CCP SICAP CASE STUDY 2025 – Lot: Cork City 17-1

Synopsis

Cork City Partnership (CCP) 2025 SICAP Case Study: Community Education, Changing Lives

This case study highlights the vital role that Community Education plays in supporting individual wellbeing and promoting positive mental health. Through a video case study, it demonstrates the range of community education initiatives delivered by CCP under SICAP, focusing on their impact on participants’ mental health, confidence, and social connection.

Importantly, it includes the voices of participants themselves—sharing how they became involved, the benefits they experienced, and the challenges they encountered along the way.

Intended Audience

This Case Study is aimed at funders and policymakers at both local and national levels, as well as local development companies, public agencies, and stakeholders with a shared interest in community-based approaches to addressing educational disadvantage. It seeks to inform and engage those involved in shaping policy, allocating resources, and supporting initiatives that foster educational equity and social inclusion.

At a local level, this video Case Study is also intended to reach potential new beneficiaries by showcasing the positive impact of community education on wellbeing and mental health, thereby encouraging wider participation in similar initiatives.

Community Education Programmes – A Person-Centred Approach Context

Our SICAP Community Education Programme is focused on developing community education programmes that are person-centered and rooted in relationship building. By engaging directly with people, listening to their experiences, and identifying their needs, we were able to design and deliver educational supports that were relevant, accessible, and impactful.

1. Short Community Education Courses
2. Personal Development Courses
3. WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan)
4. NFQ Level 6 Mental Health in the Community, in partnership with Adult Continuing Education (ACE), University College Cork (UCC) delivered in the community in Farranree Community Centre.

The courses offered the opportunity to develop practical skills and to support individual and community wellbeing. For participants that left school early, these courses offered a chance to return to education and to gain qualifications. Positively, on completion of these courses some participants progressed onto work.

Stakeholders

Our SICAP Case Study focused on community education, wellbeing, and mental health. The key stakeholders can be grouped as follows:

• SICAP Programme Participants / Beneficiaries
• Cork City Partnership SICAP Team, Tutors/Facilitators, ACE, UCC, Connect Well
• Local community and voluntary organisations collaborating with CCP.
• Our funders; Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, the European Social Fund Plus under the Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training (EIST) Programme 2021 -2027

SICAP’s Contribution in Practice

Through the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), Cork City Partnership was able to design and deliver targeted community education initiatives that support wellbeing and positive mental health. SICAP funding and support enabled the recruitment of experienced tutors and facilitators, the development of tailored course content, and the creation of safe, inclusive learning environments. In practice, this meant running a variety of accessible programmes—such as wellness workshops, confidence-building courses that empowered participants to build self-esteem, develop coping strategies, and connect with others. SICAP also supported outreach, participant engagement, and the monitoring and evaluation of programme outcomes to ensure continuous improvement and relevance to local needs.

CCP’s Community-Based Approach to Engagement and Delivery

Key to Cork City Partnership’s (CCP) successful delivery of these community education programmes has been the inclusive and person-centred approach adopted throughout. Recognising that many of the individuals we seek to support are vulnerable, isolated, or marginalised, CCP prioritised proactive outreach—engaging people through door-to-door visits, coffee mornings, and community events.

Our programmes are delivered in familiar, accessible community settings, where participants often feel more comfortable and at ease. CCP staff are attuned to the challenges and stresses people may be facing and work to create welcoming, well-being focused environments that promote social connection, skills development, and lifelong learning.

A key feature of our approach is the provision of regular “check-ins” and ongoing support to participants, ensuring that no one feels left behind. We understand that wellbeing is not a one-size-fits-all concept, and we offer a diverse range of programmes tailored to meet individuals’ varying needs and circumstances.

CCP has observed positive outcomes across all four community education programmes and plans to expand and deepen this work in the coming year, continuing to respond flexibly to both individual and community wellbeing needs. CCP SICAP offer many other courses designed to engage clients and support progression from taster sessions into further training opportunities such as employment-focused programmes.

CCP SICAP Case Study Narrative Oct 25

The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) is co-funded by the Government of Ireland, through the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, and the European Union.

Tá an Clár um Chuimsiú Sóisialta agus Gníomhachtú Pobail (SICAP) cómhaoinithe ag Rialtas na hÉireann, tríd an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, agus an tAontas Eorpach.