Image representing Social inclusion showing people at an outdoor festival

People

Supporting individuals strives to future-proof Offaly as a county ripe with sustainability and skill.

Place

Providing assistance to community groups ensures that a sense of place exists in each community.

Partnership

Working through local engagement and partnerships between disadvantaged individuals and public sector agencies.

Community Integration

Ensuring that everyone has access to the full spectrum of social, educational, and professional opportunities, deeply rooted within existing communities.

About the Social Inclusion Pillar

Social Inclusion is a pillar spanning many programmes within Offaly Local Development Company.

The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) provides support to tackle poverty and social exclusion through local engagement and partnerships between disadvantaged individuals, community organisations and public sector agencies. The aim of SICAP in Offaly is to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality through supporting communities and individuals using community development approaches, engagement and collaboration.

Staff of Offaly Local Development Company’s SICAP team work across Offaly, in both urban and rural communities, to address barriers to social inclusion. The SICAP team is holistic in their approach, responding to arising needs and circumstances as required.

Information

Our community development workers coordinate a number of initiatives aimed at engaging youth living in disadvantaged areas. This includes developmental activities such as summer camps and seasonal workshops, initiatives to address early-school leaving and youth-led community grants.

Youthbank is managed by young people aged 14-25 years and provides small grants for youth-led community projects.

FLOW – Youth Engagement Programme: Designed and delivered by Offaly Local Development Company, FLOW is a new youth engagement programme in Birr aimed at re-engaging young people, aged 16-25, through holistic and nature based activities. Participants take part in a series of tailored workshops which deliver practical knowledge in traditional craft-based skills and a reconciliation of self and belonging in community.

Strengthening Community Groups

Development workers support local community groups via a socially-inclusive community development approach. This work supports collective community engagement and the development of sustainable, stronger communities.

Eligible community groups which represent or work within disadvantaged communities and SICAP target groups can avail of these supports. Direct supports include needs identification, community planning and capacity-building to deliver social, recreational, developmental and cultural activities. Practical supports are also provided to ensure equality and inclusion measures are in place.

Community Integration

Community integration ensures that everyone has access to the full spectrum of social, educational, and professional opportunities, with these opportunities deeply rooted within the existing communities. At its core, community integration involves ensuring that each person has the opportunity to pursue their interests, desires, and goals.

Individuals and groups who find themselves marginalised, isolated or segregated due to disability, gender, race, origin or any other reason are supported to engage and positively participate in a host of activities and programmes with a focus on meaningful integration in their communities. These opportunities are available through a variety of health and wellbeing programmes, employment programmes and other ad hoc events, including Failte Isteach and Social Walking.

Community Food Projects

Offaly Local Development Company runs multiple programmes with the support of Safefood and HSE funding, which have the aim of educating the community on healthy eating and creating an opportunity for the development of skills and knowledge around food, healthier shopping, and cookery skills.

Programmes include:

  • Healthy Food Made Easy: A 6-week programme based around nutrition, education and cookery, developed to promote healthy eating and build basic cookery skills.
  • Able 2 Cook 4 Health: A modified version of Healthy Food Made Easy designed to meet the needs of people with low literacy skills and people with intellectual and learning disabilities.
  • Cool Dudes: A 5 session programme aimed at children 8-12, available to schools and youth activity groups.

Your Local Catalyst for Growth

Offaly Local Development Company brings deep local insight, dedicated support, and proven expertise to foster sustainable development. If you or your community group are seeking support to address barriers to social inclusion, please contact our dedicated team.

Call us for inquiry : Monday to Friday : 9 am – 5 pm

057 9352467

Passionate – Dedicated – Professional

Learn more about what we do.