Carlow PPN and Carlow Volunteer Centre Launches a Programme to Create VIRTUAL AMBASSADORS and CHAMPIONS

Public Participation Network creative programme to bring Carlow’s Online Vision to the Fore

 

Carlow PPN and Carlow Volunteer Centre Launches a Programme to Create VIRTUAL AMBASSADORS and CHAMPIONS

New Training Programme will enable Community and Voluntary Organisations to market their activities and encourage Carlow communities to become more involved.

An exciting new training programme funded by Carlow County Council and led by Public Participation Network was launched on Thursday, 8th March 2018 to transform the social media and marketing skills of Carlow’s vibrant community and voluntary sector.

The project, called the “Carlow Smart Digital Communities”, will train participants to become virtual ambassadors and champions in their organisations and communities, by teaching them the skills of social media, video storytelling and writing press releases.

 

“We are delighted to have received the support of Carlow County Council through the Town & Village Scheme to enable this really valuable training to be rolled out amongst the community and voluntary sector”, said John Murphy, PPN Secretariat Member.

 

“Social media has become a really vital way of communicating and engaging with people, and we want to teach the skills that harness the power of social media channels including Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, as well as individual websites.”

 

A company called, eTownz, led by Pat Kennedy, has been chosen to roll out this innovative Programme. “We are really looking forward to working with the community and voluntary sector in Carlow to create this programme, and our team, which includes former RTE journalist Aileen O’Meara and digital marketing expert Michael Keogh, will bring our skills to enable people to become confident storytellers in social media.”

 

“By identifying the community and voluntary digital champions, we will create a bank of enthusiastic trained champions who can bring their knowledge to their own teams,” Pat Kennedy added.

 

Speaking about the Programme, Chief Executive of Carlow County Council, Kathleen Holohan said “We are delighted to be supporting the further enhancement of public participation with this new project supported under our work with Rural Towns & Villages as part of the Town & Village Scheme in County Carlow. Holohan continued to say “at the core of this project is creating connections with communities and identifying champions in our communities who support the message that County Carlow is an ideal place to live, learn, work and visit”.

 

Organisations such as Development Groups, Residents Associations and local charities are set to benefit from this innovative new training programme which will teach participants in social media skills to help communicate their stories and engage with supporters, volunteers and the local community. The Carlow Volunteer Centre and the Public Participation Network are being funded via Carlow County Council from the Department of Rural Development.

 

FURTHER DETAILS: Pat Kennedy phone number 086 3377681 and email pat@etownz.com

Carlow PPN person for media contact – Gráinne O Neill, 059/9172495