“I’m only one person, what difference can I make?”

Established in 2021, the Youghal Blue and Green Community Network (YBGCN) has approximately 50 member groups including local schools, GAA clubs, active retirement and Tidy Towns groups. They meet monthly through a mixture of online and in-person meetings, as well as ‘walk and talks’ in the local area.

The idea for the network grew from discussions between Youghal’s long-established community group Cumann na Daoine and the Department of Rural and Community Development on how to incorporate climate action into their work.

The resulting community-driven initiative works to promote sustainability and protect Youghal’s natural and cultural heritage.

TOGETHER

Maria Power, the Youghal network’s manager, told Changing Ireland: “We thought the whole notion of climate change is so big, how could we tackle it? So the idea was to work with others and take on actions together.

“It’s very much about climate action focused on three pillars: coast, environment, and energy. We look at everything from coastal erosion to sand dunes, to flooding and rising sea levels. So we have a blue agenda, as well as a green one. Then the approach is to engage the community in that change.”

REPRESENTATION

Gráinne Furey, community climate action worker with the network added: “The plan is that eventually the whole community will be represented. It’s doable. We have two and a half staff, and we have some resources, department funders, as well as backing from the Tomar Trust. They’re a philanthropic trust. So we’re lucky we have some core resources and core staff to do the work.”

The work also demands patience and perseverance. Even if the network wants to plant a tree it can be complicated – if it’s not on private ground, it means engaging with the local authority.

“Projects can take a year or two of research, applying for funding, getting the funding, and then permissions,” said Gráinne.

WALKSHOPS AND RISING SEA LEVELS

One of the network’s current projects, ‘Pathways to Community Climate Resilience’ uses a creative approach to get the community talking about climate change and flooding.

The project received funding last year through Creative Ireland and has engaged three artists to focus on flooding, rising sea levels, and how that affects the community and biodiversity.

“Along the way, we’re meeting different community groups with what we call ‘walkshops’ and workshops. At the end of this project, we hope to have a sound and visual exhibition,” said Gráinne.

“We find that art projects and creative projects are a great way to get people on board and involved in a fun way, because climate change is a serious topic and people can be very easily turned off. Some people feel there’s a lot more pressing issues in their personal lives.”

The network focuses on “projects we can deliver on”.

FLOODING – NOT ALL CAN RELOCATE

When it comes to flooding and rising sea levels, that is already an issue in Youghal, said Gráinne. It is now “constant”.

“It’s not as bad as what we’ve seen in Midleton last October, but there are people here who have had to relocate. Youghal is flanked by two estuaries, and we have the coast and this hill behind us. So it’s about being prepared for it. Some people cannot afford to relocate, so they have to be prepared and find ways to reduce the impact when flooding does happen.

“It is going to become more regular. That’s a message we have to get out without scaring people as well. That’s what our Creative Ireland project is looking at. And looking at a community resilience plan eventually.”

ENERGY TRANSITION

Mark Falvey, also a community climate action worker with the network, is primarily focused on working on the topic of energy transition in Youghal.

Youghal Blue and Green Community Network runs an energy hub every Thursday in the community cafe in Cumann na Daoine to help raise awareness of the grants available and the savings that can be made through energy upgrades.

“We run a drop in clinic helping people with grants or giving them information on solar power or EVs. I think the thing with the energy transition is, it’s expensive, and trying to engage people in that is quite difficult,” says Mark.

“When you’re trying to get people to retrofit their houses or get solar panels, their main issues, and I suppose, especially in the demographics of Youghal, there is quite an older population, and it is a bit of a socially disadvantaged area. So there’s not always the will or resources there to install solar panels, or get retrofits.

“So we’re really trying to encourage that energy transition, while also being aware of the fact that if someone’s cold at home, or if they’re facing fuel poverty, you can’t tell them not to burn something in the fire to stay warm.”

Some of the network’s other projects include a community garden, a community radio show, Climate Action Week events, biodiversity events, green transport initiatives, and much more.

JARGON

Gráinne added: “There’s a lot of jargon and buzzwords involved with all of this. So it’s breaking down that language as well. There are lots of challenges, but fun along the way. As long as we’re listening to people as best we can, we’ll be more successful.

“We have a very diverse community here, even within our network, of people that have just moved here in the last few years. Sometimes until they arrive here and buy a house, they don’t realise the challenges involved in Youghal. A lot of the new members are really great to get on board and they’re bringing a lot of knowledge from other countries and how they do things as well.”

According to Gráinne, feedback from the community has so far been “pretty positive”. “A lot of these projects – all of these projects really – came from our initial first year of talking to the different groups and seeing what they need and what they want.”

CHALLENGES

Like most organisations in the community and voluntary sector, the network’s main challenges are funding, and recruiting volunteers.

“We are a pilot, Maria had to fight hard for funding,” revealed Gráinne. “The Department refused it several times and it wasn’t until Tomar – they were looking for a community project that was focused on the environment – they committed to 40 per cent funding for three years. With that Maria went back to the Department and asked could they match it, and eventually they could. But that was a piece of work.”

She continued: “I was fully available as a volunteer during lockdown, but I said to Maria: ‘We need paid workers, because we’ll all be back at work, and who’s going to get these projects over the line?’. And that’s all over Ireland, in every voluntary organisation. Volunteers are scarce on the ground now for a myriad of reasons, and one of those I think is that people are so busy. Which is why it’s really important that core funding is looked at by the Government, (to prevent) this scrambling for funds all the time.”

Should the model created by the Youghal Blue and Green Community Network be replicated around the country?

“Absolutely,” replies Gráinne. “I’m very passionate about it, as is Mark, because I know that so many people really want to get on board with climate action, but it’s so huge, they don’t know where to start, and a lot of it with those buzzwords can seem like a very uncomfortable space to be in. So we’re just trying to show people that there are simple steps and easier ways. Our motto is ‘Together We Are Stronger’.”

For more, see here for our story on the launch of the Youghal Blue and Green Community Network in 2023.