Community awards presented to groups and organisations
AWARDS were presented last week to groups who participated in Wicklow County Council’s Community Awards Scheme.
The Cathaoirleach of Bray Municipal District, Cllr Christopher Fox, presented the awards at Bray Town Hall.
‘I recognise the ongoing effort required to support this voluntary activity across County Wicklow as I come across it daily in my role as a councillor,’ he said.
‘I have seen that in every community there are ordinary people doing extraordinary things. They work in the background and help to keep organisations, projects and events happening. It is clear that we have a thriving volunteer effort in our country. You are all a part of that and this is what we are here tonight to celebrate. Once again my congratulations and my thanks to all of you.’
The Community Awards Scheme is an annual grant scheme open to community and voluntary groups in the county with an overall allocations of €200,000.
Helen Howes from County Wicklow Public Participation Network informed groups about events and activities that Co Wicklow PPN are working on to support community groups in Bray as well as the rest of the county. Starting with the County Wicklow PPN Plenary on June 5 which will provide member groups with an update of the PPNs work in 2018 so far as well as information on the establishment and development of Town Teams throughout the county.
Community groups in the Bray Municipal District can expect to be invited to attend two workshops to identify and develop their vision for community wellbing for this and future generations. A training fair is being organised and will take place on Saturday, September 8, in the Brock- agh Centre.
Groups will be able to attend workshops and get information about; charities regulation, the governance code, GDPR, volunteer management, garda vetting, social & digital media and much more. Experts will be on hand to talk about insurance for community groups as well as funding supports, community finance and lots of other initiatives to support community groups in their work.
Groups were particularly interested in the new County Wicklow PPN Funding Handbook. This is an online resource book for Co Wicklow PPN members that provides information, advice and tips to access funding as well as listing over fifty funding streams. Information on the criteria for funding, who should apply, the usual timeframe for the grants and the contact details form part of this resource which members will be able to access on the PPN website at the end of the month. For more information, go to countywicklowppn.ie.