Issue No. 38 | December 2024
South West Mayo Development Company CLG
Empowering Communities - Enriching Lives
In the Loop Newsletter
Celebrating 20 years of the Rural Social Scheme in south and west Mayo
Friday, 6th December 2024 was a red-letter day for South West Mayo Development Company, when we celebrated twenty years of the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) in south and west Mayo. To mark the occasion, the company organised an event in Balla Community Centre where RSS staff, participants and host communities (past and present), came together to acknowledge the importance of the RSS to our area.
Since 2004, we estimate that over 3.5 million community support hours have been provided by the Rural Social Scheme to community / voluntary groups throughout our area. At the relevant minimum hourly wage, those hours would have cost over €32million to provide.
Thomas Fitzpatrick, SWMDC Chairperson, addressed the large gathering and highlighted the huge impact of the RSS in south and west Mayo in 2024. During the year, our RSS participants will have provided almost 190,000 community support hours to over 400 community / voluntary groups. He went on to thank our dedicated Rural Social Scheme participants, in-house RSS team and community sponsors who all work together to make the scheme a huge success for our area.
Principal Officer, Tony Kieran from the Department of Social Protection (DSP) made reference to the national importance of the RSS across rural Ireland, and highlighted the recent RSS Review, completed by his Department in collaboration with RSS representatives from across the country. We are keen to see the recommendations from the report implemented in 2025.
The speeches ended when former Minister and TD Éamon Ó Cuív addressed the crowd of over 150 people, giving an insight to the history of the Rural Social Scheme and its impact on rural areas like south and west Mayo over the last 20 years. His commitment to the Rural Social Scheme over the years has been evident, and the SWMDC Board and staff were very grateful to Mr Ó Cuív for taking the time to come and celebrate our Rural Social Scheme milestone.
If you are interested in the Rural Social Scheme, or know someone who may be eligible, please see our website, www.southmayo.com for more details. You can also contact our offices at info@southmayo.com or 094 936 6692.
Our RSS team will talk you through the eligibility criteria, what kind of work is involved, and the many benefits of participating on our Rural Social Scheme.
Award for SWMDC Castlebar Tús Team
The SWMDC Castlebar Tús team was honoured to be selected for a special recognition award by Castlebar Tidy Towns at their 2024 Awards night.
Our CEO, Sabina Trench and RSS Supervisor Tony Hetherington accepted the award on behalf of our Castlebar Tús team, led by Tús Team Leader, Brian Finn.
Thanks so much to the Castlebar Tidy Towns Committee for their very generous gift to be enjoyed by the whole team. The Tús Initiative has delivered over 88,000 community support hours in 2024, and we hope to build on this number in 2025.
Participation on the Tús Initiative can be through social welfare referral or self-referral. If you are interested in finding our more about our Tús Initiative, please contact info@southmayo.com or 094 936 6692.
2025 SICAP Start Your Own Business (SYOB) Training Calendar
Dates for one day (9.30am - 5pm)
Course is FREE, but places are limited.
Places are Limited
Training Venue:
St Colman’s Training Centre
Mayo Abbey, Claremorris
Co. Mayo, F12 X8P5
2025 SYOB DATES
- Wed 29th January
- Wed 26th February
- Wed 26th March
- Wed 30th April
- Wed 28th May
- Wed 25th June
- Wed 30th July
- Wed 27th August
- Wed 24th September
- Wed 29th October
- Wed 26th November
Course content (Morning)
- Welcome, Introductions & Overview
- Business Formation Types
- Business Plan Workbook Development
- Networking Lunch
Course content (Afternoon)
- BTWEA/STEA Application Procedure
- Overview of Other Grants and Supports
- Revenue Registration as self employed
- Evaluation and Close
To find out more and book your place, please contact: South West Mayo Development Company CLG, Main Street, Balla, Co Mayo or call 094 936 6692 or 087 224 2133.
Staff Updates
December Leavers – Paula Lenehan, IPA & Roma Lead is moving on from SWMDC at the end of the month. Paula will be taking up a position with ATU Castlebar Campus, and we wish her every success in her new career chapter.
2024 Anniversaries
In 2024, eight staff celebrated significant work anniversaries, and we would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge their enormous contribution to the company over their collective 105 years!
- 20 Years – Norita Clesham (LEADER Project Officer) & Padraic Corcoran (RSS Supervisor)
- 15 Years – Frank McNeela (RSS Supervisor)
- 10 Years – Geraldine Leneghan (Community Futures), Martin Dillane (Rural Recreation Officer), Tony Hynes (Tús Team Leader), Noel Mulroy (RSS Supervisor) and Máiread Dooley (Tús Team Leader).
Ready to Work Programme 2024
Since the launch of Ready To Work in July 2024, it has been an incredibly productive few months. We have established the Ready To Work brand and actively promoted the concept of Inclusive Pathways to Employment to stakeholders, participants, and potential employers.
We have developed tailored training and educational programmes for participants and seen the transformative impact these initiatives have had. Participants are engaging enthusiastically with the programme, building skills and confidence along the way.
Ready To Work has made valuable connections with potential employers, showcasing the significant benefits of hiring individuals with disabilities. These efforts have led to several participants securing work experience which will lead to permanent employment. We are eager to expand these successes even further in 2025.
Despite the short time frame, Ready To Work has accomplished a great deal. We have cultivated strong partnerships with stakeholder groups and employers across Mayo and have set the foundation for future growth.
Looking ahead to 2025, we plan to expand the programme by welcoming more participants, deepening engagement with stakeholders, increasing employment placements, and continuing to make a meaningful impact through Ready To Work.
Wishing you a Happy Christmas from the Ready To Work team and we look forward to working with you in 2025.
Top Photo: Damian Hughes and Ann Marie Jordan (front centre) with Ready to Work participants at the induction day of the Employment Skills Programme in St Colman’s Training Centre.
Bottom Photo: Damian Hughes attending Meet Mayo 2024.
SWMDC Supporting Christmas Gift Initiatives
SWMDC Family Support Practitioners (funded by Tusla) are supporting the annual “Brontannas” gift initiative. 90 Brontannas gifts will be distributed throughout December 2024 to children living in International Protection Emergency Accommodation Centres, who would not otherwise be receiving a gift at Christmas.
SWMDC also received a grant from the St Stephens Green Trust Christmas Vouchers Fund 2024. This funding will be used to provide €20 Christmas vouchers to children in need. These vouchers will be distributed by our SICAP team and Family Support Practitioners. This wonderful seasonal initiative is supported by The Lakeside Fund and DCEDIY.
Living Well - A programme for adults with long-term health conditions
The SWMDC Living Well Programme for people with long-term health conditions continued to develop in 2024. This programme is funded by the HSE and is delivered by SWMDC across counties Mayo, Galway and Roscommon. It aims to help participants learn “self-management” skills so that they can better manage their chronic health condition and improve their overall wellbeing. Key highlights from this year’s programme include a 10% increase in participant numbers, 98% of participants reporting satisfaction with the programme, and 91% reporting that Living Well had helped them to take practical steps to improve their health and well being.
Testimonials from 2024 Living Well Programme participants
“Struggling in the aftermath of difficult surgery, treatments, and the shock of a serious illness, it was so nice to go where you’re understood, listened to, learn strategies to move forward but also to meet up with others experiencing similar struggles.”
“The Living Well Programme was so beneficial to me. I feel I am a better person with more confidence and managing my life better, going to bed early, getting up early, exercising, going for walks, cooking better healthy meals.”
“I found the self-management skills a great help for organising my time around me and my needs, to exercise with my limited mobility and to think positively through the pain and discomfort. I also found the problem-solving part very helpful going forward.”
“As we live in a rural locale and have very few social outlets, programmes such as this are essential to help with mental wellbeing as much as providing social opportunities that are so very welcome.”
Upcoming Living Well Programmes 2025
Programmes take place once a week, for six weeks. Advance booking is required.
- Galway City (Westside Resource Centre), starts Wed 22 January 2025, 10.30am – 1pm
- Online, starts Wed 22 Jan 2025, 7pm – 9.30 pm
- Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon, starts Friday 24 Jan 2025, 10.30am – 1pm
- Ballina, Co Mayo starts Tuesday 18 Feb 2025, 2pm – 4.30pm
- Loughrea, Co Galway starts Thursday 20 Feb 2025, 10.30am – 1pm
For further information or to book a place contact Fiona Cunnane, Living Well Programme Co-ordinator on 087 718 5615 or fcunnane@southmayo.com.
Some recent projects carried out by our RSS & Tús teams
Photo 1: Crimlin Church Crib (RSS)
Photo 2: Keelogues Graveyard (Tús & RSS)
Photo 3: Straide Church Crib (RSS)
Exciting launch of new cookery school in County Mayo
We would like to wish Redmond and Sandra Cabot and family every success on the recent launch of their new cookery school at Aughagower, Westport. This is the first facility of its kind in the area, and promises to be a fantastic addition to the visitor experience along the Wild Atlantic Way for tourists and locals alike.
The SWMDC LEADER team worked with Redmond over a number of years to bring this ambitious project to completion. Working in partnership with our team, Redmond secured almost €190,000 in grant aid from the LEADER Food Initiative, a national budget for innovative food and drink projects.
If you are interested in booking a class in 2025, please email Redmond at cabotsofwestport@gmail.com. Beir bua agus beannacht Redmond!
Pictured below is Redmond Cabot, proudly holding the acknowledgement of his LEADER funding with his first cookery school graduates. Photo: Conor McKeown
