Presentation for the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture, Brussel...
Ciaran Lynch
1. The GIFT Project is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
CCJ – Its Purpose and Processes
Dunhill Ecopark
June 18th 2014
Ciaran Lynch, CCJ Board member
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2. Six Aspects of CCJ
• Why CCJ?
• Its Principles
• Its Activities
• Its Structures
• Its Achievements
• Its Plans
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3. • In order for the current economic situation to improve there is a need for an
increased level of enterprise development in Ireland.
• There are many people who have ideas for successful enterprises but who are
inhibited from pursuing their ideas even to the extent of exploring them with
enterprise support agencies.
• The development of an enterprise often requires access to various physical and
land-based resources. These resources may well be available within a
community but may be under-utilised or inaccessible.
• Very few voluntary organisations have the primary task of identifying,
promoting and supporting the establishment of job-creating enterprises within
their areas.
• Enterprise development agencies do not have the resources to provide the
extent of support that would be needed to bring potential projects to an
agency-ready stage of development.
• The encouragement of owners of both ideas and assets in a low-key,
neighbourly, non-threatening way, has the potential to mobilise resources
• A huge reservoir of knowledge, experience, skills and talent lies within
communities but a mechanism for the sharing of that community knowledge
and experience is required.
Why CCJ?
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5. Activities
• The activities of CCJ can be divided into two categories
– Those based within individual communities
– Those providing support to community-based organisations
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6. Activities Within Communities
• Establishment of an organisation or commitment of part
of an organisation to implement CCJ model
– Community Audit
– Community Meetings to Identify Opportunities
– Voluntary Mentoring
– Activating the Potential of Community Assets
– Sharing Ideas
– Representing Potential Businesses to Agencies
– Target of a minimum of 10 new jobs per community stimulated
by the CCJ model
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7. Activities Supporting Communities
• Central support element that -
– Develops and tests new models for local enterprise
• More of some of these later
– Gathers best practice
– Develops tools for local groups to use
– Runs the website and newsletter
– Creates relationships at home and abroad
• Government
• Newfoundland
• ConnectIreland
• Canada
• Irish Social Enterprise Network
• Will provide training and a support network
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8. Structure
• A volunteer run CCJ core organisation in every
community to implement the model
• A mass of organisations and individuals supporting and
sharing as members or patrons
• A voluntary CCJ committee in every region
• A national board to support the national effort, maintain
communication and tools and make representations and
policy inputs
• A small paid executive to manage and support the
structure
• Technology as a key enabler24/06/2014 Ciaran Lynch LIT 8
10. • Organisation established as a registered company
• An active Board established and meets regularly
• Received the support of those willing to be patrons
• 30 meetings of interested people held nationwide
• Website, logo and brand developed
• Four newsletters published
• Applications for funding submitted
• Many conferences and workshops attended and addressed
• Support received from third-level Institutes and others
– DCU
– LIT
– WIT
– UCIT
• Support provided by Dunhill Enterprise
• National and international connections made
• All done on a voluntary basis
What has been done to date
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11. • Recruit eight pilot CCJ community organisations and
through them implement the CCJ model and tools
• Modify and enhance the tools and model on the basis
of the pilot experience
• Recruit another 20 CCJ community organisations
• Recruit 100 CCJ members overall
• Promote and maintain the website
• Continue to develop the pilot projects
• Establish an executive if funding obtained
• Hold a series of regional launch events
• Continue to develop national and international links
What we will do in the next year
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12. And now a small video summary..
https://vimeo.com/92448982
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13. • Speak with any of the CCJ Board Members
present
• Go to the sign-up desk outside
• Visit www.ccj.ie for more information and to
join
To learn more or to join….
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14. The GIFT Project is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)