Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2024-2028

  sicap-logo

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

SICAP is the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme.   SICAP aims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality. It does this through Programme Implementers, agencies and companies, who work with the most disadvantaged and the hardest to reach in communities.

The programme is aimed at:

  • People living in disadvantaged communities
  • People impacted by educational disadvantage
  • People living in jobless households or households where the primary income source is low-paid and/or precarious
  • People who are long-term unemployed
  • People with a criminal history
  • Refugees
  • International Protection Applicants
  • Disabled People/People with Disabilities
  • Heads of One-parent Families
  • Travellers
  • Roma
  • Island residents

SICAP Goals

The programme has two goals that focus on supporting communities and individuals:

  • 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.
  • 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.

SICAP is managed by the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) in each local authority area.

Each Local Community Development Committee agrees annual targets for their area based on local needs. They can choose to add a local priority target group to be helped in their area if they think it’s necessary.  The department has engaged Pobal to work on its behalf to manage and oversee the delivery of SICAP nationally. Iit also receives funding from the European Social Fund under the Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL).