Council giving away ‘civic dollars’ to encourage you to get outdoors
Meath County Council has launched its 'Civic Dollars' initiative, an innovative new app that rewards residents for spending time outdoors in the county's community spaces.
The scheme aims to encourage healthier lifestyles, community connection, and offers people the opportunity to support local organisations simply by enjoying their parks, beaches and other local amenities.
The Civic Dollars app allows users to earn virtual “Civic Dollars” by checking in at designated outdoor locations throughout the county.
Activities such as being outdoors, walking, running, cycling, and participating in community events all help residents build credit that can be redeemed for rewards or donated to local groups.
The rewards are virtual tokens called civic dollars (individuals earn a civic dollar for every hour they spend in an outdoor location in Meath listed on the app). When individuals or community groups earn these dollars they can build them up and use them to access rewards redeemable via the app.
Examples of rewards are: Enter draws for €50 Mi Meath Vouchers, Meath GAA Jersey, Fitbit Charge 6 or get Civic Dollars beanie hats and/or JM Foods Vouchers. Examples of rewards which are practical supports include: Community Wellbeing Workshops, HR Recruitment Advice, Legal Support Workshops.
Community and voluntary organisations in Meath can directly benefit from the app: residents can donate their Civic Dollars to local groups, which can then exchange them for practical supports.
This initiative aligns with Meath County Council’s commitment to strengthening community engagement and supporting healthy living across the county, echoing the goals of Healthy Meath, Meath LCDC and Meath PPN and other wellbeing programmes.
The initiative is supported through the Healthy Ireland Fund Round 4, funded by the Department of Health, with further funding through Meath PPN, and is overseen by the Meath Local Community and Development Committee (LCDC).
Marking the launch of the Civic Dollars app, Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council Cllr Wayne Harding said: “Civic Dollars is about strengthening community life in Meath. It rewards people for getting involved locally, supporting one another, and taking positive steps for their own health and wellbeing while building stronger, more connected communities.”
“Civic Dollars represents a fresh and exciting way to encourage people to spend time outdoors and explore Meath’s public spaces, while supporting the voluntary groups that are the backbone of our communities,” said Seamus McGee, Chair of the Meath Local Community and Development Committee.
Civic Dollars is free to use and accessible to all. For more information and to get started, visit meath.ie or download the Civic Dollars app from your app store.