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.
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.
What is SICAP?
Through the Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (SICAP), County Wicklow Partnership provides support for disadvantaged communities and individuals from specific target groups using a bottom-up community development approach across the three municipal districts of Arklow, Wicklow and Baltinglass. It 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. Through this programme, we offer a variety of services to individuals to access training and education, improve employment opportunities or to start a business. Supports are also offered to Local Community Groups, Social Enterprises and supports for youth. It also provides supports to International Protection Applicants and Refugees and has a range of responses to those seeking protection from the Ukrainian conflict.”
The programme is structured over two Goals:
Goal 1: Contribute to Building more Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: Empower groups of individuals, local community groups, networks and social enterprises to address collective community needs.
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.
The programme is administered by Pobal on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development and overseen by the Wicklow Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) of Wicklow County Council.
The best way to find out how you or your group could benefit from the programme locally is to contact a SICAP team member at 0402 20955 or info@wicklowpartnership.ie More general information on the SICAP programme can be found on this video:
Examples of SICAP’s work in County Wicklow
Supports to International Protection Applicants and Refugee’s: a 2023 Case Study: CWP SICAP 2023 Case Study
SICAP’s response to the Ukrainian Crisis; a 2022 Case Study: SICAP’s response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis
SICAP supports for those who want to start their own business:
SICAP supports for early school leavers; a 2020 Case Study: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=JKGAPWVc1KE&feature=emb_logo
SICAP collaboration with DSP and Glenealy Training Centre in delivering a Film Production Training course: a 2019 Case Study: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6_DQmqqyxs
SICAP engagement strategies with target groups and communities through ‘Hear My Voice’ workshops: a 2018 Case Study: 2018 CWP SICAP Case Study_FINAL
For further details on any aspects of the SICAP programme, please contact Kay O’ Connor, SICAP Programme Coordinator, koconnor@wicklowpartnership.ie