Avondhu/Blackwater Partnership CLG

Avondhu Blackwater Partnership CLG is a community-development organisation dedicated to animating, supporting and sustaining life in the Avondhu Blackwater area of north, south and west Cork. By managing and administering a range of funding programmes, the partnership has attracted more than €45 million of aid for local projects, helping voluntary groups, businesses and individuals turn ideas into lasting impact.

The partnership's core services include the LEADER Rural Development Programme, the Social Inclusion Activation Programme, TÚS, the Rural Social Scheme and the Community Services Programme. Community and voluntary groups can access LEADER funding, labour resources and training; enterprises receive confidential one-to-one advice through SICAP and can also tap LEADER finance; and job-seekers benefit from career coaching, CV workshops and interview preparation. In addition, the Hub at the Old Mill provides eight hot-desk spaces, a training facility and a community venue, creating a flexible base for local entrepreneurs and organisations.

Beyond funding and advice, Avondhu Blackwater Partnership looks after the region's natural heritage, managing the Blackwater Way, Ballard Loop and Killavullen Loop walking trails, and promoting heritage projects such as the Community Monuments Fund. Through these varied initiatives, the partnership acts as a catalyst for inclusive, sustainable growth across the Cork countryside.