Latest news with #CommunityFoundationIreland
Irish Independent
19 hours ago
- General
- Irish Independent
Community Biodiversity Action Plan launched for Kingdom of Kerry Greenway
The plan, or CBAP, which was funded by Community Foundation Ireland, was informed by an ecologist-led survey of the flora and fauna of the route. A series of community engagement workshops and survey supported by MTU Business students also contributed to the plan which sets out recommendations to protect and enhance the biodiversity along the Greenway. The plan is accessible from the national website. The local efforts of Tralee Tidy Towns to protect and promote nature and wildlife habitats have now also been recognised with a strategic grant by Community Foundation Ireland in partnership with NPWS to implement the CBAP. The grant will ensure that the next steps to protect local biodiversity along the Greenway will be guided by the expert knowledge of ecologists. Martha Farrell of Tralee Tidy Towns said: 'We are thrilled to launch our CBAP during National Biodiversity Week and we're delighted that our work to protect and promote biodiversity has been acknowledged by the granting of a further €11,590 for the implementation of the plan. We thank Community Foundation Ireland, NPWS, Kerry County Council, MTU, Irish Wildlife Trust, Transition Kerry, Crainn Chiarraí and the many other NGOs who engaged, for their support of this project.' 'We look forward to working with stakeholders, groups and individuals who are interested in this implementation project. We will focus on creative and expert-led community engagement and awareness of biodiversity; recording of wildlife species, addition of supplementary wildlife habitat for species such as swifts and swallows; recording and control of invasive species; and an overall enhancement of the biodiversity along the Greenway route,' she continued. 'We also hope that skills acquired by community members through this project can lead to a long-term volunteer support of the habitats in the Tralee area. Anyone who would like to register interest in getting involved in this project can simply send us an email on tidytownstralee@ she added. Congratulating Tralee Tidy Towns, Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland had the following to say: 'We are particularly proud that local efforts to protect habitats, plants and wildlife are increasingly growing into a national movement. The fact that this current grant round is impacting in every county shows the groundswell of support for biodiversity action. The partnership of the Foundation, its philanthropists and community partners together with the National Parks and Wildlife Service is effective and works. Our natural heritage is being protected for generations to come.'
Irish Times
01-05-2025
- Irish Times
View that child sex abuse is a thing of the past ‘has allowed it to persist', says charity
Child sexual abuse is not an individual or historical issue but a systemic challenge that demands collective action, a new report from the support charity One in Four highlights. A Red C poll commissioned by the organisation found that 91 per of people believe Irish society has failed to address the issue, while 94 per cent acknowledge its serious impact on wellbeing and development. The attitudinal research funded by Community Foundation Ireland is the first of its kind in relation to child sexual abuse. The report states that child sexual abuse cannot continue to be viewed as 'something confined to the past or to certain institutions'. READ MORE 'It is happening today, in homes, schools, sports clubs, peer to peer and increasingly, through online spaces,' it states. 'Our collective inability to confront this uncomfortable reality has allowed it to persist, causing immeasurable harm.' It states that the current key barriers relate to 'invisibility, collapsing boundaries and explosiveness'. Invisibility refers to how abuse often happens out of sight and is rarely talked about. Survivors feel alone, and families and communities sometimes look away rather than face the reality, the report says. In terms of collapsing boundaries, the usual protections at home, in school and online are breaking down and social media and technology are making it easier for abuse to happen anywhere. Explosiveness refers to the idea that 'this topic is so emotional and overwhelming that people often avoid it or focus on the most shocking cases, instead of working towards real solutions', it adds. [ 'Their childhood stopped the day the abuse started': Almost 2,400 allegations of abuse in religious run-schools Opens in new window ] The principal recommendation of the report is for a preventive public health framework – acting at every level across society, before harm occurs. This starts with primary prevention: providing universal education across society in understanding healthy boundaries and the root causes of child sexual abuse. Secondary prevention focuses on recognising early warning signs and stepping in quickly to support those at risk, the report states. Deirdre Kenny, One in Four chief executive Deirdre Kenny, chief executive of One in Four, said the organisation witnessed every day 'the resilience it takes for survivors to come forward and the pain caused by silence and denial'. Report researcher Dr Karen Hand said: 'There is no ambiguity around the evidence that child sexual violence remains a key issue for Irish society and many of today's young people are having unwanted sexual experiences in person and online. 'Global best practice highlights that a preventive public health approach can ensure that every child and young person in Ireland is safe, supported and empowered.'
Irish Examiner
01-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
40% of Irish adults know a survivor of child sexual abuse – One in Four survey
As many as 40% of people know someone who was sexually abused as a child, according to a poll. And 70% of people surveyed said they believe parents are 'uncomfortable' discussing safety and sex with their children. The findings are contained in a new report by One in Four, a charity working with survivors of childhood abuse and perpetrators of sexual violence. One in Four is urging the Government to show leadership and set up a new 'preventative public health framework' — across health, education, justice, and technology — to tackle the crisis. The report, Irish Attitudes to Tackling Child Sexual Abuse, jointly commissioned with Community Foundation Ireland, is due to be launched today by children's minister Norma Foley. A nationally representative survey of over 1,000 people found that more than 90% of respondents believed society had failed to address child sexual abuse. In addition, researcher Karen Hand also spoke to a range of experts, including therapists, and survivors of child abuse. The survey found: 88% of respondents said a 'whole of society' approach is needed to prevent and tackle child sexual abuse; 78% said pornography encourages more violent sexual desires; 69% said parents are uncomfortable discussing safety and sexuality with children; 81% support more penalties against tech companies that allow children access pornography online; 76% said a 'national conversation' on the issue is needed; 73% back smartphone restrictions for under-16s. The survey said 39% of people know someone who experienced sexual violence in childhood and a further 17% said they 'might or might not know' someone who had. One in Four chief executive Deirdre Kenny said the report identifies what has been holding the country back and why Ireland has 'struggled' to protect its children. Three 'barriers' to better child protection • She said 'invisibility' is a barrier, in that the abuse happens out of sight and is rarely talked about, leaving survivors feeling alone. • A second barrier the report identified was 'collapsing boundaries', in that the usual protections at home, at school, and online were breaking down with social media and technology making it 'easier for abuse to happen anywhere'. • A third barrier is 'explosiveness', describing how the topic is 'so emotional and overwhelming' for people to face and deal with. Social psychologist and report researcher Karen Hand with One in Four chief executive Deirdre Kenny ahead of today's launch of 'Irish Attitudes to Tackling Child Sexual Abuse'. Picture: One In Four Ms Kenny said child sexual abuse is often 'shrouded in silence and shame'. She said: 'This silence isolates survivors, perpetuates harm within families and communities, and creates significant barriers to meaningful change. 'It is clear we cannot continue to view child sexual abuse as something confined to the past or to certain institutions. It is happening today, in homes, schools, sports clubs, peer to peer and increasingly, through online spaces. Our collective inability to confront this uncomfortable reality has allowed it to persist, causing immeasurable harm.' The report said the proposed preventative public health framework involves primary prevention and secondary prevention, including intervention when there are early warning signs, and speedy professional support for survivors.
RTÉ News
30-04-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
Action needed on silence around child sexual abuse
Societal silence around child sexual abuse needs to be addressed, according to the support charity One in Four. A RED C poll commissioned by the organisation found that 90% of people believe that Irish society has failed to address the issue. The attitudinal research funded by Community Foundation Ireland is the first of its kind in relation to child sexual abuse. The report says child sexual abuse cannot continue to be viewed as something confined to the past or to certain institutions. "It is happening today, in homes, schools, sports clubs, peer to peer and increasingly, through online spaces. Our collective inability to confront this uncomfortable reality has allowed it to persist, causing immeasurable harm," it states. 85% of those surveyed agreed that overuse of social media can damage children and young people's self-esteem. One victim quoted in the report said she would not "give" social media to anyone until they are over 15. "I had social media since I was like 8/9, and that's very very young and it was the same with most of the kids in my primary school, the boys as well and they were learning mad things at such a young age that just weren't true and us girls had to believe that that was true and live up to that, like the girls that they saw on their phones." Protections breaking down The usual protections at home, in school or online are breaking down according to the report, with social media and technology making it easier for abuse to happen anywhere. The report says abuse often happens out of sight and is rarely talked about, resulting in survivors feeling alone, and families and communities sometimes looking away rather than face reality. It also states that the topic is so emotional and overwhelming that people often avoid it or focus on the most shocking explosive cases, rather than working towards real solutions. It calls for a Preventative Public Health Framework - acting at every level across society - long before the harm occurs. Such a framework would begin with primary prevention - providing universal education across society in understanding healthy boundaries and the root causes of child sexual abuse. Secondary prevention suggests focusing on early warning signs and stepping in quickly to support those at risk. For those who have already been affected, survivors should receive timely professional support. Further harm or re-offending should also be prevented. Invisibility of abuse The key barriers currently according to the report relate to "Invisibility, Collapsing Boundaries and Explosiveness". Regarding invisibility, it says abuse often happens out of sight and is rarely talked about. Survivors feel alone, and families and communities sometimes look away rather than face the reality. Collapsing boundaries relates to the usual protections breaking down, be they at home, in school or online. Social media and technology are making it easier for abuse to happen anywhere according to the report. The topic is so emotional and overwhelming that people often avoid it or focus on the most shocking cases (explosiveness), rather than working towards real solutions. This was national polling conducted by Red C with quota controls to ensure representative data across gender, age, region and social class in line with CSO projections. There were 1,000 in the fieldwork in May 2024. There was an 82% response rate (n=834) and people could opt out of certain questions. Public Qualitative Research was also conducted with included 14 focus groups around the country and in-depth interviews with front-line professionals: teachers, public health nurse, therapist, advocacy and gardaí. The report says a National Conversation about Tackling Child Sexual Violence needs to be led by a broad coalition of stakeholders, agencies and NGO's to help build collective wellbeing, healthy development and respectful boundaries for all for all people - young and old. "This includes understanding factors and toxic influences that have hijacked the sexual expectations of young men and young women - including 'Red Pill' discourses, unhealthy pornography, objectification of 'self'/ 'others' and the gamification of sexuality." The report titled 'Irish Attitudes to Tackling Child Sexual Abuse. A Whole of Society Approach' will be launched by the Minister for Children Norma Foley.
