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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Cycle and Pedestrian lanes for Ballybofey-Stranorlar

Cycle and Pedestrian lanes for Ballybofey-Stran...

Ballybofey-Stranorlar has a population of approx 2000 children in schools and creches. We also have many people involved outdoor activities including walking, running and cycling in the community. The towns need to be developed to make it easier for school children and our community to move around safety without cars. Our town centres are walkable and easily accessible, but the pre-dominance of cars in the main streets, inadequate pavement width and lack of cycle lanes make it unsafe for non-car road users in most areas. Establishing proper cycle and pedestrian lanes would - link the heart of the towns with areas of recreation on the town boundaries - support the development of wellbeing activities for people of all ages and abilities - reduce the number of cars on the road, and congestion, especially at the start and end of the school day.

Donegal

Keeping towns and villages viable

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

Cavan

Rural decline

Rural isolation and decline in areas of disadvantage due to lack of jobs and poor infrastructure.

Leitrim

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

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

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

McGahern Trail - South Leitrim

Interpretative trail for John McGahern fans with a number of interpretative centres along the way. Between Mohill Fenagh Ballinamore and Aughawillan, the area where he grew up and lived for many years, that inspired a lot of his writing. It could be in conjunction with the development of a greenway based along the old Cavan Leitrim railway which stretches along this route.

Leitrim

Local Museums

Every village in Ireland has a rich history. A history that American tourists, among many others come to find. Why don't we give them somewhere to experience this history. I wanted to open a museum in Drumkeeran, but..... With co-operation from other areas, and with the whole community pulling together, every village could have a little museum. Filled with pictures from the past. Stories from some of the families that have lived here forever. Something in every town or village for the tourists and new residents to learn about the locality, and of Ireland in general and it's place in the world. Most villages have an empty building that could be utilised. Every village have people who could man it. Volunteers to begin with, but in time, they could be paid from the income from the museum entrance fee. Local children could help build the exhibits, and then future generations could visit as part of history lessons. Depending on the ambition of the local community it could go prehistoric

Leitrim

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

Retail

"That's lovely! Will I click 'buy'? Don't [think] it's available in town." It's a crucial moment. 'Convenience now vs searching town' Bigtech's unfair advantage is scale and 'frictionless' user experience (UXUI) Indigenous retailers by nature will always struggle, is there alternatives to connect that user, that item, with our bricks & mortar reseller? Local gov, if you're listening, help me, help town. We at Glofend Technologies are working on a possible solution to connect offline retailers with online buyers.

Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Cavan, Monaghan, Louth

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

Clinics/hubs for Volunteer led groups to navigate a range of strategic issues to help them thrive

Clinics/hubs for Volunteer led groups to naviga...

There are a lot of governance issues for groups to contend with, and it can be challenging to find appropriate support when it is needed. While people can access training – often at the point in time when they have a challenge or question it can be hard to know where to go. Would there be a benefit in a clinic type arrangement or physical hub or ongoing mentoring panel. There are lots of accessible supports for SME’s or start ups. Is there a similar model for Not for Profits, or is there some other solution that could be available on an ongoing basis?

Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Cavan, Monaghan, Louth

Lack of support for individuals in Community Groups

Lack of support for individuals in Community Gr...

The biggest challenge that facing a Community Group is the complete lack of financial support for the individuals. The programs that currently exist are simply not fit for purpose. The Pobal Scheme just does not work as the bar is way too high. There is an overemphasis on generating incomes and does not take any heed of the actions being delivered. There simply has to be another scheme involved because there was so many good ideas in the community and voluntary sector but they are being stifled by bureaucracy/

Donegal

Service exchanges between small businesses

Create a " bank" of professionals willing to exchange services in the form of lending skills and expertise to each other ie. a digital marketing professional could work on website optimisation for an electrician in exchange for equivalent hours of work ) . This could help create synergies and lead to more creative solutions and allow for growth through innovation in a " cash-poor" environment .

N/A

Clear & prevent litter on our roadsides, parks and waterways.

Clear & prevent litter on our roadsides, parks ...

There is a big problem in Monaghan with litter along the roadsides in both the town and the more rural areas. The canals and along the greenways have become stagnant and filled with rubbish too and these are great features of our town that have been developed in recent years but have since declined a bit. We really need to work on maintaining the work that has already gone into the area! The greenway being extended will be wonderful too but I believe this is already in the plans.

Monaghan

Insurance Costs for community groups and social enterprises

Insurance Costs for community groups and social...

There is a lack of competitive insurance provision for community groups and social enterprises. Small Community groups and charities could be forced to cease operations as a result. There may be an opportunity for a social enterprise to meet this need.

Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Cavan, Monaghan, Louth

Help Sustain Social Enterprises using alternative local energy like hydro or wind alternative

Help Sustain Social Enterprises using alternati...

Investigate Natural Resources available locally

Donegal