National Community Impact Network Directory

Please click on the map below to find the locations of Community Impact Network members nationally. Some of these member services also provide Befriending Service for older people in your area. These organisations are part of Community Impact Network, and are independent of ALONE.

About Community Impact Network

The Community Impact Network provides the opportunity to be part of a collaborative network that supports organisations working with older people across Ireland. The approach of CIN is a holistic, diverse, integrated, and innovative community-based impact network. A community-based national network has a significant role to play in supporting multiple community-based organisations in delivering effective and appropriate services to the older person. The purpose of the CIN is to develop the capacity of organisations to support older people in the community.

Contact us at [email protected]

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The Community Impact Network services and resources include:
  • Community Impact Network membership
  • Training
  • Advice & Information provision
  • Template Documents
  • Networking opportunities
  • Peer-to-peer sessions
  • National seminars and events
  • Newsletter – Access to and submission to Information on and access to technology devices
  • Access to a data management system with associated training and supports
  • Collaboration and partnership opportunities
  • For more information on the CIN click here  CIN Information

Training

Within the remit of the Community Impact Network, we provide training, resources, and access to technology to all members we work with across the country. These training topics are selected and based on engaging with and feedback from community groups and services. Training support is offered based on membership.  The Community Impact Network trainings are delivered and facilitated by the Community Impact Network Coordinator regional staff.  CIN Members have access to training via the following mediums:

Online training

  • self-directed e-learning completion and associated zoom facilitated training.
  • zoom facilitated training session/s.

In person training including day group training available on request.

Training can be requested and booked by member services by completing a CIN Training Registration form or by contacting [email protected]
Please see our CIN Member Training & Development Module options below:

 

Community Impact Network – Core Support & Befriending Services Training
This an ideal training program for services who would like Community Impact Network to train their staff and befrienders. In this training all of the essential areas of telephone support and befriending and/or visitation support and befriending are covered. The training will equip staff, volunteers and befrienders to support an older person to age in safety and with dignity at home. The training can be adapted to suit each specific service providing a telephone befriending and/or visitation service. Training module options are also provided on how to develop training for the service, group pr organisation to train their own befrienders and how to set-up a support and case management service.
Service Set-up

This training for those is specifically designed for those who are in the process of, or interested in, setting up a befriending service in Ireland. It covers all of the areas that you will need to consider and work on before your befriending service gets up and running.

After attending this training, you will:

  • Know what you need to consider before setting-up a service
  • Be able to identify what kind of befriending and related services operate in Ireland
  • Know what costs are involved in running a befriending service
  • Understand sustainability and ways you can fund your service
  • Be able to identify ways to create a brand for your service
  • List the key policies and paperwork needed for your service
  • Know the recommended staffing structure of a befriending service
  • Be able to identify the key legal requirements needed for your service
  • Have an understanding of a basic office and IT set-up for your service

If you are interested in attending this training, please email ALONE at [email protected] or call ALONE on 01-6791032

Befriending Coordination

Befriending Coordination Training covers all aspects of coordinating a befriending service. This training is an ideal follow on from Service Set up training for services who are just starting up. This training is also suitable for established services that would like a refresher or advice on Befriending Coordination.

After attending this training, you will:

  • Know methods and steps to source and recruit befrienders
  • Be able to list referral sources and ways to generate referrals to your service
  • Know methods to successfully assess a befriendee for your service
  • Understand matching and how to go about setting up befriending matches
  • Know how to support befriendees and befrienders in befriending relationships
  • Be able to list ways to manage risk and to safeguard befriendees and befrienders
  • Know typical ways to store service information and data

If you are interested in attending this training, please email ALONE at [email protected] or call ALONE on 01-6791032

Support and Case Management

This training provides a framework for Support and Case Management. This training is ideal for organisations who work with older people or with individuals with additional support needs. This training is modelled on the Support Coordination service that ALONE provides to older people both in housing and in the community.

After attending this training, you will:

  • Know techniques to identify the issue(s) a person presents with
  • Have an understanding of the different support work levels
  • Understand comprehensive assessments and techniques
  • Know what steps to take post assessment
  • Understand the case noting system and know how to write case notes
  • Gain an understanding of Support Plan Objectives
  • Know ways to advocate for a person you are supporting
  • Gain and understanding of gaps and blocks in support and case management

If you are interested in attending this training, please email ALONE at [email protected] or call ALONE on 01-6791032

Learn How to Train your Befrienders

This training course is designed specifically for services who are looking to design and deliver their own core befriender training to their befrienders. This training takes the stress out of knowing what to train your befrienders on and how to create a comprehensive training course to best prepare your befrienders in their roles.

After attending this training, you will:

  • Be able to identify topics need to be covered in core befriender training
  • List and discuss what training methods are most suitable for befriender training
  • Know how to structure a training session for befriender training
  • Be able to explain learning styles and how to cater to all learning styles in befriender training
  • Know assessment and evaluation techniques suitable for befriender training
  • Be able to manage diversity in befriender training
  • Be able to identify training materials useful for befriender training
  • Know methods to refresh befrienders in befriender training over the longer ter

If you are interested in attending this training, please email ALONE at [email protected] or call ALONE on 01-6791032

Volunteer Befriender Training

In this training all of the essential areas to support a volunteer in advance of their role as a befriender:

  • What befriending is and the befriending role
  • Boundaries
  • Communication Skills
  • Health and Safety Support Network
  • Change of Circumstances
  • Matching Steps
Regional Support & Networking Meetings

One of the most important forms of supports that member services avail of from Community Impact Network is the ability to attend Regional Support & Networking Meetings held across the country.

Regional Support & Networking Meetings provide member services of BNI with opportunities to:

  • Network with other services in their locality and nationally.
  • Obtain peer to peer support on issues or challenges in running a befriending service.
  • Discuss specific topics affecting befriending services nationally such as funding and volunteer management.
  • The meetings are informal in style and some meetings will have combined workshops.

Regional Support & Networking Meetings are divided by Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) throughout the country. However, you and your colleagues are not limited to only being able to attend a meeting in your own CHO area. If there is a meeting in another CHO area that you would like attend that is perfectly fine.

If you are interested in attending upcoming Regional Support & Networking Meetings, please email ALONE at [email protected] or call ALONE on 01-6791032

Safeguarding

After attending this training, attendees will:

  • Have knowledge on what Safeguarding adults is and involves.
  • Know what may impact on vulnerability and risk to abuse.
  • Know what you need to consider before putting in place or refreshing your safeguarding procedures.
  • Understand duties, roles and responsibilities for you, your service, staff and volunteers.
  • List and identify types of abuse.
  • How to recognize types and indicators of harm and abuse.
  • Understand reasons for non-disclosures.
  • Know the reason for policies and procedures.
  • What to do if you suspect that someone is being harmed.
  • Awareness of self-care and support with reporting.
  • Access to additional information resources.
Boundaries

After attending this training, attendees will:

  •  Understand how boundaries can impact our work, home and volunteer environment.
  • Recognise how personal boundaries affect professional & personal relationships.
  • Learn about the several types of boundaries that exist.
  • Gain valuable insights into boundary-making.
  • Learn how to recognise when your boundaries are healthy and unhealthy.
  • Determine when to say yes and when to say no within your professional relationships.
  •  Learn to recognise your motivations toward responsibilities and making that link to your own boundaries.
  • Learn to make boundaries when working from home.
  • Learn how to say no in your personal and professional life.
CIN Community Advocacy

Community Advocacy:

Discuss the meaning of community.

  • What our communities mean to us.
  • Advocacy, what it is and the different forms of advocacy.
  • Information on policy, advocacy and campaigning.
  • Guidance on the importance of community advocacy to influence policy and change. Knowledge on how community advocacy can support older people in your community.
  • Ways to advocate for and within your community.
CIN Organising Local Events to Service Promotion and Impact

Service Promotion & Impact:

  • Why is service promotion important?
  • Language and messaging.
  •  Key audiences and networking.
  • Media options.
  • Digital options.
  • Promotional materials.
  • Collecting & using case studies.
  • What is a case study and why are they important?
  • Case study structure and types.
  • Approaching participants and consent.
CIN Writing Grant Applications

Writing Grant Applications:

  • Types of grants.
  • Knowing your project.
  • Knowing your funder.
  • Making the application.
CIN Communications styles and dealing with challenging calls

Communication styles and dealing with challenging calls:

  • What is a challenging call?
  • Communication styles & techniques.
  • Dealing with challenging calls.
  • Ways to manage difficult calls.
  • Self-care post call.
CIN Organising Local Events Module

CIN Organising Local Events Module:

  • Hosting virtual and in person events​
  • Set your event goals and objectives.​
  • Develop an event master plan. (Identify and select your tech tools)
  • Create an event budget.​
  • Select your event’s date.​
  • Brand your event and begin publicity.​
  • Arrange speakers for your event.
  • Coordinate with event suppliers (catering, equipment, etc).​
  • Manage event day set up and execution.​
  • Evaluate the success of your event.

Contact us

For further details and more information please contact [email protected] and our team will be in contact with you.

Membership

To become a member of the Community Impact Network please complete the following form : Click Here