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.

add new challenge

Promote the benefits of Diversity and combat Racism.

Promote the benefits of Diversity and combat Ra...

Recognise the benefits of different cultures of migrants now living in our communities and help integrate new migrants into our local communities. In addition to promote a zero tolerance to Racism.

Louth

Creation of pocket forests in the border areas area

Creation of pocket forests in the border areas ...

Work with https://www.pocketforests.ie/ to RECONNECT PEOPLE WITH NATURE in border communities. They reconnect people with nature through education workshops to rejuvenate soil and grow native trees, shrubs and woodland flowers to bring a forest ecosystem to your community. WHAT IS A POCKET FORESTS. forests in small spaces. special method of growing small biodiverse forests.

Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Cavan, Monaghan, Louth

Health Care Forests

Inspire and support healthcare sites in transforming their green space for health, wellbeing and biodiversity. Ideas include beautiful gardens for rest and recovery; woodland, orchards and meadows that lock up carbon and create habitats for wildlife; and growing space for fruit and veg. https://nhsforest.org/ lots of evidence about the benefits linking nature and well being. Also lots of examples of projects in action to learn from. Can link into social prescription projects.

Monaghan, Louth

Bowls in the Community

Lawn Bowls is a sport ‘EVERYONE’ can play no matter age, colour, fitness level, disability, it’s a sport that can be adapted to suit everyone. We currently run an Inclusive bowl’s session every Monday morning from 11am - 1pm but I’m sure there is loads of people in care homes, retirement homes, schools and colleges around the county of Sligo that we could travel to and put on a session for them making them feel involved and giving them a new challenge. All our coaches are Garda vetted and have their safeguarding courses done so it wouldn’t take a lot for this idea to take off.

Leitrim, Sligo

Ensuring sewage treatment for Dunfanaghy appropriate to present and to future needs.

Ensuring sewage treatment for Dunfanaghy approp...

As above.

Donegal

Securing a safe Footpath/cycle track between Dunfanaghy and Portnablagh - or better still - to Ards

Securing a safe Footpath/cycle track between Du...

As above - plans exist

Donegal

Simple Bi-lingualism symbolism (Irish language/heritage,) as core rural/economy/tourism accelerator

Simple Bi-lingualism symbolism (Irish language/...

The history, heritage, culture of Irish family and place names could be leveraged by many Innovating Community project challenges. Symbolism is powerful, transforming ordinary story lines into remarkable narratives. Border counties have both Anglo and Gaelic stories to tell, two facets. Innovation is the goal. The cultural popularity of Breaking Bad (two personas in one) and Game of Thrones (borrows heavily from the Irish "Book of Invasions") is proof re-visualizing our landscape/projects with bi-lingual/cultural bias has merit. Bi-bilingualism as symbolic principle in signage is a start. Over time we can develop great products and enhanced story lines by tapping our rich Anglo and Gaelic Irish heritage. Innovation happens everywhere, from simple ideas. Note: I am working alone on some Digital Heritage Development ideas, so would love to work with others to explore ideas to embrace Gaelic Irish heritage, not ignore it.

Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Cavan, Monaghan, Louth

Lack of Access to Water Sports

Living in Cooley area, Co. Louth, I have noticed that even though we are living very close to the sea there is a lack of access to affordable/free water sport equipment. As a result most local families don't engage with water sports as it is very expensive. The idea would be to set up community group and apply for funding for container and water sports equipment that could be used by local community.

Louth

A Community Based Landscape Vision for the Protection and Renewal of the Pettigoe Plateau.

A Community Based Landscape Vision for the Prot...

This large upland area in south Donegal contains some of the best natural, cultural and heritage landscapes in the country. The course would aim to bring people together to learn about this unique landscape, what the threats and opportunities are, and to then establish a vision for this unique area, much of it still in a semi-wilderness state in the year 2021. The challenge would be to involve local landowners including farmers and forestry companies; local comunities and people living on or bordering the plateau such as the villages of Pettigo, Laghey and Ballintra, and all local groups/national agencies who collectively have an interest in taking environmental/economic issues effecting the area seriously - while exploring the opportunities such a plan could create in enhancing and restoring these uplands over the coming decades.

Donegal

A community space for activities

Challenge raised at the Idea Generation Workshop for Ballybay- A community space for activities

Monaghan

Greenway from Ballybay to Castleblayney

Challenge raised at Idea Generation Workshop for Ballybay - Greenway from Ballybay to Castleblayney - perhaps a Recreational Corridor?

Monaghan

Lack of youth activities in Ballybay

Challenge raised at the Idea Generation Workshop for Ballybay- Lack of youth activities in Ballybay

Monaghan

Communication and Marketing of Ballybay, or lack of it, for residents / potential residents / visito

Communication and Marketing of Ballybay, or lac...

Challenge raised at the Idea Generation Workshop for Ballybay- Communication and Marketing of Ballybay, or lack of it, for residents / potential residents / visitors and more How can we tackle this?

Monaghan

Tropical mini zoo – butterflies, reptile, snakes, spiders, meercats

Tropical mini zoo – butterflies, reptile, snake...

Idea from Monaghan Farmer's Market - Tropical mini zoo – butterflies, reptile, snakes, spiders, meercats

Monaghan

Public Water play Area using recycled rainwater

Idea from Monaghan Farmer's Market - Public Water play Area using recycled rainwater

Monaghan

Outdoor sports club like badminton, basketball, cricket, etc. in Monaghan

Outdoor sports club like badminton, basketball,...

Idea from Monaghan Farmer's Market - Outdoor sports club like badminton, basketball, cricket, etc.

Monaghan

Music in Monaghan

Ideas from Monaghan Farmer's Market - Designated busking area to showcase local talent and create a buzz in the town - Outdoor piano – to encourage creativity!

Monaghan

Designated disability changing toilets to suits kids and adults

Designated disability changing toilets to suits...

Idea from Monaghan Farmer's Market - Designated disability changing toilets to suit kids and adults

Monaghan