This article was first published on March 31^st, 2008.

County Monaghan Partnership
Community Development Supports 2008
How can your group benefit?

Wondering what direction your group should take? Want to know where to get funding from? Having difficulties completing an application form? Want to network with other groups who have a similar focus?

To help groups answer these questions, Partnership’s Community Outreach Workers, are on hand. We are here to support your group. All support provided is tailored to suit your group’s needs and is free of charge. To access our service, all you need do is to contact either myself, Regina Tinnelly or Gerard Callan at the Partnership’s Castleblayney Office or E-mail rtinnelly@monaghanpartnership.com or gcallan@monaghanpartnership.com. Supports provided can include committee skills training, funding workshop, identifying appropriate funding source/s, needs analysis, help with sourcing external personnel (consultants), etc.

Alongside providing support on an individual group basis, we have a number of community development initiatives planned for this year. Already one of our major initiatives, the Small Scale Grants Scheme in operation since 2004, has happened. There was a huge level of interest in this year’s Grant Scheme with applications from all over the county. Applications are currently being assessed with a view to letting groups know the outcome in the near future.

Another major initiative planned for later on this year is the Group Mentoring Scheme. This Scheme was initiated back in 2006 as a direct result of a recommendation in People Power, a profile of the community/voluntary sector in 2005. The community and voluntary sector in the county is made up of many different groups at different stages of development. The key element of the Group Mentoring Scheme is to facilitate a mentoring relationship to be established between developed and developing groups. Listening, exploring developed groups’ experiences is hugely beneficial for groups who are starting out on a similar process. Further information on previous years’ Schemes is available in this website. If your group is interested in participating in this year’s Scheme, then please log your interest with us.

Ongoing to the community development work of Partnership is providing support to a number of issue based networks in the county – Women’s, Older People’s, Youth, Disability, and Equality Promotion Network. Networking provides an opportunity for groups to meet with other groups who have a similar focus, exchange knowledge, explore common issues, create a collective voice, and explore models of good practice. An example of recent support to the Women’s Network saw the Network organising a highly successful event in Corcaghan to mark International Women’s Day. A sub group was formed consisting of representatives from Dochas for Women, Mullaghmatt FRC, Blayney Blades, Drumlin CDP, and Threemilehouse Women’s Groups to organise the day. The event was a huge success with ninety women from all over the county from different communities and background coming together to celebrate the day. The Network received financial backing from a variety of sources – County Monaghan Partnership, Monaghan Community Forum, Offi ce of Community and Enterprise and TravelNet. If your group would like to find more about anyone of the networks, then contact myself or Gerard on 042-9749500.

Profiling the work of your group to the community and to others such as funders can be a constant challenge. On foot of our highly successful Communications and Media Use training last year, another course is planned for this year. Last year, twenty community activists completed the training which consisted of three evenings. The first session last year looked at mind-mapping. This is a very interesting technique to develop ideas and thoughts on a particular issue. The sessions then went on to covering speaking about your group in public, writing a press release, and mock television interviews. A similar course is planned for this year and we invite you to log your interest.

Acknowledging the depth of work and the contribution community and voluntary groups make to society in County Monaghan is also a key part of what we do. In 2006, in conjunction with Cavan Monaghan Leader, we launched the inaugural Community Leadership Awards – Making Monaghan a Better Place. These awards were another response to the recommendations made in People Power. The awards were highly successful with awards presented to ten groups. Last year, we ran the awards, and are hoping to run them for a third year. Watch this space.

For more information on any of our planned activities and what help your group can avail of Partnership’s Community Outreach Workers, pick up the phone to either Gerard or I and we would be really pleased to take your call. Our telephone number again is 042-9749500. Looking forward to hearing from you.