Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP)

Funding

The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2024-2028 is co-funded by the Irish Government through the Department of Rural and Community Development, and the European Union through the European Social Fund Plus under the Employment, Inclusion, Skills, and Training (EIST) Programme 2021-2027.

SICAP is a targeted, holistic programme, for those who are most disadvantaged and less likely to access mainstream services, which provides supports directly to beneficiaries and links them into existing services. Programme Implementers (PIs) engage with marginalised communities and service providers using a community development approach to address issues relating to social exclusion and inequality. SICAP also prioritises local engagement and partnerships, between SICAP Programme Implementers, disadvantaged individuals, community organisations and public sector agencies.

It is a multi-faceted programme that provides supports to respond to individual and community needs, aiming to ensure that beneficiaries receive quality, tailored supports, while also allowing flexibility to adapt actions to local need. It enables bottom-up approaches within the framework of a national programme which provides targets, performance indicators and requirements.

Programme Goals

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.

Target Group List

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
 

Local Community Development Committee

The Local Community Development Committee is managing the SICAP programme at a local level. Following a public procurement process the Programme Implementers delivering the SICAP Programme 2024-2028 in Limerick are:

• West Limerick Resources
• Paul Partnership
• Ballyhoura Development CLG

Pobal acts as the agent of the Department of Rural and Community Development with respect to national management and oversight of the programme as well providing supports to Programme Implementers and LCDCs to assist in bringing quality standards to the programme.

This service is provided by
Urban and Rural Community Development
Email: sicap@limerick.ie
Phone: +353 61 556000
Location: Limerick City and County Council, Merchant's Quay, Limerick V94 EH90