Request for Tenders

SECAD Climate Conversations

SECAD wishes to engage a contractor to develop and deliver a SECAD Climate Conservations community education programme for educationally disadvantaged learners between September and November 2025. The programme will build on the Just Transition Learning project undertaken with communities in specified towns across South Cork, collaborating with key social inclusion bodies in each area with whom SECAD has strong pre-existing links.

Context for this Project

This Reach funded project aligns with the aims of the fund to support educationally disadvantaged learners in accessing and participating in community education and tackling inequalities. Community education is an effective mechanism for fostering trust and adopting a problem-solving approach to transition to an equitable and sustainable future at the local level.

Climate change related spikes in inflation and the ‘cost of living’ increases are having the greatest impact on the most disadvantaged low-income individuals and communities. These communities require support to deal with climate related challenges to introduce mitigation and adaptation measures at community, household, and individual level.

While Ireland has high public awareness of climate change and ongoing government-led initiatives like the National Dialogue on Climate Action to support community action, a significant gap exists between the desire to take action and the information, knowledge, resources, or capacity needed to do so, particularly for adults. In addition, teaching and learning resources aimed at adults often assume high literacy levels and are not suitable for those with literacy difficulties or those learning English as a second or other language. It is crucial that adults experiencing social and/or educational disadvantage can engage in educational opportunities to engage with climate issues. With these opportunities, adult learners and their communities will be equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to take informed, empowered actions. Additionally, rural areas are among those that will be most impacted by the transition to a carbon neutral society, and a place-based approach is essential to ensure that vulnerable rural communities are protected, supported to meet future challenges, and not disproportionately impacted.

This project is built on the learnings of the SECAD Just Transition Learning Clubs (2024) which supported marginalised communities in the SECAD area of South Cork by raising awareness of climate change and its impacts on the most vulnerable in society. Feedback from the project highlighted that more interactive learning would be a constructive and inclusive way to engage people on the topics of Climate Action. During REACH 2025, we aim to run workshops focused on Climate Literacy (understanding of the climate emergency) and developing a range of practical skills around energy literacy, biodiversity and citizen science, reducing food waste, responsible consumerism, active travel and transport and participation in the circular economy.

The Climate Conversations project will address an identified need for adult education programmes that are responsive to the needs of adults, building their confidence, linking them to social resources, and providing tangible skills in tackling the climate crisis and encouraging participation in the transition to a sustainable economy. This brings a sense of empowerment into a topic which often has a perception of 'powerlessness' and 'too little too late'.

The target areas in South Cork all experience acute levels of educational disadvantage, as such underpinned by the South Cork LCDC when named as Local Priority Target Groups (LPTGs) in the SICAP 2024-28 plan, defined under the CSO Small Area Population Statistics (SAPS) 2022 and Pobal HP Deprivation Index.

The SECAD Climate Conversations project will support these marginalised communities in South Cork by raising awareness about climate change, the implications for the communities, and also identifying local solutions and opportunities from a low carbon society.

Training Programme Approach

We are inviting tenders for an education programme which fosters individual and collective local responses to climate change within communities by creating awareness and supporting engagement around climate change, through respectful and inclusive dialogue.

This programme will support members of the community to take part in effective and integrated participation, education, training and lifelong learning, and will involve specialised training and capacity building to equip communities across the target groups with the knowledge and skills needed to support climate resilience and local wellbeing.

The Climate Conversations project seeks to centre the interest of those who are most affected by the low carbon transition including vulnerable and socially excluded communities. In the target areas for this project, we have identified these groups to include:

• Long term unemployed
• Young people
• People with disabilities
• Migrants & refugees
• Older people
• Travellers & Roma

The education programme should:

• Provide an understanding of the challenges and opportunities of transitioning to a low carbon society.
• Set out actions and measures to implement sustainable actions for positive social change and tackle existing inequalities.
• Equip participants representing marginalised or vulnerable grouping with knowledge and skills to move towards a more resilient way of life in their households, communities and wider society.
• Lay groundwork for more sustainable ‘Climate Cafés’ through engagement with social inclusion support bodies and community facilities.
• Be forward looking, action oriented, and based on evidence and best practice.
• Participants of the training programme will gain:
• an understanding of the current environmental and societal challenges
• gain practical skills in climate action and community development
• identify opportunities for local wellbeing and resilience in terms of economic activities, social capital, and ecological protection and enhancement.

The successful contractor will be required to deliver the following:

• Build the platform for area-based ‘Climate Cafes’ (e.g. Youghal, Midleton, Carrigaline, Macroom, Millstreet), with up to 20 participants in each area, engaging with different communities of interest by area*.
• Deliver 4 interactive, bespoke training workshops per area with participants using creative learning methods to maximise engagement by the non-traditional learner (workshops may differ from town to town depending on the need / interest of the group).
• Interactive workshops covering topics of; Climate and Energy Literacy; Biodiversity and Citizen Science; Food Waste; Responsible Consumerism; Active Travel and Transport; Participation in the Circular Economy.

*Identification and recruitment of participants from specific communities will be undertaken with the guidance of SECAD community officers.

Expected Outputs

• Final report including record of participation across the 5 areas in the Climate Conversations project (leading to creation of Climate Cafes)
• Details of workshops successfully delivered, including resources, presentations, and attendance.
• Survey responses after each workshop series showing improved understanding of the issues related to climate change and an improved sense of empowerment to raise concerns to local / regional/ national decision makers
• Report of practical actions developed via the Climate Conversation project & emergent Climate Cafes
• Evidence of pathways created for some learners to further education/placement/community involvement, including Cork ETB Sustainability courses.

Tender Requirements

• Name & contact details of person submitting the proposal
• Proposed methodology to undertake this work
• Detailed cost breakdown – provide daily rate inclusive of all overheads and an outline of all other related costs
• Timeframe and availability (project should be complete end of November 2025)
• Be fully tax compliant as a self-employed specialist in this area
• Up-to-date Tax Clearance details
• Copy of Professional Indemnity Insurance

Contract Amount, Timescale and Payment Schedule

The maximum contract value for this work will be €13,500. This amount will be inclusive of all costs including preparation and delivery of programme, travel, administration, insurance, VAT etc. **

** Room rental for workshops will be covered directly by SECAD using community facilities where possible.

If selected, the Contractor(s) will commence work in September 2025 and conclude by 28 November 2025. The successful Contractor(s) will be required to furnish up-to-date tax clearance details in advance of signing a Contract and at each payment stage during the period of the Contract

Award Criteria

Contracts will be awarded to the highest scoring contractor(s). This will be on the basis of 100 marks:

• 40 marks for the methodology proposed
• 40 marks for experience and qualifications of the contractor
• 20 marks for cost

At the time of offering a contract, should the chosen contractor not be available then the next highest scoring and available contractor will be offered the contract(s) of work.

Please submit Proposals by 12pm on 15th September 2025 to Karen Loxton kloxton@secad.ie or contact via this email for any further information.

About SECAD Partnership

SECAD Partnership CLG (SECAD) is a Local Development Company established in 1995. Our main office is located in Midleton, Co. Cork. SECAD’s main development objective is to promote and enable sustainable development through our Rural Development and Social Inclusion programmes. SECAD has a voluntary Board of Directors and a staff team of c. 50 people.

SECAD works with individuals, community and voluntary groups, business, academia and other stakeholders to create a more vibrant, sustainable and inclusive society. SECAD manages a wide range of funds and services including social investment and employment support programmes, implemented on behalf of various Government Departments, State Bodies, the European Commission and the private sector. SECAD currently delivers a number of major programmes along with other smaller schemes and initiatives.

SECAD is delivering the Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (SICAP 2024-2028) throughout South Cork including the Muscrai Gaeltacht. SECAD is an implementing partner for LEADER 2023-2027 on behalf of the South Cork and West Cork LCDC's. SECAD has vast experience in administering Irish government and European funds, as well as transnational co-operation projects including LEADER / Rural Development Programmes, Social Inclusion Programmes, the Local Area Employment Service (LAES), Rural Social Scheme and Tús (Employment Schemes), INTERREG, Intelligent Energy Europe, Erasmus + and the Programme for Employability Inclusion and Learning (gender equality). SECAD was recently approved funding for WorkAbility (ESF+ 2021-2027) and the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund.

Wild Work is a SECAD initiative with a social ethos. Wild Work supports employment activation, educates and raises awareness of nature and biodiversity and benefits society as a whole. To read more about Wild Work see www.wildwork.ie 

As a Grant Making Organisation (GMO), SECAD manages community benefit funds throughout Ireland on behalf of various sustainable energy developers, infrastructure providers and others. A key area of expertise is community engagement - developing positive, effective links with communities, supporting them to access and maximise funding and services.

The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) is co-funded by the Government of Ireland, through the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, and the European Union.