What is the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP)?

The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2024 – 2028 provides funding to tackle poverty and social exclusion at a local level through local engagement and partnerships between disadvantaged individuals, community organisations and public sector agencies.

SICAP is a social inclusion programme which assists both individuals and groups through supporting both communities and individuals.

SICAP aims to address high and persistent levels of deprivation through targeted and innovative, locally led approaches. It targets and supports those who are disadvantaged in Irish society and less likely to use mainstream services.

Programme Structure
SICAP is structured over 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

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 Social Fund Plus under the Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training (EIST) Programme 2021 -2027.

For more information contact the SICAP Programme Co-ordinator
Dearbhla Conlon Ahern      Tel 069 66293     Email dconlon@wlr.ie

SICAP Case Studies 

2023   One Voice One Story

The 2023 Case Study highlights one story that demonstrates the breadth of support SICAP provides. It is an acknowledgement that the individuals we work with are just that – unique individuals each with their own needs, goals and backgrounds that determine how we as SICAP staff can adapt our service to best support. Francine kindly agreed to participate and tell the story of her journey with SICAP, outlining the supports she has received and the impact the programme has had on her and her family. We are deeply grateful to her for working with us on this case study.

2022   West Limerick Ability Network

The West Limerick Ability Network is a collaborative structure established under Goal 1 of the SICAP programme to support disability services to work together in a more strategic way for the benefit of people with varying abilities in West Limerick. Facilitated by SICAP staff, its aim is to support services to work together, sharing knowledge, skills and resources, while creating a range of learning and community based opportunities, which provide greater outcomes for the service users. The promotion of active citizenship, social inclusion and community integration are the pillars on which this Network has been established. #Strongertogether

2021  Signs Of Positivity

Within this case study we will demonstrate our engagement strategies with our Target Group, and our Community Groups and how we created a project that was mutually beneficial to all.  It is the story of our efforts to design and deliver a project that would enable us as a staff to stay connected with our community and its members at the height of a pandemic, using new and creative methods of engagement.

This project cross cuts Goal 1 and Goal 2. As a team we work to create opportunities, areas of complementarity and synergies across the goals.  This enables us to be efficient in our work while maximizing outputs for individuals and LCGs and broader community. This project was crafted with this in mind.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55t3A9quDs8&t=142s

2020  Covid19 West Limerick Mask Making Initiative

The Covid19 West Limerick Fabric Mask Making Initiative, highlights the primary theme of Collaboration. While this initiative is found in Goal 1 under action 5 Community Networks and Strategic Collaborations, it begins in Goal 2, due to a SICAP client involvement and connection and the supports received under our action 8 Lifelong Learning Pathways and action 9 Rural Employment Service.

2020 SICAP WLR Case Study 2020

2019   Cairde Project

Cairde Project  – Cairde meaning ‘friends’ is one of the themes that underpins our SICAP case study for 2019. It particularly focused on our work in supporting people with disabilities in the West Limerick area. We were delighted to work with the residents of Rathfredagh Cheshire Home in Newcastle West. We worked under the thematic area of ‘promoting community engagement and stronger communities‘ by addressing barriers, that present for this group and contribute to their social exclusion. We worked collaboratively with a number of community based supports and services on developing and strengthening people with disabilities connection to local groups, supporting greater social inclusion and opening up opportunities for full participation within the community.

2018  Community Cricket Inclusion

The Case study is a Goal 2 Collaboration theme on supports to residents in a Direct Provision Centre. It gives examples of collaboration with private and public organisations responding to isolation and lack of integration. The project brought together local people with people of different backgrounds and cultures to do up a recreation amenity, culminating in a cricket match.  Please see link below to case study.

WLR Case Study 2018 Community Cricket Inclusion (1)