Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP)

The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) aims to tackle poverty and social exclusion through local engagement and partnerships between disadvantaged individuals, community organisations and public sector agencies.

Funding

“The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) is co-funded by the Irish Government, through the Department of Rural and Community Development, and the European Union through the European Social Fund Plus under the Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training (EIST) Programme 2021- 2027.”

Programme Goals

The aim of SICAP is to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality in Ireland through supporting communities and individuals using community development approaches, engagement and collaboration. The Programme has two goals:

Goal 1: Contribute to Building more Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities:

Empower groups of individuals, local community groups, networks and social enterprises to address collective community needs.

Goal 2: Empower Disadvantaged people to Improve the Quality of Their Lives:

Support disadvantaged individuals, children and families to progress their formal education and participate in lifelong learning, to progress into employment/ self-employment, and to improve their soft skills and wellbeing.

12 Target Groups

• People living in disadvantaged communities
• People impacted by educational disadvantage
• People living in jobless households or households where the primary income source is low-paid and/or precarious
• People who are long-term unemployed
• People with a criminal history
• Refugees
• International Protection Applicants
• Disabled People/People with Disabilities
• Heads of One-parent Families
• Travellers
• Roma
• Island residents

The Kerry Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) is managing the SICAP programme at a local level. Following a public procurement process the Programme Implementers delivering the SICAP Programme 2024-2028 in County Kerry are:

• NEWKD
• IRD Duhallow clg
• South Kerry Development Partnership clg

Pobal acts as the agent of the Department of Rural and Community Development with respect to national management and oversight of the programme as well providing supports to Programme Implementers and LCDCs to assist in bringing quality standards to the programme.

Pobal acts as the agent of the Department of Rural and Community Development with respect to national management and oversight of the programme as well providing supports to Programme Implementers and LCDCs to assist in bringing quality standards to the programme.

Comhairle na nÓg
Kerry Comhairle na nÓg is one of 31 youth councils in the country, which give children and young people the opportunity to be involved in the development of local services and policies and supported by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.  In light of the fact that Comhairle na nÓg is for young people under the age of 18 and who therefore have no other voting mechanism to have their voice heard, Comhairle na nÓg is designed to enable young people to have a voice on the services, policies and issues that affect them in their local area.

Kerry Public Participation Network (PPN)
The aim of the Kerry PPN is to bring together Community and Voluntary, Social Inclusion and Environmental Groups in an independent structure working in collaboration with the Local Authority.  Through the PPN there are opportunities for networking, communication and sharing of information, which can lead to participation in local decision making and collective community action and engagement. Groups can register online at www.kerryppn.ie.