HOME ABOUT US PROGRAMMES PROJECTS SERVICE PROJECTS POLICIES WESTMEATH TALKS SEARCH Community Development WCD provides a range of Community Development supports to geographic and special issue groups in the county, including capacity building, sourcing funding, and assistance in completing application forms and general advice and information. WCD prioritise their work groups operating in the most disadvantaged areas of the county such as Family Resources Centres, Community Arts Groups, Youth Services, Older peoples groups, Traveller groups, women's groups and groups supporting non Irish nationals. A subcommittee of the Board of WCD, the Community Development and Youth Working group monitors and directs work. Disability Disability awareness is an action under the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP). The 2011 census revealed that 16% of people in Westmeath have a Disability. A subcommittee of the Board of WCD, the Westmeath Disability Working Group, whose membership includes service provides and service users, develops a yearly action plan, which identifies activities to be undertaken for the year ahead, and reviews the performance of actions that have been completed. Actions include the Disability Information and Services Day, Disability Awareness Training, lobbying on issues of concern for people with Disabilities in the County, such as anomalies in policy, access issues and highlighting particular needs for people with Disabilities. RAPID WCD have been involved in supporting RAPID since its onset in 2002 in Athlone and works very closely with the RAPID Co-ordinator by Westmeath County Council. The LCDP Co-ordinator is a member of the Area Implementation Team in both Athlone and Mullingar. Direct development supports and administration supports have been provided to community forums in both towns. Capacity building supports are available for local resident's groups and other community groups operating in RAPID areas. Projects developed through RAPID such as the Halloween festival in Athlone also continue to be supported through advice, guidance and practical supports for the festival itself. WCD Employment mediation supports are also targeted a RAPID areas. For further information on the Community Development activities of WCD contact Linda-Jo Quinn SICAP Community Development Co-Ordinator Unit 4 Rockdean Building Blyry Industrial Estate Athlone Co Westmeath N37 CA39 Phone: 090 64 16121 or email ljquinn@westcd.ie 21 Mar 2014 MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS TRAINING PROGRAMME Mental Health Ireland in conjunction with Westmeath Community Development Ltd., and Westmeath Community Development Board will be a holding a Mental Health Matters training programme for community leaders in Annebrook Hotel on Wednesday 16th April For full course details click here To apply for this course download the application form For further information contact Linda-Jo Quinn Co-ordinator WCD; ljquinn@westcd.ie or Ph: 090 64 16121 Print Tweet 13 Nov 2013 ATHLONE WOMEN'S NETWORK - FIRST EVER INDOOR MARKET Linda-Jo Quinn and Arlene Kelly at the Indoor Market/Jumble Sale Athlone Women's Network in conjunction with Westmeath Community Development and Athlone Community Taskforce organised its first ever indoor market/jumble sale on Sunday 10th November in the newly renovated St Marys Hall Athlone. The purpose of the event was to raise funds for Athlone Women's Network and also provide an opportunity for the micro business sector to promote their business. This was an excellent example of Community and Enterprise development at the same time promoting the importance of gender equality and women in business. Feedback from the 19 business promoters was excellent and due to popular demand from businesses the organisers are in the process of planning a further indoor market/jumble sale for Sunday 8th December. For further information contact Linda-Jo Quinn LCDP Co-ordinator, Leah Quinn or Seamus McKenna on 090 64 94555. More details on the next event will be released shortly. Print Tweet 31 Oct 2013 DISABILITY INFORMATION AND SERVICES DAY WCD was delighted with the feedback from Organisations and the public with regard to another successful Disability Information and Services Day held in the Shamrock Lodge on 16th October. There were 29 organisations represented and 93 members of the public attended the event. There were presentations from the National Advocacy Services for people with Disabilities, Work For You, and Pathway to Employment Programme. All 3 organisations gave a very informative presentation on the services they offer to people with Disabilities. Mr Hugh McGuire Chairperson of the Westmeath Disability Working group was delighted with the number of organisations that participated and spent valuable time visiting all the information stands. Mr Joe Potter CEO of Westmeath Community Development paid tribute to everyone involved in the event and thanked both the information providers and members of the public for attending. Mr Potter stated that he hoped that WCD would be able to prioritise the running of this event again in 2014, funding permitting. Athlone Community Radio provided an outside broadcast on the day which was extremely beneficial for all organisations to get an opportunity to do a live broadcast about the services they offer. This created an exciting buzz and was of interest to many members of the public as well. Westmeath Community Development would sincerely like to thank all organisations for taking the time out of their busy schedules to be part of the event and to the McCaul family of the Shamrock Lodge hotel for their excellent support and assistance in ensuring the event ran smoothly. The Disability Services and Information event was co-ordinated by Linda-Jo Quinn LCDP Co-ordinator with Westmeath Community Development and funded under the Local and Community Development programme. Print Tweet 30 Oct 2013 DISABILITY INCLUSION TRAINING A Disability Inclusion Training Course will take place on Saturday 30th November from 10am till 4pm in Clonkill GAA Sports Hall. This is a practical and theory course that will cover terminology, barriers to participation and much more. For further details click on the link below: disability inclusion training course flyer 2.pdf Print Tweet 15 Oct 2013 INFORMATION OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES Westmeath Community Development are organising its annual Disability Services and Information Day which will take place on Wednesday 16th October from 12.00noon – 4pm in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel Clonown Road Athlone. It is envisaged approximately 25 service providers will have an information stand on the day. This event has grown from strength to strength over the years and feedback from people attending has been very positive as people are able to get lots of information all under the one roof. The event is FREE and members of the public are welcome to come along and browse the information stands anytime between 12.00- 4.00pm. Guest speakers at 2.15pm will be from Work for You, a new support service for people with acquired Brain Injury and the National Advocacy services. There is still time for organisations to put in a stand, who also find the event beneficial as it provides them an opportunity to network with other organisations. The event is funded by Westmeath Community Development under the Local and Community Development Programme. For further information please contact Linda-Jo Quinn, Anthony Rafferty or Edel McCallan on 090 64 94555. Print Tweet MORE ARTICLES ... Disability Services & Information Open Day The PEP Programme - Your Pathway to Employment REPS 4 Traditional Farm Buildings 2012- 2013 grant aid from Heritage Council Westmeath Community Development: Invite to Tender 1 2 LATEST NEWS FREE Mental Health & Wellbeing Online Workshops - Dec 21 WCD Staff will be WFH - Offices Closed from 19th Nov 21 CANCELLED - How to apply for Funding - Athlone 25-11-21 Vacancy: Community Mother Support Worker Athlone [Fixed Term Contract] FREE – Online Self-Care Session – 02/12/21 Twitter CONTACT US Mullingar E.T.I. Ctr, Mullingar Business Park, Mullingar, County Westmeath N91 X012 email: info@westcd.ie Ph: 044-9348571