Immediate release: 4 April 2016
Information Event on Town Twinning be Held in Dublin
Spotlight on Town Twinning: Access funding and encourage community engagement.
Does your town engage in town twinning? Is it a thriving annual activity or flagging and in need revival? Maybe it’s time to take a fresh look at ‘town twinning’. To get the conversation started, The Wheel will be holding an interactive information session in Dublin on Tuesday 26 April 2016 entitled Spotlight on Town Twinning.
In recent years, and particularly since the recession, town twinning in Ireland has been less of a priority, often considered as unnecessary travel during straightened times… But as Irish society becomes more diverse, partnering with European towns can achieve immense intercultural learning and positive community-based outcomes.
Twinning between Ireland and newer member states like Poland, for example, brings new communities together, while long established twinning relationships can be built upon. Involving the wider community, particularly young people, minority groups or people living with disabilities, can be hugely beneficial.
Speaking about his own experiences of town twinning, Sean Egan, President of the Carrickmacross-Carhaix Town Twinning Committee said; "Carrickmacross has been twinned with Carhaix in Brittany for over 20 years. The partnership has brought real benefits for both communities, particularly for our young people. The Europe for Citizens Programme is funding this year's project. We applied for another grant this year with support from The Wheel and we hope to be successful.”
Europe for Citizens celebrates the diversity of Europe and its citizens. The programme provides grants of up to €25,000 to town twinning projects. Irish towns have been awarded grants ranging from €5000 to €15,000 over the years and community groups, not just local authorities, can apply.
To promote town twinning in Ireland and explain the funding available, The Wheel will be running an information seminar in Dublin. This meeting will be free but attendees must book their place on the Wheel’s website www.wheel.ie. Running from 9.30am-11.30am on Tuesday 26th April 2016 in Europe House, Mount Street, Dublin 2, the event will be taking registrations from 9.15am.
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For more information contact Gert Ackermann, Communications Officer at The Wheel, on 086 1769287 or 01-454 8727.
Notes to the Editor
- Europe for Citizens Programme: The Europe for Citizens Programme funds pan-European activities such as town twinning, town networks and civil society projects. The Europe for Citizens information service is operated by The Wheel and can be accessed online at www.europeforcitizens.ie, through Twitter @EU4Citizens or by emailing europe@wheel.ie. The deadline for funding applications is 1 September 2016.
- Sean Egan from Carrickmacross-Carhaix Town Twinning Committee will be giving a presentation on his own experiences at the Spotlight on Town Twinning event and is available for interview.
- Event Facilitator: Deirdre Finlay is European Programmes Coordinator at The Wheel. With over 13 years' experience of programme management, communications and institutional funding, Deirdre is a lively facilitator. Book your place at the event here: http://www.wheel.ie/training/course/spotlight-town-twinning-dublin-26-april-2016
- The Wheel is a support and representative body connecting community and voluntary organisations and charities across Ireland compromising of 1,200 members. The Wheel is the Irish ‘National Contact Point’ for the Europe for Citizens Programme plus it provides information on funding to its members and a wider civil society audience via its ‘FundingPoint’ offering. See www.wheel.ie.
