The Circular Communities Pilot programme continued in July, with both the Greencastle Community Association and PRSPR holding meetings to advance local circular economy initiatives. The pilot supports organisations that are not currently members of NIRN, helping grass-roots groups assess community needs, map local assets, and gain direct mentorship and peer-to-peer knowledge from established sustainable projects.
Following the opening of their new facility in June, Croí An Caisleán Glas – The Heart of Our Community, the Association hosted a pilot training workshop in July to explore ways to “put the ‘Green’ back into Greencastle.” The meeting brought together 11 local residents across multiple generations, including parents, grandparents, Retirees Group members, and classroom assistants to identify viable community initiatives.
Next Steps & Local Engagement:
PRSPR held planning meetings to participate in the pilot framework, focusing on establishing a new Lending Library for the local community.
Next Steps & Mentorship:
A key part of the pilot is the opportunity for participating groups to learn directly from organisations with real experience delivering community reuse and repair activities. Mentoring support may include planning advice, operational guidance, volunteer engagement, event delivery support, and ongoing encouragement as activities become established locally.
Examples of activities could include:
We are looking for community groups that:
