As the sun blazed down on the village of Rathdowney, where local volunteers were soaking up some vitamin D while tending to the community allotment, the Laois Partnership Company team made the Clochar Centre their home for the morning for this year’s open day roadshow. Organised as part of Local Development Week, the roadshow was an opportunity to inform the …
“For a younger person, the Tús scheme is excellent. For anyone coming out of school, it shows them how to work with people and deal with the public, and they learn so much from the people that they work with.” Angela Reddin will have been a participant on the Tús scheme for one year this coming August, having an “absolutely …
In recognition of Ireland’s changing cultural landscape, Laois Partnership Company presented a Cultural Competency Training session to raise awareness of the importance for greater sensitivity towards other races. Facilitated by Dr Salome Mbugua and Prof Egide Dhala from Akidwa, the training took place on 10th April in Bloom HQ in Mountrath. Covering such topics as understanding the racial dynamics in cross …
“The Community Employment scheme is the best opportunity,” enthuses Saira Asif. “They give you the full training accordingly and on top of that is the work experience, so once you leave the scheme, everybody wants to hire you.” One of the dedicated staff members who run the busy childcare facilities operated by Laois Partnership Company in Portlaoise, Saira’s journey to …
Abbeyleix is now a place “where neighbours become friends and ideas become action” thanks to the dedication of local residents who have come together to transform their area into a community of vibrancy and can-do spirit. Residents of Gort Na Noir and Balladine have joined forces with the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) of Laois Partnership Company, to rejuvenate and …
Laois Partnership Company, in partnership with Laois SPCA, organised a heartwarming coffee morning at the Clochar Centre in Rathdowney. The event was filled with smiles, cuddles, and lively chats about animal welfare, bringing together a community of people who share a passion for caring for animals. Laois SPCA is dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming abandoned and neglected animals …
Women’s groups across Laois got involved in a variety of activities to celebrate International Women’s Day (March 8th), with flower arranging events taking place in Portlaoise, Abbeyleix, Portarlington, Mountrath and Rathdowney. One group in Mountrath enjoyed a tasty breakfast before designing some beautiful floral arrangements with children from the local schools, in a project organised in conjunction with the Home …
The benefits of social enterprise were highlighted to an enthusiastic group of participants at the recent Social Enterprise Training Programme, which took place in both an in-person and online capacity throughout February and March. The initiative was run by Laois Partnership Company through the Rural Development (LEADER) Programme 2023-2027 and was the first of its nature for the county of Laois. The …
“When I was made redundant, I was on uncharted waters, I didn’t know how to navigate the social welfare system at all. By going onto the Tús scheme, it wasn’t as daunting, because somebody was there to guide you through it, and that’s what made it easy.” Portlaoise native Mary Hanrahan had worked for 25 years with an international supermarket …
Members of the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) in Laois enjoyed a taste of life on the farm when they visited the Slate Lodge Stud in Co. Kildare, as part of Laois Partnership Company’s Social Farming programme. The four participants experienced the joys of getting close to nature, as they fed the animals during their tour of the Social Farm …