Get involved 2016... 4 years on and it just keeps getting better!

With almost 40 projects entered from 22 counties, the 2015/16 Local Ireland/SEAI sponsored Get Involved initiative was the most successful initiative since the inception of this initiative in 2013.

The winning entries included, a community tea rooms, a shop retailing and promoting local produce, a community garden project and a community recycling project. One lucky winner also received the overall Community Impact award sponsored by Clann Credo. (See www. Get-involved for film clips of the winning entries). 

For each of the last 3 years people formed groups and undertook a wide range of meaningful sustainable projects. Last year the winning projects shared €10,000, created sustainable employment whilst also enhancing their communities.

Due to the success of Get Involved ’15, this year, local newspapers from all over Ireland have been joined again by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) as main sponsors, for the third successive year of the 2016 Get  involved awards.

As sustainable energy is becoming critically important for the future well -being of this countryand the wider global community, this year both SEAI and Westmeath Examiner are seeking to identify Community Energy Champions in our communities. The vast majority of communities have such a person/ group and we want to know about them and their achievements. So much so that SEAI will be awarding a stand-alone prize of €3,000 to the best Community Energy Champion.

This person/group may also submit a project for the Get Involved ’16 competition and, if successful, even more cash could follow. So get thinking and make sure you nominate your Energy Champion on the attached entry form 

ENTER NOW
The Get Involved ‘16 competition awards the best projects undertaken by communities in partnership with their local newspaper. Entries are invited for voluntary community initiatives under the following themes:
1. Energy
2. Water
3. Food
4. Nature/Biodiversity
5. Sustainable employment
6. Ecotourism
7. Resource EÂ…fficiency
8. Community Energy Champion
Entries will be accepted on www.get-involved.ie

COLLABORATE WITH THE CONNAUGHT TELEGRAPH 
All successful entries will receive full support from the Connaught Telegraph, including extensive publicity throughout the project, assistance identifying local expertise, sources of funding and, where possible and at the discretion of the organisers, some professional mentorship. The competition judging panel will be chaired by broadcaster andenvironmentalist Duncan Stewart.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE
This is your chance to make a real diff erence to your community, while contributing to a more sustainable Ireland. This is a great country - together we can make it even better.