The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2018 – 2023 provides funding to tackle poverty and social exclusion through local engagement and partnerships between disadvantaged individuals, community organisations and public sector agencies.
SICAP addresses high and persistent levels of deprivation through targeted and innovative, locally-led approaches. It supports disadvantaged communities and individuals including unemployed people, people living in deprived areas, people with disabilities, single parent families, people on a low income, members of the Traveller and Roma community and other disadvantaged groups.
Following a procurement process Offaly Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) appointed Offaly Local Development Company to implement the SICAP programme in Offaly. SICAP operates from 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2022. In July 2021, The Department of Rural and Community Development extended the SICAP Funding Agreement for a period of 12 months, up to 31st December 2023. The LCDC monitor and review the implementation of SICAP in accordance with the terms of the contract.
Programme Implementers (PIs) 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 CE or Tύs.
SICAP 2018-2023 will be informed by the Local Economic and Community Plan 2016 -2021 and respond to priority social inclusion issues highlighted in the county.
There are two Programme goals:
Goal 1: Supporting Communities
To support communities and target groups to engage with relevant stakeholders in identifying and addressing social exclusion and equality issues, developing the capacity of local community groups, and creating more sustainable communities.
Goal 2: Supporting Individuals
To support disadvantaged individuals to improve the quality of their lives through the provision of lifelong learning and labour market supports.
Target Groups include:
| Disadvantaged Children and Families | People living in Disadvantaged Communities |
| Disadvantaged Young People (aged 15-24) | People with Disabilities |
| Disadvantaged Women | Roma |
| Emerging Needs Group | Travellers |
| Lone Parents | The Disengaged from the Labour Market (Economically Inactive) |
| Low Income Workers/Households | The Unemployed |
| New Communities | |
