Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme

SICAP Logo Bar

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.

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.

Administered by Pobal, SICAP 2024-2028 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.

SICAP is managed locally by 33 Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) with support from Local Authorities. Programme actions are delivered by Programme Implementers across 53 Contract Areas/ Lots.

LDCs work with marginalised communities and service providers using a community development approach to improve people’s lives. For example, helping people to find work or to upskill, providing CV training or a personal development course, helping them onto a work placement programme such as Community Employment, Rural Social Schemes or Tús.

Sligo Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) awarded the contract for the delivery of the Social Inclusion and Community Activation programme (SICAP) to County Sligo LEADER Partnership CLG.  The current programme commenced on 1st January 2024 with a budget of €……………….   for 2024. 

Sligo Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) established a SICAP Monitoring Committee to work on behalf of and report to Sligo LCDC in overseeing the delivery of SICAP and monitoring implementation progress. The Monitoring Committee provides feedback to County Sligo LEADER Partnership CLG on the delivery of the plan and work with them to agree new/emerging areas of opportunity or concern. The remit of this Committee also includes other Social Inclusion areas.

 

SICAP Goals

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

  • To empower communities to identify and respond to their own needs. It is concerned with the principles of participation, empowerment, capacity building, and collective action, and is underpinned by a community development approach.

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.

 

Primary Target Groups for SICAP

12 pre-defined target groups have been set for SICAP. These have been selected based on the socioeconomic context, the level of need in society, and government priorities.

  1. People living in disadvantaged communities
  2. People impacted by educational disadvantage
  3. People living in jobless households or households where the primary income source is low-paid and/or precarious
  4. People who are long-term unemployed
  5. People with a criminal history
  6. Refugees
  7. International Protection Applicants
  8. Disabled People/People with Disabilities
  9. Heads of One -Parent Families
  10. Travellers
  11. Roma
  12. Island residents

 

Further Information:

For further information please contact;

Community and Economic Development Section,
City Hall,
Quay Street,
Sligo

Email address: sicap@sligococo.ie

Phone Number: 071 911 4429