Author: ATD Ireland

ATD Ireland has recently won first place in the Irish category of the Creative Lives Award for the “Creative Pathways to Participation” publication. The following reflection piece is based on a conversation with Paul - an ATD Ireland Community Activist and a key driving force behind the conceptual theme of the book. Paul speaks about the event in London, the creative process behind the project and the meaning of this kind of recognition for himself and the ATD Ireland community.   “Creative Pathways to Participation” is a piece of work that followed up to “Lockdown Liberties” - a 2021 ATD publication.  “We…

Dublin group wins Creative Lives Award Creative groups across the UK and Ireland celebrated at prestigious national awards Creative Lives, the registered charity that champions community and volunteer-led arts activity, is delighted to announce the winners of the 2024 Creative Lives Awards.The Creative Lives Awards celebrate the incredible achievements of groups and projects providing creative activity for people of all ages and abilities across England, Ireland/Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.A winner and runner-up was chosen from each nation. Dublin-based group ATD Ireland won the Ireland Award. They received an award and framed certificate, cash prize and free access to Creative Lives’ online…

ATD Ireland are excited to announce that “Creative Pathways to Participation”, our recent publication has won first place in the Irish category in the Creative Lives Awards.  Creative Pathways to Participation is a collection of poetry, writing and art showcasing the importance of creative outlets; for finding voice, self expression, self recognition and sharing insights on issues of social justice, equality and inclusion.  It was a follow up to 2021 publication 'Lockdown Liberties'.   On Thursday 26th September 2024, ATD Ireland team members Dann and Paul travelled to London to the Creative Lives Awards Ceremony to receive the award on behalf of…

Over the summer the ATD Ireland community have been embarking on a number of summer outings.   We also made use of the sunshine to take in the sights of the Dun Laoghaire to Sandycove coast walk.  We got a history lesson and took in some culture and the James Joyce museum.  Our writers learning about the classics!  (Click here to read Creative Pathways to Participation). Our tour guide was full of knowledge and ready to answer all our groups insightful questions!  https://youtu.be/eGreCqOdF84?si=oYYqQJcA9nQ8fQds On another day we made the most of the slivers of sunshine in between showers as (some of us)…

From 9- 11th July 2024, ATD International leadership team member Martin and ATD team Europe Ketty and Pierre spent three days visiting ATD Ireland and getting to know the projects and community here in Ireland. The International Leadership Team “is responsible for coordinating ATD worldwide, both sparking creative initiatives, and helping to sustain the collective will of our members, particularly for those whose commitment is a life-long choice.”  ATD Europe are responsible for co- ordinating actions across ATD teams in Europe outside of France. The week was filled with insightful discussions, community visits, and reflective moments, showcasing the commitment of ATD…

ATD Ireland welcome the opportunity to make a submission for budget 2025. We carried out this piece of work in collaboration with Sister Bernadette who formally led the MESL research.This work draws on from the collaborative discussions had by our Community Activists and Sister Bernadette as Christina prepared to deliver a speech on minimum income at Social Platform's Over the Poverty Line conference at the European Parliament in Brussels in October 2023.  Read more hereATD Ireland submits one proposal -income adequacy -which encompasses the multidimensional nature of poverty.   ATD Ireland requests a €20 increase to the core social welfare rates. Read our full…

Community Activist Craig and ATD Ireland co- ordinator Dann presented the 'Creative Pathways to Participation' project at the Coalition 2030 plenary on Tuesday May 21st at the National College of Ireland.Coalition 2030 are an alliance of over 70 civil society and trade union organisations in Ireland collaborating for domestic and global achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, through multisectoral engagement and collective action.  Coalition 2030 generously funded our project.  Dann and Craig introduced the significance of the project and shared a portion of the film. "We actively believe that all sustainable anti-poverty policy/ strategies must include the expertise experience and knowledge…

“Poverty is a societal issue and it needs to be tackled systemically. Socio-economic discrimination is as real and as painful as all other types of discrimination, and needs to be stopped. Why should someone who is already struggling with poverty, debt, isolation, lack of opportunities, shame, stigma, reduced access to healthcare, then on top of that be discriminated? It is inhumane. This is a denial of basic human rights and highlights the issue of socio- economic discrimination as a non-existent ground in Irish equality legislation. "The reality that people in poverty need to campaign to have the legal right not to…

On Tuesday 7th May we held a beautiful, inspiring event for the launch of our “Creative Pathways to Participation” book and film.  The launch event was about celebrating the rich creative outputs contained within the project and, together, showcasing how it supports the goal to “Leave No One Behind”.  Read and download the entire book, as well as each individual contribution, here. We held the project in Trinity College, with MC generously provided by Professor Dr Joe Whelan.  The launch was held in a lecture theatre in the School of Midwifery and Nursing outside the main Trinity College Campus.  Joe opened…

"What does it mean to feel like you have no voice? To feel like you count for nothing, to feel like you are only defined by your poverty or socioeconomic status. Being hindered by discrimination, stigma and often shame can make participation in the community and society at large extremely difficult. Yet in the anti-poverty sector we speak about participation as a fundamental norm. Sometimes without recognition of how far some people are left behind. There is a paradigm shift needed in our political structures before real meaningful participation can happen. This annual report aims to shine a light on the…