The Lantern Community Project

Who are we?

The Lantern Project is a place of welcome, learning and inclusion providing a safe place for people to learn and grow, develop new skills, meet others and make new friends. Community education and creativity are the cornerstones of the centre focussing particularly on self-development, well-being and improving self-awareness. Lantern courses use a range of holistic approaches that aim to promote and enhance self-esteem and personal development.

What do we do?

The Lantern has two main strands of work – community development and community education. All programmes are designed to be inclusive, accessible, relevant and most importantly – participant led. Time spent attending Lantern activities allows people to take small steps, make new connections whilst reflecting on what supports their well-being.

The Lantern Project offers a signposting service that allows each participant an opportunity to explore & enhance their own wellbeing journey. The aim is to allow people the freedom to engage with others in the Lantern community in a non-judgemental, relaxed and friendly and social environment.

Since the transition of the Lantern and Cork Migrant Projects to the refurbished Ministry Building in Nano Nagle Place in 2018 there has also been a focus on exploring the synergies between these projects strengthening this partnership whilst further fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion.

To find out what we are doing now visit our FACEBOOK PAGE

or see our YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Who are the people we can support?

People on a journey of personal development who may be experiencing a period of fragility or vulnerability in their lives and for whom the support of a group would be beneficial.
Residents of the local area.

Our aims

Be a hub of welcome, learning and inclusion providing a safe place for people experiencing fragility or vulnerability in their lives particularly for those who may be underserved by current social and health services, people who are struggling from marginalisation and isolation and those who struggle to connect with local community and services.
Be a centre of excellence – promoting community education and creativity in Cork City by offering a broad range of community education and development opportunities.
Foster links and collaboration with other service providers to foster multi-agency collaboration and partnerships.
Be the living embodiment of the ministry of Nano Nagle’s work in today’s world in the spirit of her underlying theme of acceptance and empowerment.

News

This is My Story

This is My Story is an Art Installation created by participants of the Lantern Community Project. It consists of a a beautiful handmade book which contains the stories and illustrations of 12 participants from diverse backgrounds.

The style and presentation of this art piece is inspired by the illuminated manuscripts created by medieval monks in the Book of Kells.

Each participant contributed both creative writing & decorative borders, these are bound together to create a unique collection of personal story telling.

The exhibition was on display in the Glucksman Art Gallery, UCC in September 2022, before moving to the Print Gallery in Nano Nagle Place, where it will remain on display until the end of Jan 2023.

We invite you to turn the pages and enjoy the experience.

Well done to participants:

David, Trish, Teresa, Noreen, Norma, Kate, Prema, James, Regina, Pam, Ber and Helen.

Special thanks to Community Artist Spark Deeley who facilitated this project.

Project support Olwyn Grant and artist Dominic Fee.

The funding & support received through the HSE Arts & Health Grant has made this project possible.

The Lantern Project scoops award for commitment to community development.

The Lord Mayor’s Community and Voluntary Awards 2021 have recognised the work of the city’s Covid Heroes who stepped up to help those most in need during what has been a difficult year for all.

The awards recognise the work of the voluntary organisations that continued to provide services throughout the city during the pandemic under the umbrella of the Cork City Community Response Forum.

This year’s Community Development category winners The Lantern Project at Nano Nagle Place use learning, creativity and music to allow our participants to fully engage with the process of community development.

Coordinator Karina Healy said: “We love our work and are privileged and honoured to hold space for people who have experienced vulnerability in their lives and we are so looking forward to strengthening the relationships within our community and extending a welcoming hand to those who will engage with us in the future.

None of this could happen without the incredible support from the Nano Nagle Place team, board of management, the Presentation Sisters & our funders HSE, Cork Educational Training Board, National Lottery and others.”

“We are not forgetting all the wonderful community organisations that we take example from and work side by side with.” Project Worker Ger O’Sullivan said that prior to Covid physical classes in wellbeing, music, gardening, and communications would have been held and when Covid-19 hit they moved everything online.

He said that social media was a great tool to connect with people and they organised Facebook live music events and wellbeing sessions, as well as YouTube tutorials for art and crochet.

He said those activities took them up to June and then Ms Healy came up with the idea of using Zoom, introducing those who weren’t tech-savvy to Zoom and getting people online so everyone could take part in online Zoom classes and sessions.