End of Summer Blog: Celebrating Our Communities and Achievements 🌞🌿
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02 Sep End of Summer Blog: Celebrating Our Communities and Achievements 🌞🌿

Posted at 13:28h in Community Projects, News by

As the summer season draws to a close, we take a moment to reflect on the incredible work our team has done across Ireland, bringing neighbours together, fostering connections, and nurturing positive change in communities. From new milestones in our organisation to heart-warming community projects, the summer of 2024 has been truly special for Neighbourhood Network.

Our Charity Status Milestone

One of our biggest achievements this summer was receiving official recognition as a charity from the Charity Regulators Authority of Ireland. This acknowledgment solidifies our commitment to building stronger, healthier, and more connected neighbourhoods. It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, board, volunteers, and the many communities we serve.

Street Feast Celebrations Continue

Although Street Feast traditionally takes place in May, the celebrations didn’t stop there! Throughout the summer, we saw neighbourhoods across the country continuing to host their own Street Feasts, bringing residents together for shared food, laughter, and community spirit. These gatherings have strengthened local connections and allowed neighbours to come together in meaningful ways.

Home Together: Shaping Happy Places

Our Home Together initiative in partnership with Cairn, was another standout success this summer. Bringing neighbourhoods in Wicklow and Dublin together through the sharing of international cuisine in their own Street Feast events. These events have celebrated cultural diversity, giving neighbours the opportunity to connect, learn, and appreciate the richness of their communities while sharing meals that reflected their heritage. It’s been a beautiful reminder of the power of food to unite people from all walks of life.

Our Shared Plate: Climate Action through Food

Our climate action project, Our Shared Plate, also took major strides forward this summer. We are proud to be working with nine amazing communities as part of this initiative, supporting them through workshops on growing food, cooking skills, and community garden mapping and planning. This project is designed to strengthen community resilience while promoting sustainable food practices, and we’ve only just begun! We are also thrilled to have welcomed the highly renowned artist Jennie Moran as our artist-in-residence in Kildare. Her involvement will undoubtedly bring a unique and creative energy to the project as it continues to grow.

Team Highlights and Personal Milestones

This summer has been full of personal and professional milestones for our incredible team. Here are some highlights:

  • Catherine joined our team, bringing fresh energy and expertise to our growing family.
  • Deirdre submitted her thesis, a huge personal and academic achievement that we are all so proud of.
  • Sam not only continued his great work with Neighbourhood Network but also played a key role in organising and celebrating the 10th anniversary of the bespoke small-scale festival, Another Love Story – a festival built on the principles of community and connection, which aligns perfectly with our values.
  • Michelle launched her vibrant children’s food education book, Seed to Supper, which is designed to inspire young minds about the wonders of food growing and sustainability. It’s a fantastic addition to our work around food education and climate action!

Looking Ahead to the Autumn Harvest

As we head into September and approach the autumn equinox, we look forward to the harvest that will bring even more opportunities for communities to come together. The tasty food, grown and prepared through our community initiatives, will be a celebration of the hard work done over the summer. We’re excited to see the continued growth of our programmes and to share even more experiences that build strong, resilient neighbourhoods.

A huge thank you to everyone who has been part of this amazing summer – from the communities we work with to the incredible team behind the scenes. Together, we’re creating a future where every neighbourhood is connected, thriving, and supportive.

Here’s to an exciting autumn and everything it will bring! 🍂🌻