Donegal County Council through Healthy Donegal brings together individuals, community and voluntary groups and local stakeholders to help collectively address the health and wellbeing challenges and priorities facing individuals and communities across Donegal.

The Civic Dollars project emerged in response to identified key needs and existing health inequalities based on:

• Feedback received from the Healthy Donegal Public Consultation Survey
• Health Population Dataset by Local Authority in Ireland using the Healthy Ireland Framework
• Healthy Ireland Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013 – 2025
• CHO Area 1 Healthy Ireland Implementation Plan 2018-2023
• Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan 2021–2025
• Eurostat Database

The Civic Dollars Project comprises of a community reward platform designed to encourage increased time spent in local outdoor resources; give people an incentive and support to create behavioural change; improve health, encourage increased physical activity, and help users to engage with their communities. All of which helps address negative impacts on health and wellbeing and lifestyle and behaviour of participants.

During November and December 2022 over 800 community groups, community & voluntary organisations, Local Authority partner organisations, other relevant sector stakeholders and members of the public were invited to have their say in identifying the health and wellbeing priorities, risks and associated target groups across County Donegal through the Healthy Donegal Public Consultation Survey.

The results of the Survey identified the most negative impacts on the health and wellbeing of people in Donegal in terms of Lifestyle & Behaviour Risk Outcome Area as

• high levels of chronic diseases e.g. cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory diseases and cancer
• high levels of sedentary behaviour, internet use and screen time
• high levels of obesity

and in terms of Wellbeing Factors Outcome Area as

• mental health
• lack of opportunity to engage in social leisure activities

The Civic Dollars project is a unique opportunity to demonstrate that improving our mental and physical health; engaging with our local community and supporting our local business community really can be as simple as a walk or time spent in the park.

Participants download the Civic Dollars mobile phone app (on Google Play or the App Store) and earn online credits by spending time in local outdoor resources that have been identified countywide. Credits can then be redeemed in exchange for local and countywide rewards provided by the local business community e.g., a discounted coffee or discounted entry into a local attraction or donate them to a locally identified community group who can exchange them for rewards.

The app measures time spent in a designated ‘Earn Zone’ and does not record steps or distance to ensure the project is inclusive of participants with mobility or health issues. The technology used is non-invasive and privacy-friendly, by only using GPS data and allowing users to opt in once they enter an ‘earn zone’. Data is anonymised, and a user’s session will end automatically once they walk out of the ‘earn zone’ geo-fence.

Healthy Donegal in partnership with Slaintecare Healthy Communities launched the Civic Dollars project as a pilot initiative in May 2023 with five outdoor, local recreational spaces identified as ‘Earn Zones’ throughout the County –

• Bundoran Promenade and Cliff Walk
• Dungloe River Walk
• Swan Park, Buncrana
• Bernard McGlinchey Town Park, Letterkenny
• Drumboe Woods, Stranorlar

Requests for additional ‘Earn Zones’ resulted in a further 80 suitable sites being identified and added across Donegal, including the playgrounds listed in our Playground Passport Initiative, along with beaches, parks, trails, and forest walks throughout the County.

The Civic Dollars project has over 1000 registered users. Research shows that exposure to outdoor spaces can encourage exercise and social interaction, improve mindfulness, and decrease stress and anxiety. The Civic Dollars project, through time spent outdoors, offers those and new participants a chance to not only create behavioural change and improve their mental and/or physical health but also engage with their local community groups and support their local businesses. Over 40% of the ‘Civic Dollars earned have been donated to local community groups which enhances our sense of belonging, of spirit and of pride – all of which are vital elements of a healthy community.

In April 2024, following on from the resounding success of the Civic Dollars Pilot Project, Donegal County Council was delighted to announce the extension of this innovative initiative over the next two years through the Healthy Ireland/Donegal Programme.

For more information contact Ms. Margaret Fitzgerald, Healthy Donegal Coordinator on [email protected]

Click here to download the app or use QR code below: