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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A Recreation Corridor from Donegal's heartland to the Coast

A Recreation Corridor from Donegal's heartland ...

Establish a networked recreation corridor through the area of scenic beauty from Ballybofey-Stranorlar to Donegal Town, in Co. Donegal. Creating a visitor friendly route between these two key towns in Donegal would - provide a resource for tourists and residents, encouraging year round wellbeing and outdoor activities - stimulate small communities and craft businesses along the route - create a pathway for visitors along the wild atlantic way into the heart of Donegal drawing them further north on their journeys The Wild Atlantic Way has been brilliant for bringing visitors to the West Coast of Ireland, but areas without the attractions of beaches are losing out as visitors congregate along signature points. Failte Ireland also recognise that the WAW north of Galway is underperforming and attracting fewer visitors than the southern route. this project would increase economic and tourism sustainability for the North West of Ireland.

Donegal

Keeping towns and villages viable

Finding new uses for closed up buildings attracting more people to live work and spend time locally

Cavan

Diversification opportunities for farmers

What non-agricultural or novel enterprise opportunities available to farmers

Cavan

To set up an Independent Artists Studio Space in Drogheda

To set up an Independent Artists Studio Space i...

The Borrowed Ground Arts Collective was formed over three years ago with the support of and in association with the Droichead Arts Centre, with the mission to establish Artist Studio Spaces in Drogheda. The Collective consists of ten professional artists based in Drogheda. The collective has been searching for a suitable and secure building that could be used as artist studios. There is a vital need for designated studio spaces for artists in Drogheda. We intend to set up an independent artist’s space, which will allow us to work, and develop our professional practice, and ultimately this space will contribute to the vibrant Art scene in Drogheda. This will be the first independent artist studios in Drogheda and Droichead Arts Centre will continue to provide support in kind and in funding on the establishment of the studio space.

Louth

Be a Welcoming Community

Moving house is considered one of the most stressful life events. Imagine trying to settle into your new neighbourhood during a global pandemic and national lockdown. I know all about this challenge as I faced it when I moved into a new estate in August 2020. I also know community services are striving to develop new ways to reach marginalised individuals and communities safely, as we emerge out of a lockdown as restrictions are being lifted. COVID has highlighted many of the inequalities that existed pre-COVID 19, for example, the digital divide is acutely felt by those who experience social isolation. Aim: The aim of this project is to reduce the digital divide, combat loneliness and social isolation for marginalised communities as we move towards recovery from the impact of COVID on our economic and social life. The benefits will enhance education, health and wellbeing and other opportunities for marginalised individuals / communities.

Louth

Creating infrastructure to develop sustainable craft enterprises in rural communities

Creating infrastructure to develop sustainable...

The last factory within the village was a guinness bottling facility that closed in the 1990s. We identified a pressing need for collective workspaces for the many creatives that live in the village. Creatives include; ceramic artists woodworkers, bakers, designers, furniture makers, antique restorers, textile workers, web designers. Despite living in a small village covid-19 lockdown has highlighted the massive potential of online sales and the support that is shown to Irish businesses by buying local. Creating a craft quarter in kiltyclogher could not only drive light manufacturing but also supply back to the local tourism industry. With higher footfall, ancillary services would be needed, including a cafe and craft shop that would also greatly benefit the community in its social aspects.

Leitrim

Services Outreach Centre for communities of Ray, Rathmullan and surrounding areas

Services Outreach Centre for communities of Ray...

Services for young people such as CAMHS, JIGSAW, RAINBOW, Donegal Youth Services are available in Letterkenny only. For older people services such as renewal of driving licenses, eye/ear appointments, chiropody, insurance could be made easier by bringing these services to Ray by way of pop-up clinics or consultations.

Donegal

EV Electric Vehicle Interpretive Centres joint funded by vehicle manufactures'/government

EV Electric Vehicle Interpretive Centres joint...

Ireland is banning the sale of new diesel and petrol vehicles by 2030.In less than nine years from now motorists will be asked to embrace new technologies in a new form of transport most have never used before. To help this transition E.V. centres are needed to assist the motoring public in becoming familiar with the use of such vehicles. Here they can test drive different models by hiring and taking them on a circuit provided by the centre. In doing so such fears as range anxiety can be addressed and the advantages of owning such vehicles can be shown in a hands on experience. I feel this could speed up the interest in such vehicles by familiarising the public on a need to know basis. These centres could also help in making the transition to E.V.s less challenging as we approach the 2030 deadline. These centres would arguably be the first of their kind in Ireland and bring other benefits such as tourism. Here visiting families can experience the future of travel.

N/A, Sligo

Art & information hiking Trail over the peaks of the iron Mts. Co. Leitrim

Art & information hiking Trail over the peaks o...

Development of a hiking trail from- either 1; the Cuilcagh ’stairway to Heaven’ to Drumshanbo. Or 2; Blacklion to Drumshanbo via the Cavan Burren, the Shannon Pot, up to Glangevlin, over Sliabh na Cille, then join the Leitrim way/Beara-Breifne way to Drumshanbo. Along the route there could be sculptures, murals , and various other art installations that make the journey more memorable, inspiring, and educational as to the area's local history, wildlife, and the Tuatha de Danann. I have mapped out possible routes but would like a team to help develop the initiative. Another asset that can be developed along this route is the dis-used old cottages along the way. These cottages are often in excess of 300years and are a monument to Irish history. Forgotten and left to crumble these cottages can be restored as 'museum' type locations/destination that can be preserved, used as resting/ information points, café, and even accommodation to generate income to the landowners.

Leitrim, Cavan

Keeping the West open

Find a way to keep more of Irelands tourist things open longer. The local hotel closes for six months and with it one of our swimming pools. More people moved West during the pandemic, so these people and those already living here need to be recognised. When the tourists go, there is still a population who want to live, to experience things, to enjoy their weekends. It is more important now with the people from the East moving here. If there is nothing for them to do here, what stops them moving back East. It may mean opening shorter hours, or operating differently, but there us still money among the populace, we have to travel to Dublin for music events, don't make u have to travel for everything we want to do.

Leitrim, Sligo, Cavan

Fundraising

Currently fundraising via a Go Fund Me page, difficult in a small rural area as so many other local groups are doing something similar. Can different groups/committees join together to run one overall fundraiser rather then working individually and split the proceeds evenly

Leitrim

Tackling Plastic Waste Locally Via a "Precious Plastic" Project

Tackling Plastic Waste Locally Via a "Precious ...

The Precious Plastic project (https://preciousplastic.com/universe/how-does-it-work.html) is a global programme to tackle plastic waste on a local level by setting up local volunteer led workshops and social enterprises to turn plastic waste back into usable products. The programme has developed in the last few years to focus on creating an ecosystem of training and supports that can give people a wide range of new skills and bring economic and environmental advantages to local communities.

Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo

Communities Working Together for Everyone's Benefit

Communities Working Together for Everyone's Ben...

To gather community groups together to garner support for each other community's project in a positive and procative way

Leitrim

Building or arranging free community centers for the activities of Non-profit community organization

Building or arranging free community centers fo...

Non-profit organizations are thriving to stabilize to withstand downturn of the economy especially during this pandemic period. To help the Non -profit community ,arranging free community centers for them to use for their activities/events will help them financially. For example consider a Non-profit organization who are paying hall rent for a group rehearsal/Dance classes …..providing them free hall for specific days in a week will help them financially in better shape.

Cavan

Services for Young People in Rural Areas

Young people in rural areas don't get the same level of support as most services are in urban areas. If young people want to access services they need to travel to urban areas. We need to engage with young people in their areas on their behalf. Working with them in their own communities so that they engage with their own communities.

Louth

Town Vitality, How to increase population & visitors

Town Vitality, How to increase population & vis...

Increase town residents = more evening-trade, activity, life, vibrancy, save retail! Your ideas..? Imagine walking through the Savoy Cinema doors (shut 30+ years) into a #CultureQuarter, a hidden village of ...? Craft making, Arts, Studios, 3Dprinting resident’s waste plastic. Affordable indigenous commercial units like 'Donegal Village'. Older generations; could we see a return of reLearning-old-trades before they're lost forever? Mixed-income, multi-generational community-led housing is a norm in many countries. Until more learn Cohousing is not CoLiving, we'll never catch up with other UK/EU towns/cities. or does Sligo continue w 'flats' where nobody needs know their neighbour, or community. Sligo's Courthouse Block ..still ignored, Dereliction has compounded vacancy. #NormalPeople want to live in warmer communities. Down-sizers deserve better options than retirement or nursing village. We can build better stuff in better places!

Sligo

Harmful Chemical Free Communities

I propose the phasing out of harmful toxic chemicals used by County Councils in grounds keeping (parks, flowers, green areas etc). Harmful chemicals include pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and artifical fertilisers etc. Now is the time to take action. We are in an unprecedented time of environmental and human degradation. The health of both systems is intrinsically linked and if we act now we can change our current path.

Cavan

Bicycle Lanes

St. Mary’s Road, Dundalk is one of the most elegant wide streets in town with old red brick houses along one side and a heritage stone wall on the opposite. Most of the houses have a Conservation Order on them. 4 years ago the Marist College built a brand new school, as part of the remit bicycle lanes were added to the street, even though the footpath was wide enough to encompass them. As a resident of St. Mary's Road we had to put up with the new lanes because the school could not be completed. We were reassured that they could be reviewed in the future. To date none of the students or others use this bicycle lane. Our problem is that the whole other side of the street has been taken over by a bicycle lane with bollards that’s rarely or ever used and we have no parking on this side. Many residents have complained about this problem. We’re not against cycle lanes but object to the design of the existing ones, which could be accommodated on the extremely wide footpath.

Louth