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 partnership between disadvantaged individuals, community organisations and public sector agencies.

Funding
“The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2018-2022 is funded by the Irish Government through the Department of Rural and Community Development and co-funded by the European Social Fund under the Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020”

SICAP is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development with co-funding from the European Social Fund (ESF) as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020.

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: Supporting Communities
To support communities and target groups to engage with relevant stakeholders in identifying and addressing social exclusion and equality issues, developing the capacity of Local Community Groups, and creating more sustainable communities.

Goal 2: Supporting Individuals
To support disadvantaged individuals to improve the quality of their lives through the provision of lifelong learning and labour market supports.

13 Target Groups

• Disadvantaged Children and Families
• Disadvantaged Young People (aged 15-24)
• Disadvantaged Women
• Emerging Needs Group
• Lone Parents
• Low Income Workers/Households
• New Communities (including Refugees/Asylum Seekers)
• People living in Disadvantaged Communities
• People with Disabilities
• Roma
• Travellers
• The Disengaged from the Labour Market (Economically Inactive)
• The Unemployed

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 2018-2022 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.

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