The document summarizes a presentation about the Community Co-operation Ireland (CCJ) project. The CCJ is a voluntary organization that aims to promote enterprise development in Irish communities. It does this by bringing together community members to share ideas, identify available resources, provide mentoring, and help get potential business ideas to enterprise support agencies. The presentation outlines the reasons for the CCJ, its principles of being voluntary, and its activities both within communities, such as conducting audits and meetings, and in providing centralized support. It also discusses the CCJ's structure, achievements to date such as establishing the organization and holding meetings, and plans for the next year such as recruiting more pilot communities.

1. The GIFT Project is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
CCJ – Its Purpose and Processes
Dunhill Ecopark
June 18th 2014
Ciaran Lynch, CCJ Board member
24/06/2014 Ciaran Lynch LIT 1

2. Six Aspects of CCJ
• Why CCJ?
• Its Principles
• Its Activities
• Its Structures
• Its Achievements
• Its Plans
24/06/2014 Ciaran Lynch LIT 2

3. • In order for the current economic situation to improve there is a need for an
increased level of enterprise development in Ireland.
• There are many people who have ideas for successful enterprises but who are
inhibited from pursuing their ideas even to the extent of exploring them with
enterprise support agencies.
• The development of an enterprise often requires access to various physical and
land-based resources. These resources may well be available within a
community but may be under-utilised or inaccessible.
• Very few voluntary organisations have the primary task of identifying,
promoting and supporting the establishment of job-creating enterprises within
their areas.
• Enterprise development agencies do not have the resources to provide the
extent of support that would be needed to bring potential projects to an
agency-ready stage of development.
• The encouragement of owners of both ideas and assets in a low-key,
neighbourly, non-threatening way, has the potential to mobilise resources
• A huge reservoir of knowledge, experience, skills and talent lies within
communities but a mechanism for the sharing of that community knowledge
and experience is required.
Why CCJ?
24/06/2014 Ciaran Lynch LIT 3

4. CCJ Principles
Voluntary
24/06/2014 Ciaran Lynch LIT 4

5. Activities
• The activities of CCJ can be divided into two categories
– Those based within individual communities
– Those providing support to community-based organisations
24/06/2014 Ciaran Lynch LIT 5

6. Activities Within Communities
• Establishment of an organisation or commitment of part
of an organisation to implement CCJ model
– Community Audit
– Community Meetings to Identify Opportunities
– Voluntary Mentoring
– Activating the Potential of Community Assets
– Sharing Ideas
– Representing Potential Businesses to Agencies
– Target of a minimum of 10 new jobs per community stimulated
by the CCJ model
24/06/2014 Ciaran Lynch LIT 6

7. Activities Supporting Communities
• Central support element that -
– Develops and tests new models for local enterprise
• More of some of these later
– Gathers best practice
– Develops tools for local groups to use
– Runs the website and newsletter
– Creates relationships at home and abroad
• Government
• Newfoundland
• ConnectIreland
• Canada
• Irish Social Enterprise Network
• Will provide training and a support network
24/06/2014 Ciaran Lynch LIT 7

8. Structure
• A volunteer run CCJ core organisation in every
community to implement the model
• A mass of organisations and individuals supporting and
sharing as members or patrons
• A voluntary CCJ committee in every region
• A national board to support the national effort, maintain
communication and tools and make representations and
policy inputs
• A small paid executive to manage and support the
structure
• Technology as a key enabler24/06/2014 Ciaran Lynch LIT 8

9. 24/06/2014 Ciaran Lynch LIT 9
Board
District
Community
Ind and Orgs

10. • Organisation established as a registered company
• An active Board established and meets regularly
• Received the support of those willing to be patrons
• 30 meetings of interested people held nationwide
• Website, logo and brand developed
• Four newsletters published
• Applications for funding submitted
• Many conferences and workshops attended and addressed
• Support received from third-level Institutes and others
– DCU
– LIT
– WIT
– UCIT
• Support provided by Dunhill Enterprise
• National and international connections made
• All done on a voluntary basis
What has been done to date
24/06/2014 Ciaran Lynch LIT 10

11. • Recruit eight pilot CCJ community organisations and
through them implement the CCJ model and tools
• Modify and enhance the tools and model on the basis
of the pilot experience
• Recruit another 20 CCJ community organisations
• Recruit 100 CCJ members overall
• Promote and maintain the website
• Continue to develop the pilot projects
• Establish an executive if funding obtained
• Hold a series of regional launch events
• Continue to develop national and international links
What we will do in the next year
24/06/2014 Ciaran Lynch LIT 11

12. And now a small video summary..
https://vimeo.com/92448982
24/06/2014 Ciaran Lynch LIT 12

13. • Speak with any of the CCJ Board Members
present
• Go to the sign-up desk outside
• Visit www.ccj.ie for more information and to
join
To learn more or to join….
24/06/2014 Ciaran Lynch LIT 13

14. The GIFT Project is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)