The Chair of Donegal Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), Cllr. Niamh Kennedy has launched the Civic Dollars project – a community reward platform designed to increase time spent in outdoor, local recreational spaces across Donegal.
Through this community currency app, Donegal County Council aims to provide people with an incentive and support to improve their mental health, increase their physical activity levels, and encourage engagement with local community groups and support for the local business community.
Participants download the Civic Dollars mobile phone app (on Google Play or the App Store) and earn online credits by spending time in one of the following five local outdoor resources that have been identified countywide
These include:
Bundoran Promenade and Cliff Walk
Dungloe River Walk
Swan Park, Buncrana
Bernard McGlinchey Town Park, Letterkenny
Drumboe Woods, Stranorlar
You can then redeem your ‘Civic Dollars’ in exchange for local and countywide rewards provided by the local business community e.g., a discounted coffee or discounted entry into a local attraction OR donate them to a locally identified community group who can exchange them for rewards.
The app measures time spent in a designated zone and does not record steps or distance to ensure the project is inclusive of participants with mobility or health issues.
At the launch held in the Bluestack Special Needs Foundation centre, Director of Community Development and Planning Services, Mr. Liam Ward said ‘Donegal County Council recognises the importance of outdoor recreation in improving the health and well-being of the people of Donegal and in building stronger, more cohesive, and inclusive communities across our county.
“We work in partnership through our Local Community Development Committee to deliver projects funded under the Healthy Ireland Round 4 programme and Slaintecare Healthy Communities Programmes which help provide a roadmap of how we can continue to work together to promote health and wellbeing for everyone’.
Outlining the value of the project to the local community, Chair of the LCDC, Cllr. Niamh Kennedy paid tribute to the local businesses participating in the projects by way of offering a reward.
She said ‘Their efforts cannot be underestimated especially in this current climate – we’re very grateful for their participation which demonstrates an important and valuable contribution to the communities they live in and highlights the strong sense of community spirit we have here in Co. Donegal’.
Manager of the Bluestack Special Needs Foundation, Ms. Wendy McCarry said ‘Bluestack Special Needs Foundation is delighted to be participating in the project as one of the community groups that participants can donate their ‘Civic Dollars’ to, it shines a light on the work we do and increases community support for and engagement with our members. What I love about this project is that it is so inclusive, that anyone can take part no matter what their physical ability is’.
The Civic Dollars project is funded under the Healthy Ireland Programme and Slaintecare Healthy Communities Programme, which are supported by the Dept of Health.
For further information about the Civic Dollars Project and details of participating community groups and businesses see www.donegalcoco.ie/community/healthydonegal/civicdollars
