Gallery: Donegal Public Partnership Network gives community a voice

Donegal PPN (Public Partnership Network) held their bi-annual Plenary at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Letterkenny.

Over 20 stands representing community groups from across the county were in attendance to display and promote their activities, as well as a number of individuals who were there on behalf of their clubs/organisations including, First Responders, Alzheimer’s Society, Irish Wheelchair Association, Scouting Ireland and Girl Guides.

There were four main speakers who discussed a variety of topics, Aengus Kennedy of North West Nature, spoke about what communities can do to help their environment. Teresa McGee from Newtoncunningham First Responders talked about their role in the Community and how to set up a similar group.

Stephen Barrett of the International Fund for Ireland gave an interesting talk on what funding may be available to community groups in Donegal and how to go about seeking such funding and the criteria required. Pauline Smyth of PEACEPLUS funding informed those attending on the possible funding opportunities available in the latest roll out of funding from Europe.

PPN Secretariat member Andrew McNulty then gave a demonstration on the newly-developed Donegal PPN website. After the meeting everyone had an opportunity to mingle and share thoughts and promote their organisations over refreshments. 

. After the meeting everyone had an opportunity to mingle and share thoughts and promote their organisations over refreshments. 

After the meeting everyone had an opportunity to mingle and share thoughts and promote their organisations over refreshments. 

Donegal PPN Secretariat members at the Plenary meeting which was held in the Radisson Hotel in Letterkenny. In photo are Joe Boland (Chairperson), Andrew McNulty, Joanne Butler, Helen Nolan, Ann McGowan and James McClean. (NW Newspix)

PPN Secretariat Chairperson, Joe Boland said “it was a very well attended meeting where representatives went away with plenty of ideas to assist them going forward and provided them with potential opportunities for funding.  

“A big thanks must go to the PPN Administrator Mary Clyde and her assistant Annette McGrenra, for putting the programme together and not forgetting Mairead who helped on the night. Also, well done to our MC Evelyn McGlynn who did an excellent job keeping the speakers within the allocated times.

“Finally, I would like to thank the members of the Secretariat who gave up so much of their time in support of over 600 registered Community Groups within Donegal. Remember the Secretariat is the conduit between the Community and the Statutory bodies in the County, so if your group/organisation/club is not registered please go to our website and register.“  

The Donegal PPN is the link through which your organisation can have a direct role in the policy making and oversight of local government. If your organisation is involved in the environment, social inclusion or community and voluntary sector then you can join the Network. Through the PPN organisations can cooperate, share information and ideas and elect members to Local Authority decision making bodies and relevant community structures.