As 2025 comes to a close, Wicklow Public Participation Network (PPN) is celebrating a year filled with collaboration, advocacy, and community empowerment. From community conversations, and youth summits to festive gatherings, the network has worked tirelessly to ensure that every voice in Wicklow is heard.
Listening to Local Voices: This year saw PPN members having conversations about combating climate change, patriarchy & food poverty. As well as concerns in relation to transport, community safety and more. PPN staff also heard young voices at the Comhairle na nÓg Youth Summit in Wicklow Town, where over 100 young people spoke about issues that matter. These conversations contributed to consultations on planning frameworks and accessibility audits, reinforcing the PPN’s commitment to inclusion.
Representation and Advocacy: November saw PPN staff actively involved in regional and national initiatives, including the Southeast Regional PPN Network meeting with the Central Statistics Office to explore how best to use census data for community planning.
Festive Connections and Training for the Future: December brought a chance to reflect and celebrate. PPN Community Representatives gathered for a Christmas dinner at Wicklow Heather in Laragh, sharing their experiences and ideas for the year ahead. Governance training continued, equipping PPN member groups with the tools to thrive in 2026.
Keeping Communities Connected: With 523 member groups, Wicklow PPN kept communication flowing through newsletters, social media, and local press. Behind the scenes, the team explored new digital tools to make collaboration even easier.
Looking Ahead to 2026: The new year promises more opportunities for engagement, including the final session of governance training, outreach through Library Connect, and ongoing peer support for representatives. ‘Our goal is simple, to keep building bridges between communities and decision-makers,’ said the PPN coordinator.
We want to say a Big Thank You to our Secretariat, representatives, member groups, Wicklow Travellers Group (our hosting organization), Wicklow County Council and all stakeholder groups who support us. We invite you to join our PPN and support the work.
Contact details: Website: www.wicklowppn.ie Email: info@wicklowppn.ie
Wicklow PPN Wraps Up 2025 with Community Spirit and Big Plans Ahead