Challenge Bank

Do you have a Challenge in your area that you think could be solved through Design Thinking? Take the next step in your Challenger journey by adding it to the bank!

Courses will be based on the Challenges that people like you, across the region, feel need fresh and innovative thinking. To do this, we’re asking everyone to submit the Challenges that they’d like to tackle collaboratively.

Like and comment on other people's Challenges to show support and increase its chance of being included in a Course. You can filter Challenges by county or category.

Roll over a Challenge for more details. Click to go to the Challenge and like it or leave a comment.

Click to go to the Challenge and like it or leave a comment.

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Breastfeeding

Ideas from Monaghan Farmer's Market - Breast feeding pods with cosy seats and changing area Can we Design Think Breastfeeding? Our attitudes to it?

Monaghan

Raw Materials in Monaghan for artistic use

An idea from the Monaghan Idea Generation Workshop on the theme of Arts; A number of raw materials that could be used by artists can be found in County Monaghan. For instance, deep yellow clay from Glaslough was used in Lisgoa pottery, which supplied earthenware to all the fairs and markets in the county and a fine clay found near Carnmore, Sliabh Beagh was sold to the potteries in Dundalk. Yellow and red ochre, lead, manganese and other minerals used for pigments are also found in the county. It would be great to make use of these to replace imported materials.

Monaghan

Irish Language representation in the Arts in Monaghan

Irish Language representation in the Arts in Mo...

An idea from the Monaghan Idea Generation Workshop on the theme of Arts; I’d love to see the Irish language represented more in the arts, even in simple things like using Irish routinely at openings or when introducing performances. Use it or lose it, as they say. The language community cannot exist in isolation and it would much benefit from more integration with the arts community.

Monaghan

Living Arts Trail in Monaghan

An idea from the Monaghan Idea Generation Workshop on the theme of Arts; A living arts trail, where artists created work or performed at well-spaced sites in one of the forests or open spaces of the county, would also be great to see. Visitors could move around at safe distance from others and watch/interact with the artists.

Monaghan

Design Think Water Safety

Sadly, there have been a lot of drownings and water accidents happening in Monaghan and along the border region, and beyond, recently with the good weather which is really sad. There’s jetties popping up throughout the county but not so much in safety measures it seems Could we bring people together in communities to design think water safety? It’s unfortunately really topical but also so important to address in as many ways we can to reach a solution of some sort See this 'Design Jam tackles water safety in the Great Lakes' www.michigandaily.com/news/academics/design-jam-tackles-water-safety-great-lakes-0/

Monaghan

Enhance the Carlingford to Omeath Greenway with the rich local history and stories.

Enhance the Carlingford to Omeath Greenway with...

This challenge has come from discussion in the North Louth Idea Generation Workshop on the 30th June 2021. The aim of this Design Thinking workshop is to facilitate interested participants from the local area of Cooley Peninsula who are passionate about improving the Greenway experience for their local community and visitors alike. This group will be facilitated in generating ideas and solutions in tackling this challenge and working towards the goal of enriching the experience for all.

Louth

Community Gardens and Allotments in North County Louth

Community Gardens and Allotments in North Count...

The purpose of this Design Thinking course is to facilitate interested participants who are passionate about creating community gardens and allotments in their local community in North County Louth which would create opportunities for meeting, socialising and growing organic fruit and vegetables to sustain their families and communities.

Louth

Low Cost Activities for Children of all Ages Needed in North Co. Louth

Low Cost Activities for Children of all Ages Ne...

This challenge came out of the North Louth Idea Generation Workshop held on the 30th June 2021. The purpose of this Design Thinking workshop is to bring like minded people together who are passionate about creating a better community experience for families who would like to see more choices of low cost activities for children of all ages in North County Louth. This group will come together and generate ideas and solutions on how to achieve this goal.

Louth

West Cavan Revitalisation

Attracting people to live and work remotely in West Cavan.

Cavan

Learn Irish Sign Language

We would love to see ISL classes delivered locally in Monaghan. They would give deaf and hard of hearing people the opportunity to mix in the community

Monaghan

Build Compassionate Connected Communities

Build community with training in Asset Based Community Development or similar model Promotion of compassionate connected community including groups and organisations and help them realise their potential to promote health and wellbeing ( 8 dimensions of wellbeing: intellectual wellbeing, occupational wellbeing, environmental wellbeing, relational wellbeing, physical wellbeing, emotional wellbeing, spiritual wellbeing, financial wellbeing)

Louth

Funding for dedicated Eating Disorder services

more dedicated treatment services for people with eating disorders and more funding for these services. better awareness of the services that do exist too. during covid19, it's reported that there's been a 66% rise in eating disorder hospital admissions.

Monaghan

Village regeneration through infrastructure improvement

Village regeneration through infrastructure imp...

To create community cohesion, participation and buy in from the wider community. To create a shared vision to address local dereliction, parking, walking, birdwatching, by implementing an economic priority for the local community first.

Donegal

Celebrating and Safeguarding our Ancient Landscapes and Histories

Celebrating and Safeguarding our Ancient Landsc...

It's been widely reported that vandalism of Neolithic tombs is an increasing problem across Sligo. A visitor centre on our ancient landscapes could serve a variety of purposes - job creation, education opportunities for local schools, drawcard for tourists, and a way to publicise the importance of the sites and the need to protect them. It could be both a way fundraise for action and a central hub for the groups that are working towards greater education about, and protection of, Sligo landscapes and all its associated stories.

Sligo

Develop Monaghan Sports and Sport Culture Strategic Plan

Develop Monaghan Sports and Sport Culture Strat...

Develop Monaghan Sports and Sport Culture Strategic Plan Could consider and incorporate the findings of the upcoming/recent Get Girls Active Hackathon event www.sportireland.ie/ga/node/9305 And in view of this January 2021 research report on getting girls active www.sportireland.ie/sites/default/files/media/document/2021-01/girls-get-active-research-report.pdf Incorporate the actions of National Sports Policy 2018 – 2027 and in Sport Ireland's Strategy Statement

Monaghan

Food Growers Network & Strategy in Monaghan

Connecting consumers with the county's growers, and connecting growers with one another. Expand on the existing (?) Monaghan Food Network between restaurants and food producers in the North Monaghan area https://localprevention.ie/monaghan-county-council-supports-monaghan-food-network/ and make it a county wide effort. Create a new strategy? - the last one was 2017-2020. A community supported approach to agriculture is required as many farmers do not have the time for the admin side of things. Food poverty needs to be addressed too. Could we introduce food subsidies similar to medical subsidies for those on social welfare? Offer social food credit, can only be spent on locally grown or produced food? Ensure balanced focus on veg growing alongside meat production; there's a lot of emphasis on meat and dairy. Promote seasonal consumption.

Monaghan

Implementation of Migrants Integration Strategy

Each county has developed Migrant Integration Strategy following the publication of the National Migrant Integration Strategy. Implementation of any strategy is always the hardest bit, it is even more challenging when different languages, cultures come into play. Integration is a 2-way process that involves action by migrants as well as by Irish society, and for a successful strategy implementation, migrants themselves should take an active part in the strategy implementation. It will create a real sense of belonging, it will empower and create a lot of opportunities.

Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Cavan, Monaghan, Louth

Better community integration

Moving to a different country is not an easy task. Once you arrive to your new country you can be faced with different barriers. One of the most common problem faced by families arriving to Ireland presently is that of language barrier and Culture shock. Culture shock can be experienced from difficulties of making new friends, worries of fitting in and finding job. You suddenly feels like the outsider. Your life has changed and your previous life seems so distant away. You become uncomfortable as you grow in different direction than what you have been used to. Life becomes stressful and tense. And you begin to look for clusters that reminds you of home in silo groups. Integrating becomes difficult. But remember you will not always feel this way. Our challenge is to use our unique skill set to bring together women from all the different nationalities living in Co Louth to work together with people they would normally not work with for better integration in our communities.

Louth