Ireland’s largest anti-litter initiative which runs throughout the month of April each year. The campaign encourages volunteers from all parts of society to organise clean-ups of their local areas and to take personal responsibility for litter.

Olivia Crossan, Clean Coast Officer, Cork said: “The ‘Clean Cork Harbour and Beyond Weekend’ is a wonderful opportunity to get various different types of communities in society together for a common cause. By participating in this event, our coastal shores will be cleaner and together we can show our pride in our beautiful county.”

15 volunteer and Coastcare groups have already signed up for this massive coastal clean-up event and the clean-ups will start in each area at 10am:

·         Blackrock - Blackrock Rowing Club; Blackrock Walking Club; Big Fish Games; Blackrock Castle

·         Alongside the railway tracks near Fota - Cobh Tidy Towns; Volunteers form Fota Wildlife Park and House; Irish Rail

·         Front Strand & Claycastle, Youghal - Youghal Tidy Towns

·         Inch Beach - Agahda Community Association

·         Fountainstown Beach - Fountainstown Community Association

·         Myrtleville  Beach - Myrtleville Coastcare group

·         Churchbay beach, Crosshaven - Church Bay Coastcare group

·         Midleton  - Midleton Tidy Towns

·         Bellvelly, The Great Island - Bellvelly Coastcare group

·         Passage West - Pasage West Tidy Towns

There is also an added incentive as Clean Coast Programme will be organising a prize draw, for every bag of litter an individual collects they will be given a raffle ticket. The Clean Coast Programme is encouraging other local groups in the area to get involved and register with National Spring Clean to receive their free clean up kit on www.nationalspringclean.org before Tuesday the 29^th March.

The National Spring Clean campaign is organised by An Taisce and funded by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. In 2010, more than 525,000 people volunteered to join with other members of their community organising over 5362 clean-up events around the country where an estimated 1675 tonnes of litter was collected with 35% of that waste being recycled. The campaign is sponsored by Coca-Cola Bottlers Ireland and the Wrigley Company. It is also supported by Repak who supply colour-coded refuse sacks for the recycling material collected. The campaign is backed by all Local Authorities who co-ordinate activity in their local community. The Clean Coast programme is sponsored by SECAD (South and East Cork Area Development), the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Fáilte Ireland and Coca-Cola Bottlers Ireland.  

To register for National Spring Clean call (01) 400 2220 or log on to the website http://www.nationalspringclean.org/”>www.nationalspringclean.org or you can also email Olivia Crossan for more information on the event ocrossan@eeu.antaisce.org

Save Money

& help the Environment!

The final 3 EcoSaver Training Programmes

will take place during Spring 2011.

The aim of the programme is to help householders

to assess and make changes to their lives

that will help them save money

and also reduce some of the negative effects

that a modern lifestyle can have on the environment.

The programme involves 6 enjoyable workshops which deal with

household issues such as Waste, Energy, Water, Transport, etc.

The programme will be delivered by Cork Environmental Forum

to community groups based in the SECAD area in South and East Cork.

If you are a member of a community group and your group would like to take part in the programme, please email us or give us a call.

Ideally we would like to have 10 – 12 participants in each group.

If you do not have enough members to make up a group

but you have people who would like to take part in the training,

we can connect you with another group.

So if your group would like further information

or would like to book a course

please contact Sinéad Conroy

on 021 4613432 or at sconroy@secad.ie.

The course is fully funded through the Rural Development Programme

so there will be no charge to your group and can be delivered in your own community.

Find out about a new exciting course called ‘Time to Change’ that will help you achieve on what you want.
Hear inspirational stories and be inspired to do something different with your life!
Meet representatives of local training, education and employment services and find out about the opportunities in Youghal.

Admission is free
Phone Christine to reserve your place at 021 4613432 or email info@secad.ie

 Workshop 1 – Designing a CV, Writing Letters of Application, Completing Application Forms

Workshop 2 – Interview Preparation

One to One Session – CV Evaluation, Videotaped Mock Interview, Feedback on Interview and DVD.  Videotaping is optional.

 If you are interested in taking part or would like more information, please contact Sinéad Conroy in SECAD at 021 4613432 or sconroy@secad.ie by Monday, 22 November 2010.

The course will run each Tuesday and Thursday morning for six weeks and will give participants the opportunity to learn skills in organising activity sessions.  Topics covered will include Active Leadership, Games for All, Codes of Ethics, Personal Development, and Participation in your Community.

If you are interested in finding out more about the course,  please contact Claire Hurley at Cork Sports Partnership on 021 4665081 or Sinéad Conroy in SECAD on 021 4613432 for further information and an application form.

This free 9 week course is open to individuals of all ages who want to learn about their strengths, set goals and create new pathways in their lives.

Interested?  Then drop into our Registration Days at:
Cumann Na Daoine, 4 Catherine Street, Youghal on:

Wednesday 6th October 10.00 am-2.00 pm
&
Wednesday 13th October 10.00 am-2.00 pm

Come in & chat with the trainer and learn more about this exciting opportunity.
All are welcome!

Course commencing Wednesday, 20th October until 9th December
3 hours per week plus one to one support.

National Trails Day 2010 set for Sunday 3^rd October

NATIONAL TRAILS DAY is happening this year on Sunday 3^rd October. It is a celebration of Ireland’s wonderful variety of trails and a chance for everyone to enjoy some of our most beautiful countryside, forests, mountains and lakes and we are calling on people to get involved and organise an event.

Along with the sponsorship of Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Coillte, the National Trails Office of the Irish Sports Council and Fáilte Ireland, this year we are also delighted to welcome the Countryside Activities and Access Network (NI) as sponsors, to make this the second successive year that National Trails Day will be an all-island event.

National Trails Day 2009 was very successful, with about 120 events held across the country. Last year we had “bat walks”, mountain bike cycles, guided canoe trips, family orienteering, “Leave No Trace” hikes, trail conservation work, heritage walks and just plain walking! This year we hope that we can do even more interesting and exciting things on a trail, be it on land or water.

The partners in National Trails Day are putting the call out now for people to organise a trail event. A media campaign will begin in September to promote awareness of all the events and to encourage people to take part.

For more information on how to get involved visit www.nationaltrailsday.ie .

For more information, please contact:

Daithi de Forge,

Project Manager, National Trails Day

Tel: 086-2058873

South & East Cork Area Development as part of the services to the unemployed,  will be hosting an Employment, Education & Training Information morning at their Midleton Offices, on Tuesday 20th April form 10am – 12.30pm.   Free, Confidential One to one Supports & Information will be available from SECAD Staff and visiting representatives such as Social Welfare (DSP), FAS, First Employment Services (FES) VEC and the National Learning Network (NLN) .  In addition, Individual information workshops, presented by the visiting representatives will also take place every half hour from 10am – 12.30pm, on the services and supports available to the unemployed.  Members of the public will have an opportunity to partake in these and/or meet the representatives one to one if preferred. Doors open to the Public 10am – 12.30,  Looking forward to seeing you there, for directions or further details on supports please call 021-4613432 or check the SECAD website www.secad.ie .
 
Workshop Timetable
10.00 am        Social Welfare
10.30 am        FAS
11.00am        FES (First Emp. Services)
11.30am        VEC
12.00am        NLN (Nat. Learning Network)

South & East Cork Area Development Ltd.,Midleton Community Enterprise Centre,Owennacurra Business Park,Knockgriffin,Midleton,Co. Cork.  Tel 021 4613432

For further details, please contact Community Timebank, Community Centre, Glounthaune, Cork Tel 021 4524747 or email info@communitytimebank.org

SECAD is pleased to offer your group the opportunity to take part in the Global Action Plan training programme delivered by the Cork Environmental Forum. This ‘eco-saver’ programme involves 6 workshops which deal with household issues such as Waste, Energy, Water, Transport, etc. The course is fully funded through the Rural Development Programme so there will be no charge to your group.  The course can be delivered in your own community provided there are sufficient numbers available to participate

The aim of the Global Action Plan is to provide tips and insights into how to reduce your impact on the environment and save money in the process. It’s an action based programme with participants encouraged to make changes in their households and report back. More information is available on cef.ie.

To date over 600 people in County Cork have availed of the Global Action Plan. It is an enjoyable course with one workshop every fortnight. By the end of the course participants will have made significant changes to their waste, water and energy management practices.

Participants worldwide have achieved on average the following resource savings per year:

• 40% reduction in rubbish sent to landfill
• 12% reduction in energy consumption
• 15% reduction in water consumption
• 18% fall in household carbon dioxide output
• And approximately €300 per household
• All the while improving their quality of life

If your group is interested in doing the Global Action Plan and you would like further information or would like to express your interest, please contact Nuala O’Connell on 021 4613432 or by email at noconnell@secad.ie.

Representatives from Department of Social and Family Affairs, FAS, VEC, Adult Education & Learning Service, Failte Ireland, Citizens’ Information, MABS, St Vincent de Paul and HSE health promotion will be available on the day for information and advice.

All events will take place from 10am to 2pm at the following locations and dates

2nd September, South & East Cork Area Development Office, Owennacurra Business Park, Knockgriffin, Midleton
8th September, The Coach House, Ballincollig (beside the shopping centre)
16th September, Parish Centre, Carrigaline

In addition the adult education networks in Cobh and Youghal are organising Adult Education exhibitions in September

The Youghal event will be held on Tuesday 8th September from 8-10pm at Cumann na Daoine CDP

The Cobh event will be held on Wednesday 9th September from 7-9pm at Cobh (Great Island) Community Centre.

Detailed information on the Youghal and Cobh events will be circulated locally in the coming weeks.

The four initiatives are:

• Strategic Planning for Community Groups Initiative
• Accessibility and energy audit of community owned buildings Initiative
• Active Communities Initiative Initiative
• Village and Area Enhancement Training We look forward to hearing from you.

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Nuala or Sinead at SECAD on 021 4613432.

The next closing date for applications is 28th September 2009.