Working with seven rural communities across County Kildare, Turning the Sod is a community training initiative and capacity-building programme supporting local people to build the confidence and skills needed to develop practical, community-led projects and SMART Community strategies that respond to local priorities and opportunities.
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Over a series of ten facilitated training sessions in each area, participants explore what makes their place unique, identify shared ambitions, learn from inspiring community initiatives and work together to develop realistic projects that can make a lasting difference. Alongside the training, communities undertake local research and engagement, ensuring that ideas progressed in the sessions are shaped by the wider community and grounded in local needs.
As part of the programme, icecream facilitates shared learning between communities through a fieldtrip for participants, visiting successful community-led projects in neighbouring communities. These visits encourage participants to exchange ideas, build confidence and see how local ambition can be transformed into long-term action.
Through the sessions, icecream facilitates the creation of SMART Community Strategies, working closely with participants over several months of discussion, research, and co-design. These strategies offer a shared vision and a practical action plan for each community, empowering local groups to prioritise projects, form partnerships, and strengthen future funding applications and investment.
Turning the Sod is fully funded by the 2023 - 2027 LEADER Programme in Kildare. The training is being delivered in seven rural communities across Kildare.
Maoinítear an Tionscadal Oiliúna Sráidbhailte SMART (Forbairt SMARTer (níos cliste) faoi stiúir an phobail á cumhachtú ) go hiomlán tríd an gClár LEADER 2023-2027. Leis seo, is féidir oiliúint shaincheaptha a chur ar fáil i seacht n-ionad i gContae Chill Dara do ghrúpaí éagsúla rannpháirtithe. Sainaithníodh go raibh gá leis an tionscadal seo mar chuid de Ghníomhaíocht Straitéiseach 7.1 de Straitéis Forbartha Áitiúil Chill Dara 2023 - 2027.