Sligo PPN Environmental Action Academy Toolkit

As part of the PPN annual needs analysis, many member groups got back to us requesting support to enhance the way they operate from the perspective of improved sustainability and climate change awareness.

Based on this request, Sligo PPN began a 2 phase project which became known as the Sligo PPN Environmental Action Academy.

Phase 1 was based on a partnership with Sligo Environmental Network which saw members of the network engage with PPN member groups through a variety of mechanisms to find out what groups understood about climate action and the types of supports that they would need to bring about positive change to the way they operate. This phase was conducted via focus groups, one-to-one mentoring and interviews. The findings from this phase were then used to inform the development of Phase 2

Phase 2 was a partnership with Atlantic Technological University ( ATU ), specifically lecturer Yvonne Lang and students John Clancy and Ryan Dempsey.  Under Yvonne’s guidance, John undertook a piece of work researching best practice, identifying existing support programmes, creating signposting opportunities and creating a content pool that responded directly to the ideas and suggestions of the community.Under the guidance of Paul McNama (Contract Research Unit, ATU Sligo https://www.itsligo.ie/research/strategic-research-centres/contract-research-unit/) Ryan was then charged with taking all this information and compiling it into toolkit format that would be practical, easy to use and relevant to the community sector of Sligo. 

The result is the Sligo PPN Environmental Action Academy Toolkit

This toolkit is intended to act as a go-to guide for all community groups who are looking to make the way they operate more environmentally friendly. We will be hosting an information session in early 2023 to take people through using the guide and also creating a step by step user guide to accompany this page.