Offaly

The 2023 CLÁR Programme is to provide a total of €6.2 million in funding for 152 schools, community and sports projects nationwide. Funding of €174,934 has been specifically provided for four projects on offshore islands in counties Galway and Mayo.

Community facilities in the wider Midlands region are being encouraged to apply for funding to provide electric vehicle charge points under the EU Just Transition Fund Community Facilities EV Charging Scheme.

A new partnership launched today between remote working hubs and universities will allow students to live and study in their own communities. The first ‘Learning in the Hubs’ initiative was announced at the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) Athlone, and will see the university working with 11 Connected Hubs facilities in the Midlands.

In response to the current refugee crisis, increased funding was allocated to the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) earlier this year. Local Development Companies have used this funding to recruit Ukrainian speakers to work as development workers.  Many Ukrainians in Offaly have now found jobs or have enrolled in courses due to the appointment of Svitlana Osmachko as a Ukrainian support worker with Offaly Local Development Company (OLDC). 

- Green Offaly is the only organisation of its kind in Ireland

The increase in domestic violence during lockdowns and the murder this year of a woman while out jogging, in Tullamore, Co. Offaly, led to a national enquiry about gaps in the level of support provided to women at risk of violence. Offaly Domestic Violence Support Service was set up in the aftermath of a previous deadly incident in 1997 and it does remarkable and mostly unseen work supporting female and male victims. Here, Ray Lucey speaks to manager Anne Clarke.

Offaly Volunteer Centre officially opened its doors at Bury Quay, Tullamore, on Friday, March 4th. As chairperson Martin Buckley, founder member of Pullough Community Shop which recently won the ‘Unsung Hero of Offaly’ award, said, “The future of Offaly volunteering is well and truly established and I am proud to be part of something that is outstanding.”

Every year, the Aldi-sponsored Foróige Youth Citizenship Awards take place, giving young people around Ireland the chance to gain recognition and be celebrated for their hard work and commitment in the community. But who claimed the main prize at the most recent competition?