Doohamlet District Community Development Association

1. Doohamlet District Community Development Association DDCDA

2. 2006 • Founder members knocked door to door to invite people to first meeting • County Monaghan Partnership facilitated at outset • First meetings set out aims and structure of the organisation • First committee formed with over 20 committee members • Constitution drafted

3. 2007 • First real projects undertaken by the DDCDA in 2007 • Funding received from Co. Monaghan Partnership for Community Audit • Questionnaires delivered and collected from all households in the area • Required significant committee member involvement – helped committee “gel” • Audit report has formed basis for funding application and projects

4. 2007 Community Audit • 109 page document • Over 300 questionnaires distributed • 75% return rate • Forms basis of projects and funding applications

5. 2008 • Strengthened the committee by attending; • Effective Meetings Training • Cultural Diversity Training • Small grant from Monaghan Co Co – Christmas event was run for 1st time. Has been run every year since. • Grant applications made for projects in 2009

6. Current Projects – CLP Project • Participated in IFI/NICVA Community Leadership Programme • 5 DDCDA members attended the programme and awarded Certificate in Community Leadership • 2 DDCDA members completed further study and awarded Certificate in Management Practice from University of Ulster • Developed website and community newsletter through the project

7. Current Projects – Community Newsletter • 4 Issues over 18 months • 4 Page printed newsletter delivered to every household • Information on local issues • Very positive feedback

8. Current Projects - Website

9. Current Projects - Website • Main Doohamlet Homepage with links to subpages for local groups • Group pages set up as blogs to facilitate regular updating – unfortunately not being updated regularly • Training to be arranged to encourage groups to update regularly • Plan to develop local business directory via website - may create regular revenue stream to finance DDCDA activities

10. Current Projects – PEACE III • €50,000 Peace III funding secured by DDCDA for community • Aim: Build positive relations at local level • Project Titled “Doohamlet Community All Together Forever” • 10 local groups including DDCDA involved • Project commenced in Autumn 2009

11. Current Projects – Peace III • Events held include; • Project Launch • Daycare Public Information Day • National School Musical • Youth Club Activities • IFA trips to Ploughing Championships • Ladies GAA events • Christmas Santa Visit and Lights • Improvements to the hall • DDCDA received Laptop for community use

12. Current Projects – Lake Project • Proposes to develop leisure walk and fishing stands around the lake • Sub-committee set up in 2008 • Secured funding from Leader for feasibility study in 2010 • Feasibility study underway • Hope to apply for further funding to develop project is feasibility study is positive

13. Other General DDCDA Business • Projector received from Monaghan Community Network • Made EIRGRID proposed interconnector planning maps available to local community • Represented community at EIRGRID oral hearing • Made representations to National Broadband Scheme to have broadband services improved in our area • Successfully lobbied Monaghan County Council on local road issues

14. Future Projects • Continue with lake project • Initiate project with Hall Committee for major upgrade of hall facilities – will be a major and complex construction project • Eirgrid 2011 – Keep community informed of proposals

15. DDCDA Overview • In existence 5 years • Already participated in broad range of projects • Working toward 2 major infrastructure projects (Lake walk and Hall improvement) • Success of the DDCDA would not have been possible without the assistance received fromfrom many local supports; Monaghan Community Network, Co. Monaghan Partnership, Leader....