Programmes

Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2018 – 2022  sicap-logo

As a member of the Dublin City Community Cooperative, ICON is tasked with delivering aspects of SICAP in the NEIC. 

The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2018 – 2022 provides funding to tackle poverty and social exclusion through local engagement and partnerships between disadvantaged individuals, community organisations and public sector agencies.

Administered by Pobal and funded by the Irish Government through the Department of Rural and Community Development, it also receives funding from the European Social Fund under the Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020.

SICAP addresses high and persistent levels of deprivation through targeted and innovative, locally-led approaches. It supports disadvantaged communities and individuals including unemployed people, people living in deprived areas, people with disabilities, single parent families, people on a low income, members of the Traveller and Roma community and other disadvantaged groups.

The programme is managed at a local level by 33 Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), with support from local authorities, and actions are delivered by Programme Implementers (PIs).

PIs work with marginalised communities and service providers using a community development approach to improve people’s lives. For example, helping people to find work or to upskill, providing CV training ora personal development course, helping them onto a work placement programme such as CE or Tύs.

The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2018-2022 is funded by the Irish Government through the Department of Rural and Community Development and co-funded by the European Social Fund under the Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020.

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

The programme has two goals: 

Goal 1: Supporting Communities

To support communities and target groups to engage with relevant stakeholders in identifying and addressing social exclusion and equality issues, developing the capacity of Local Community Groups, and creating more sustainable communities.

Goal 2: Supporting Individuals

To support disadvantaged individuals to improve the quality of their lives through the provision of lifelong learning and labour market supports.

Horizontal Themes

Horizontal themes are the core principles that cut across all areas of PIs’ work. SICAP is underpinned by three horizontal themes:

1. Promoting an equality framework with a particular focus on gender equality and anti-discrimination practices;

2. Applying community development approaches to achieve the participation of disadvantaged and marginalised communities in the wider local development context;

3. Developing collaborative approaches with stakeholders to improve how mainstream policies and programmes are delivered so that they impact more positively on the socially excluded.