SICAP 2024-2028
What is SICAP?
The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2024-2028 provides funding to tackle poverty and social exclusion at a local level through local engagement and partnerships between disadvantaged individuals, community organisations and public sector agencies. SICAP 2024-2028 is the successor programme to SICAP 2018-2023, which was the successor programme to SICAP 2015-2017.
SICAP is a targeted, holistic programme, for those who are most disadvantaged and less likely to access mainstream services, which provides supports directly to beneficiaries and links them into existing services. Programme Implementers (PIs) engage with marginalised communities and service providers using a community development approach to address issues relating to social exclusion and inequality. SICAP also prioritises local engagement and partnerships, between SICAP Programme Implementers, disadvantaged individuals, community organisations and public sector agencies. It is a multi-faceted programme that provides supports to respond to individual and community needs, aiming to ensure that beneficiaries receive quality, tailored supports, while also allowing flexibility to adapt actions to local need. It enables bottom-up approaches within the framework of a national programme which provides targets, performance indicators and requirements.
SICAP is a social inclusion programme which assists both individuals and groups through a two-pronged approach; supporting communities and supporting individuals.
Programme Details
Duration
SICAP operates in County Wexford from 1st January, 2024 to 31st December 2028.
Funding
SICAP 2024-2028 is co-funded by the Irish Government, through the Department of Rural and Community Development, and the European Union through the European Social Fund Plus under the Employment, Inclusion, Skills, and Training (EIST) Programme 2021-2027.
Programme Aim
The aim of SICAP is to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality in Ireland through supporting communities and individuals using community development approaches, engagement and collaboration.
Programme Goals
Goal 1: Contribute to Building more Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities:
Empower groups of individuals, local community groups, networks and social enterprises to address collective community needs.
Goal 2: Empower Disadvantaged people to Improve the Quality of Their Lives:
Support disadvantaged individuals, children and families to progress their formal education and participate in lifelong learning, to progress into employment/ self-employment, and to improve their soft skills and wellbeing.
Delivery Structure
SICAP is managed locally by Wexford Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) with support from Wexford County Council. It is delivered on the ground by Wexford Local Development. Pobal acts as the agent of the Department of Rural and Community Development with respect to national management and oversight of the programme.
Pobal
Pobal acts as the agent of the Department of Rural and Community Development with respect to national management and oversight of the programme, which includes activities approved under the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+).
Wexford Local Community Development Committee (LCDC)
Wexford Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) is the Contracting Authority for SICAP in County Wexford. Wexford LCDC is the key decision-maker in terms of annual planning, monitoring and oversight of SICAP services in County Wexford.
Wexford County Council
Wexford County Council supports the LCDC in managing the programme and provides administrative supports. It also has a role in relation to reviewing and enforcing the obligations of the Programme Implementer.
Wexford Local Development
Programme Implementers (PIs) deliver SICAP at a local level as per their annual plan. They report to the LCDC on their progress in carrying out these actions. They engage with the programme target groups. Wexford Local Development is the current PI for SICAP services across County Wexford.
Target Groups
SICAP acknowledges that while a wide range of people may potentially be at risk of social exclusion, certain attributes or characteristics increase this risk. These tend to be linked to identity, group membership, geographic location and/or personal situation. 12 pre-defined target groups have been set for SICAP. These have been selected based on the socioeconomic context, the level of need in society, and government priorities. The 12 target groups are:-
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People living in disadvantaged communities |
People impacted by educational disadvantage |
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People living in jobless households or households where the primary income source is low-paid and/or precarious |
People who are long term unemployed
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People with a criminal history |
Refugees |
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International Protection Applicants |
Disabled People/People with Disabilities |
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Heads of One Parent Families |
Travellers |
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Roma |
Island Residents |
PIs must therefore prioritise those who are most disadvantaged in society, who are unable or less likely to access mainstream supports, with a particular focus on the Local Priority Target Groups assigned to each local area. PIs should take a proactive approach to targeting, and actively engage in outreach activities to reach target groups across all beneficiary types, with a particular focus on maximising participation by those who are most disadvantaged and least likely to access mainstream services.
Local Flexibility PIs and LCDCs understand the needs of the target groups and local communities. This is vital in determining the types of interventions and actions that are needed from SICAP to improve people’s lives and strengthen communities. Diverse challenges face local communities across Ireland and SICAP needs to be able to respond accordingly. SICAP offers PIs and LCDCs the flexibility to jointly target supports to particular groups and respond to emerging issues. SICAP is a national programme that can be tailored locally to best meet the needs of disadvantaged areas and priority target groups on the ground
SICAP Services
Do you want to find out what services are available to you under SICAP in County Wexford? You can find more details from your local Programme Implementer – Wexford Local Development at Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme (SICAP) | Wexford Local Development (wld.ie)
More Info:
More information on SICAP can also be found on the Department of Rural and Community Development website – gov.ie - Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) (www.gov.ie)