Border Villages Social Integration Project Progress Report

Border Villages Social Integration Project

Progress report to Donegal CDB Peace & Reconciliation Partnership

Thursday 28th June 2012

This project is supported by the PEACE III Programme, managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by Donegal County Council.

Contents.

1. Introduction

2. Project Activity / Outputs

3. Impacts

4. Evaluation

Front cover picture of Newtowncunningham Local Orange Lodge 1063 Band playing for the first time ever at Newtowncunningham St. Patrick’s Day Social Integration Event at Columban Hall watched by over 300 people many of them new residents to the area. 17th March 2012

2 Border Villages Social Integration Project

The Border Villages Social Integration Project was funded by the Donegal CDB Peace & Reconciliation Partnership and aims to provide a

Programme of interventions to facilitate greater social integration in border towns & villages in Donegal so as to promote greater cohesion between the ‘new’ residents and the local communities.

A short analysis was carried out on each settlement along the border taking into account the latest statistics from census 2011 and the reports from the Town Plans adopted since 2004.

It is proposed to cover as many areas as possible supporting activities and projects that draw participation from new residents in a number of villages.

The project will concentrate on six cluster areas comprising of the border settlements including: • Muff • Bridgend & Burnfoot • Newtowncunningham & Manorcunningham • St. Johnston & Carrigans / Killea • Lifford / Ballindrait / Raphoe • Castlefin / Doneyloop / Liscooley & Killygordon

This is based on the rapid growth of these villages over the past decade. The 2011 census shows a 9.4% population increase in Donegal since 2006. Analysis of the District Electoral Divisions in the border area show double this at 18%. The Donegal CDB Peace & Reconciliation Partnership recognised this issue and as a follow on to the PEACE II - funded town plans they now wish to address the issue of integration in this area. As a result the Donegal PEACE III Action Plan 2011 – 2013 has included this action in the plan.

3 4.1.7 Migration from Northern Ireland to border towns in Donegal The housing boom over the last 10 to 15 years coupled with the strength of sterling particularly in the period 2000 to 2006 resulted in a substantial increase in the number of families who moved from Northern Ireland to the towns and villages along the border in Co. Donegal.

Whilst many of these families moved to houses in Co. Donegal they continued to live their lives primarily in Northern Ireland e.g. continued to work in NI, children continued to attend school in NI and most of their social and family activities continued to take place in NI. This has resulted in fragmented communities where there is a lack of cohesion and community contact between the ‘new’ residents and the ‘locals’ leading to increasing levels of suspicion, fear and mistrust. This is further exacerbated bearing in mind that many of these border communities have a substantial minority Protestant population and that many of the ‘new’ residents are from the Catholic nationalist community in Northern Ireland.

This issue came to the fore during the PEACE II Programme, and in this instance the Donegal PEACE II Taskforce recognising the pressures that this form of migration was likely to have in terms of both the physical and social infrastructure of these small towns and villages funded Donegal County Councils Planning Service to develop Local Area Plans for these areas.

It is proposed that this phase of the Donegal PEACE III Action Plan should build upon this work by supporting an intervention that would see an innovative community led programme of activity to support integration so as to achieve greater community cohesion in these areas.

Extract from the Donegal PEACE III Action Plan 2011 - 2013

Project Activity / Outputs.

Social Integration Events / Consultation

Social Integration Events are held to provide an opportunity for all communities to mix in an environment of celebration and recognition of each other’s cultures. They are scheduled on calendar events throughout the year e.g. Halloween, Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter and other Summer Dates.

The key part of any event is to invite the entire community both new and existing residents and to make everyone as aware as possible of what is happening in their area.

Events held to date include:

• Muff Community Barbeque held during Muff Festival 2011 • St. Johnston Community Supper held in conjunction with St. Johnston & Carrigans Family Resource Centre. • Newtowncunningham Community Fun Night. • Launch of Border Villages Social Integration Project in November as part of ONE Donegal month • Manorcunningham Christmas Community Event • Newtowncunningham Community Christmas Event. • Launch of ‘’Youth View’’ Castlefinn & Doneyloop • Crossroads & Killygordon Senior Citizens Cross community culture evening. • Castlefinn St. Patrick’s Day Inter-cultural Evening • Newtowncunningham St. Patrick’s Day Family Fun Day • Walk n Talk event at Inch Levels Wildfowl Reserve • Fheile Grianan an Aileach Burnfoot, Bridgend & Burt.

5 The Muff Community Barbeque was proposed to encourage open participation of everyone and to open up local conversation about the benefits of the festival and that it is for everyone living in the area.

The barbeque took take place in the Festival Field. A welcoming flyer had been printed inviting people to the event and providing contact details for all the different community groups in the area. This was circulated to the entire area as part of the Muff Festival brochure.

There was a large turn out on the day and the warm weather helped. There was visible participation from the new estates as young parents and children walked to the festival field.

Feedback is being evaluated as part of the project in conjunction with the Muff Festival Committee. The overall Muff Community Development Co-op will work with the Border Villages Social Integration Project to actively identify gaps in local community organisations and seek to encourage more participation of new residents in the local community life.

Carrigans / St. Johnston Family Resource Centre hosted a Mid Summer Community Supper on Friday evening 5th August 2011 in the St. Johnston Carrigans Resource Centre.

This event targeted the integration of the communities of Killea, Carrigans and St. Johnston, there was a huge turn out on the evening of the event with over 300 people in attendance.

The St. Johnston & Carrigans Family Resource Centre serves the villages of Killea, Carrigans and St. Johnston. As part of the preparation for this event all the new estates in the area were called to door to door and people were encouraged to attend but also to participate in the Family Resource centre and this afforded the opportunity for conversation with new residents about the services available in the area. The participants were asked where they were originally from? What amenities do not exist that you would like to see in the area? Do they have any skills they would like to promote and would they like to become more involved in the local community and if yes how?

There was positive feed-back and at the early stage of analysis things such as Play Areas, facilities for young children, transport and a Farmers Market have been suggested as projects local people would like to see provided.

However the main thrust of the feedback is pointing towards youth work and the need to target the Killea / Carrigans area for programmes supporting the integration of young people and the provision of outreach facilities to address the issues.

This event had good participation from the new residents and was also very much cross-community in nature with a good participation from the minority Protestant community.

Newtowncunningham Inter-Church Committee hosted the final Community event of the Summer on Friday 26th August when they held a Community Fun Nite and over 200 people attended with a good participation from the new houses in the area.

This event was building on the pilot project funded last year by PEACE III when a community barbeque was held in Trinity Court. This is the local Voluntary Housing Association and provides a range of services to the wider community on a cross-community basis. Due to the increase in interest in this event it was moved to the Columban Hall grounds where the entire area around the old day centre was cleaned up. This area is being suggested as a possible site for a Community Garden and this has been followed up with the HSE’s inter-generational project. There was good cross-community representation in attendance.

As part of this event, an information flyer was printed and distributed around the new estates door to door. There was strong participation of the new residents at the event. Again the evaluation of the issues raised has been fed into the Work Plan of the over all project.

The Border Villages Project was officially launched on 15th November 2011 as part of the ONE Donegal Month of events embracing and celebrating diversity.

7 It was attended by over 50 representatives of the community & voluntary sector and relevant agencies. At the launch we gave an outline of the project and what we hope to achieve and the area that we would be working in. A public call was made for input from all groups on integration ideas and priorities for their local area with the constant theme of social integration of new residents and all activities must be relevant to the aims and objectives of the Donegal PEACE III Action Plan 2011- 2013.

Group pictured at the Launch of the Border Villages Social Integration Project on 15th November 2011 at An Grianan Hotel Burt. Front Row: Cllr. Noel Mc Bride Mayor of Donegal, Cllr Dessie Larkin Chairman Donegal PEACE III Partnership and Seamus Neeley Co. Manager. Back Row: Francis Conaghan Good Relations Officer Donegal Co Co. Shauna Mc Cleneghan Programme Manager Inishowen Development Partnership, Michael Mc Garvey Divisional Manager Community Culture & Planning Donegal Co. Co. Tracey Mc Grory Musician & Local Resident and Michael Heaney Director of Services Community Culture & Planning Donegal Co. Co.

Future integration events planned for this Summer include:

• Muff Community BBQ at Muff Festival (Sat 4th Aug) • Muff Youth Club supporting Integration (Last week in July) • Castlefinn & Doneyloop Youth Outing (TBC) • Carrigans Inter-Estate Welcoming BBQ (Fri 3rd Aug) • St. Johnston Community Supper (Fri 20th July) • Manorcunningham Childrens Event (Last week of June) • Crossroads & Killygordon Community Open Day ( September) • Junior Soccer Competition on an inter- estate basis with FAI (July) • Musical Trail–Celebrating Our Shared Heritage (August)

Group pictured at the Walk n Talk event held at Inch Levels involving a cross- community group of young parents from Newtowncunningham.

Residents Capacity Building / Training

Inishowen Development Partnership are delivering on this portion of the project providing community and capacity building / training to new residents and the provision of follow up mentoring support to each group / individual.

This will involve on the ground presence to encourage recruitment of community leaders from within the new community.

Examples of topics to be covered include:

• identifying community issues, needs and problems; • developing new community-based programmes and resources; • evaluating and monitoring existing programmes; • enlisting the co operation of government bodies, community organisations and sponsors; • helping to raise public awareness on issues relevant to the community; • providing leadership and co ordination of programmes; • acting as facilitator to promote self-help in the community; • preparing reports and policies; • networking to build contacts and fundraising; • developing and agreeing to strategies; • liaising with interested groups and individuals to set up new services; • mediating in matters of conflict; • recruiting and training paid as well as voluntary staff; • planning, attending and coordinating meetings and events; • overseeing the financial management of a limited budget; • encouraging participation in activities; • challenging inappropriate behaviour; • general administrative duties.

Report March 2012 Mary McCallion, Community Links, (Border Social Integration Project) Border Villages Social Integration Project-Work

Muff Residents: Since January Contacts has been made with individual residents from six various estates in the area with a view to developing an initiative in the area to bring communities together. It was agreed at the last meeting that they would come together to organise an inter-estates community fun day which was held in early June at neutral venue in the village.

Féile Ghrianán Áiligh Group: Féile Ghrianán Áiliagh Group are an amalgamation of, local development groups, local and cross-border business, artist, musicians, historians, tourism providers living in the border and surrounding areas of Inishowen & Derry.

List of groups/business involved: Muff Community Development Group, Trinity Court Newtowncunnigham, NCDI Newtowncunnigham, Fahan Development Group, Burt Residents Group, Inishowen GAA, IOSAS Centre Muff, North Inishowen Historical Society, Derry City Tours, Harrys Restaurant Bridgend, Wallace Media, Grianan Hotel, Feast or Famine, Éireann, Local Individuals and Inishowen Development Partnership Staff.

Aim: To engage organisations/groups/business and individuals/new residents living in the border areas to come/work together to develop a better and stronger community initiatives that would be all inclusive to all communities in the border region and its environs.

Objective: To develop and deliver a “Féile Ghrianán Áiligh” cultural event at Grianan Fort on the 20th May 2012.The Féile will illustrate a period in time of the history of An Grianan, around the period when St. Patrick arrived. The Border Villages Social Integration Project supported the school’s pageant section of this event and involved two schools from both sides of the border Bridgend and Groarty.

Newtowncunnigham; Several meetings have already taken place between NCDI & Trinity Court to establish ways to help integrate

11 communities in the area. It was decided to host a “Rambling House” that will consist of local folklore, singing, recitals, music and dance from different cultures, on the 16th March at the Church of Ireland Hall, to coincide with the St. Patrick’s weekend festivities in the village on that weekend. Leaflets were published and delivered throughout the community with especially targeting the new estates in the area.

Aileach Womens Walking Club: Met with the Aileach Womens group to help them engage new residents (women) in the area. It was identified that there was a need to start a walking club in the area. An information /registration evening was held on 7th March. Guest speaker Mr. Myles Sweeney, Donegal sport Partnership. It is envisaged that a walking/leaders training programme will take place after the registration date. END.

The following programmes were initiated in order to bring a focus to social integration in the Border Areas. This was done following a scoping exercise of the community groups and clubs in operation in the area and in consultation with the sector. The central theme is developing a shared space for increased social interaction in these areas of the border most affected by the troubles. It is cognisant of the fact that there has been a large increase in “newcomers” to the area and it was seen that there is a need to offer and develop opportunities for both the indigenous community and the newcomers to integrate and connect.

• Aileach Womens Walking Club has been set up and running successfully in the Border area of Bridgend, Burt, Burnfoot & Fahan with over 40 members from new residents and cross communities. A workshop on identifying walking routes in the area was recently held .These routes are now published and distributed in the border areas and they are out in their groups on the Wednesday mornings & evening times and on Saturday mornings. A five week walking programme was also delivered under the guidance of Donegal Sport Partnership

• Féile Grianan Áiliagh, A Féile Grianan Áiliagh committee made up of new & local residents /cross communities, business

12 in the border/cross border area of Inishowen was set up in March to host the Féile Grianan Áiliagh at the Grianan Fort in Burt. The event took place on the 20th May and was hugely successful due to the commitment of the voluntary group, and the funders PEACE III, Leader IDP and Donegal Co. Council Development Initiative Fund. It was estimated that there was over 1200 people attended. The day was themed in and around of the time of Christianity 432 AD.The activities on the day was very much in keeping of this period. This was the first occasion that a large event of this scale was held in the ancient fort. The weather stayed warm and dry, which added to the day greatly. The feedback was very positive from those attended.

The schools pageant part of this event was supported by the Border Villages Social Integration Project and involved children from St Aengus School Bridgend and Groarty Primary School in Derry. Many of the children attending Groarty live in Donegal but attend school across the border.

• Muff Residents Events Training for Committee A four week committee training in Leadership & Event Organising was given to the newly formed Muff residents committee, made up of new and indigenous residents of Muff village. At the end of the course the group organised a successful Community Fun day on the 9th June for the people of Muff.

• Border Womens Workshop, took place on the 29th May and the 12th June in the Grianan Hotel Burt, targeting women of all ages in the border areas of Bridgend, Burnfoot, Burt, Newtowncunnigham, Killea, Manorcunnigham and Carrigans to establish the types of training/ activities they would like us to organise/deliver in September. A wide and varied range of training ideas was identified under the following categories;

• Local History (open to all genders) • Wellbeing ( some categories will be women only)

13 • IT Technologies (open to all genders) • Arts & Crafts ( some categories will be women only) Planning has already started to have these courses delivered between Sept-March 2013.

• A Musical Trail–Celebrating Our Shared Heritage It is planned to host this initiative in August. The event will engage musicians/artists that are living in the border village areas and new musicians/artists who have recently moved to the target areas. The general public will get an opportunity learn about Traditional Irish and Ulster Scots music. The sound of Bag pipes, Harp, Lambeg Drum and Bohran and fiddle. The stories and music will connect to the locality and it will be a chance to experience both these musical tradtions up close.

Integrating Actions / Activities

14 The project will work with the existing community & voluntary infrastructure in each area and will assist with the establishment of new cross-community and integrated focus groups addressing key issues of common interest in their locality.

Activities are identified locally, vary in nature and concentrate on projects that encourage active participation of new residents to the area.

Youth clubs, Schools, Community Playgroups and Parent– Toddler groups are being liaised with to target the young parents of the area.

Other Generic Activities to date include:

Profiling National Schools in border villages.

A meeting was co-ordinated with the principals of several National Schools in the Border Villages and they concluded the best way to recruit new members was to have an information booklet available for each school to use as they see fit e.g. at open days, parent / teacher days, networking through family and friend and door to door leaflet drops.

Fifteen schools are participating in this project and the booklets are being printed with an example of a few in the pack accompanying this report.

Example of front cover from one of the school brochures. Logos on the rear side.

Profiling Pre School Services

In consultation with Donegal County Childcare Committee we decided to produce a directory of services for pre school services in the border region of Donegal. Evidence has shown that the best way to encourage community participation from new residents is to involve the young children. In many community playgroups there is strong evidence that new residents are already starting to participate therefore it is anticipated that this directory of services will enhance this participation rate. In mixed community areas it has been proven as the best form of social integration.

Group of young parents who participated in the walk n talk event at Inch Levels

Group pictured at the Walk n Talk event held at Inch Levels with Parents and Children from Newtowncunningham Community Playgroup who are mixed community.

Inch Levels Walk n’ Talk Evaluation and Monitoring

As part of this initiative to involve pre schools as an integrative tool a Walk n’ Talk event was held at Inch Levels on 29th March 2012 in conjunction with Newtowncunningham community playgroup, who have a good mix of families from different backgrounds, including a cross community mix and new residents to the area.

The aim of the event was to create a neutral shared space for the children and the parents to enjoy a few hours in each other’s company with the focus on seeing that the children enjoy a morning’s adventure with the outdoors environment and to facilitate greater social interaction between the new residents and the existing communities.

After the event the participants were asked to complete an evaluation and monitoring form to provide feedback:

18 Years in locality

11% 37% 0 - 5 Yrs 6 - 10 Yrs 10 - 15 Yrs 35% 16 Yrs + 17%

General Rating

35 30 25 Awful Number of 20 People 15 Poor Reasonable 10 Good 5 Excellent 0 General Duration Venue Organisation of the Event

The participants also filled out the table below and the results have been included within:

19 Strongly Slightly Neither Slightly Strongly Disagree Disagree Disagree Agree Agree or Agree This type of activity encourages 0% 0% 0% 14% 86% greater social interaction between the adult participants? The Inch Levels facility 0% 0% 0% 3% 97% provides a suitable environment for social integration? This event would encourage 0% 0% 0% 14% 86% you to develop interaction within your community? The children found the days 0% 0% 0% 3% 97% activities enjoyable and educational?

The feedback provided by the participants included comments on how enjoyable the day’s events were, and also how they liked hearing about the history of the area. Some of the participants also stated that they felt that there was good interaction between the parents and that they loved the opportunity to meet other parents from the playgroup.

All of the participants stated that the day’s activity would encourage them to visit Inch levels again in the future.

Age range of parents/guardians

100%

80%

60% 94% 40%

20%

3% 3% 0% 0% 18 or under 19 - 25 26 - 55 55+

Gender

1 91%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Female Male

All of the adult participants were of White/Irish Ethnicity and 94% stated that they belonged to a religious/faith community and the breakdown is set out below.

Religious/Faith Community Breakdown

Protestant Community 24%

Catholic Community 76%

Good Relations & Healthy Communities

The project is working collaboratively with the HSE who are delivering the Inter-generational action identified in the PEACE III Action Plan with the provision of Community Gardens and is examining the development of a training programme of support around the theme of ‘What is a Healthy Community? This will start with basic horticultural skills and progress through the subjects of healthy eating, general well being to finally examine our respect for one another within our communities.

This programme of activity is being delivered by the Peace & Reconciliation Group based in Derry targeted towards the community & voluntary sector including new membership in villages where there is evidence of need.

The modules for training and information sharing include:

1. FOSTER COMMITMENT TO PLACE

Encourage actions that strengthen the reasons why residents feel strong affinity to their community, e.g., festivals and other activities that celebrate the uniqueness of a community and its landscape, provision of employment, training and affordable housing to enable people to stay: events that promoted discussion and actions about shared vision and long term orientation etc.

Indicators checklist:

There are historic celebrations, festivals, fairs and community projects that build a sense of commitment to the community and its landscape. Forums exist where diverse members of the community can come together to develop a common vision, resolve conflicts and advance mutual goals. Living-wage jobs are available for members of the community within a reasonable distance from home. Education and training is available locally that provides residents with skills they need to gain, keep or create living-

22 wage jobs. Adequate affordable housing is available for the more economically vulnerable members of the community. Residents, including businesses and landowners are committed to the well-being of the community, its residents and the environment that sustains them.

2. PROMOTE VITALITY

Encourage actions that promote a state of dynamic, healthy progress and change that can be sustained over time, e.g. initiatives that encourage community participation, strong support for local businesses, business innovations, a healthy eco system etc.

Indicators checklist:

Residents purchase goods and services within the community whenever possible. Local businesses are innovative, keeping pace with changing market demands and technologies, ensuring their continued vitality. Businesses 'add value' locally to renewable natural resources (fish, timber, farm products etc) to increase the local economic benefits from sustainable harvest levels. The natural systems (lakes, rivers, forests, prairies, farm lands etc) that enrich the community are ecologically healthy. Citizens from all segments of the community are welcomed and encouraged to participate in organizations and activities that help to strengthen the community and make it a better place to live.

3. BUILD RESILIENCE

Encourage actions that strengthen the ability of communities to cope with change, and withstand and recover from crises, e.g. economic diversification, local ownership, biological diversity, strong local networking etc.

23 Indicators checklist:

There is sufficient diversity in the local economy to help it weather downturns in individual businesses or economic sectors. Natural resource management practices maintain and promote native biological diversity, helping to maintain economic and ecological productivity over the long-term. Local organizations have the capacity to help the community define and advance its economic, social and environmental goals. Capacity includes effective leadership, broadened community involvement and access to information and financial resources. There is adequate infrastructure (water, sewer, transportation, telecommunications) to protect public health and the environment and to support desired social and economic development. There are adequate social support networks - both formal and informal - that help members of the community during times of need.

4. ACT AS STEWARDS

Encourage actions that nourish the natural environment to improve its health and productivity, thus providing long term benefits for current and future generations, e.g., maintaining healthy ecosystems, waste management etc.

Indicators checklist:

Water quality and quantity are adequate to meet the needs of human consumption, industry, recreation and fish and other wildlife. The air is clean to breathe. Homes and businesses practice energy conservation to reduce the economic costs and environmental impacts of energy production. Productive natural resource lands (including farm, forest and range lands) are

24 protected from development to ensure continued economic and environmental benefits for future generations. Critical wildlife habitats and other environmentally sensitive lands (including wetlands, riparian areas and habitat for rare or threatened or endangered species) have been identified, protected and where necessary restored. Community members (both residences and businesses) are taking steps to reduce, reuse and recycle solid wastes. There are opportunities for dialogue between citizens and owners or managers of natural resource lands whose management has significant ecological, economic and social consequences for the community.

5. FORGE CONNECTIONS

Encourage actions that encourage collaborative planning and action, and networking among residents, organizations, businesses and communities.

Indicators checklist:

The community is involved in regional, watershed or ecosystem-based initiatives where such efforts are useful in addressing concerns that cross multiple jurisdictions. The community has built positive relationships with outside agencies and organizations that allow it to gain access to information and technical and financial assistance. Local businesses are aware and take advantage of markets beyond the community, and of outside sources of marketing assistance, technical assistance and financing. Businesses work together when it is in their self interest to do so. Schools, hospitals and other local public organizations cooperate with one another to improve their services, create new programs or acquire needed infrastructure for the community.

6. PROMOTE EQUITY

25 Encourage actions that promote fairness among people within a community: between the community and the environment it inhabits; between the community and other communities; and between the present generation and future generations. Equal access to and opportunity to participate in the community decision making process is fundamental.

Indicators checklist:

Each resident has similar access to and opportunity to participate in community decision making processes. Social, economic and political burdens and benefits are equitably distributed among all members of the community. Activities within the community do not impose unfair burdens on people in other communities within the region, state, country and other parts of the world. Community activities and decisions consider, and seek not to jeopardize the well-being of future generations. The community practices equity in relationships to the environment by respecting other forms of life and passing on a healthy environmental legacy to the future.

The Peace and Reconciliation Group is familiar with the challenges faced by those responsible for promoting integration and social cohesion as a number of members of staff are or have been residents in the areas targeted by this programme, the border villages. Throughout Ireland in recent years with the explosion in development that took place during the Celtic Tiger years communities have expanded much faster than infrastructure or other community supports. One of the consequences is that many of these settlements become dormitory towns with many of the residents being away from the area in the day-time and therefore not making community connections. In co operation and consultation with the Donegal County Council Good Relations Officer the Peace and Reconciliation Group will create a 5 module programme to fulfill the aims of the Border Villages Social Integration Project.

26 This training will be delivered in conjunction with the HSE’s intergenerational project and be delivered on site at Community Gardens at Muff and Newtowncunningham.

The Border Villages Social Integration Project is also developing two further sites at Killea and Lifford and a programme of activities will be delivered at these sites in conjunctioin with Killea/Nixon’s Corner Community Group and the newly formed Lifford Community Garden Committee respectively.

This programme will run from August 2012 through to January 2013.

Site at Newtowncunningham beside old school where a new committee is taking responsibility for running this community project with new residents involvement.

Development of Community Resource Material.

As well as supporting the schools publications and the pre-school directory of services we have also supported a local newspaper publication by Castlefinn and Doneyloop youth clubs where the young people from the area came together and suggested that they would produce a newspaper to inform the local community of issues in their area. These youth clubs are cross community and have a number of new families joining their activities.

Support is also given to this area by providing capacity training to the youth sector by providing youth leadership skills to youth volunteers in 4 different sports disciplines.

The project co-ordinator in agreement with the Partnership Secretariat has identified savings in the original work programme under the heading of integration events and is able to deliver the social integration events more economically and have decided to develop a web presence with community resource guides available for each border settlement. This work will be delivered by Greenlight Media in consultation with all the relevant agencies and community groups in each village and will produce a community resource guide in PDF format to be available on the web link and this will be available in links to other sites including local village web sites and Donegal County Council’s site.

APPROACH

Stage 1 – First Meeting with the Good Relations Officer

Stage 2a – Initial Research carried out with Local Community groups

Initial contact with community groups (as named above) will outline the purpose of the project and the benefits for their interest group and wider locality.

Each contact/group will be obliged to prepare information for a collective community evening in a local hall or similar amenity. Prior to the event Green Light Media will circulate an agenda and facilitate a Questions and Answers session to encourage group collaboration and interaction which also compiling material and up to date contact details from all interest groups. A similar event is proposed for each border village community. Following on from each meeting, material will be deciphered so that accurate, relevant and contemporary information is made available for review by GRO (Good Relations Officer). Pending successful outcome of community evenings and review from GRO, Green Light Media will propose that these events will form the basis of an exit strategy. Community groups will have an opportunity to come together to update, debate and improve information on local services and amenities on an ongoing basis.

Stage 2b – Work to begin on the Design and Layout of the Website – Mini sites/Data Capture etc.

Stage 3 – Collating Initial Research and presenting to Good Relations Officer

Stage 4 – Further research based on feedback from Good Relations Officer

Stage 5 – Collating Final Research and approval from Good Relations Officer

Stage 6 – Review of Website Design and Functionality

Stage 7a – Populating the Site

Stage 7b – Approval of Site and Testing

Stage 8 – Site goes Live and training

Stage 9 – Satisfactory Completion of 4 Community Resource Guides

29 Stage 10 – Satisfactory Completion of 3 Community Resource Guides

Stage 11 – Satisfactory Completion of 3 Community Resource Guides

Stage 12 – Final Review of Project with Good Relations Officer

Stage 13 – Further Training and Exit Strategy

Work is continuing with Donegal Youth Service to facilitate the development of new youth clubs in areas where there is a demand. One such area is Killea where there is considerable interest in setting up a new Youth Club with good participation from new residents from the area. We hope to provide capacity building assistance to allow groups establish in a spirit of understanding and equality on a cross community basis. Support is also being given to Youth Clubs in Muff, Castlefinn, Doneyloop and Killygordon.

We will continue to work with the local schools, community playgroups and Parent / Toddler groups to identify small programmes of activity to develop relationships between young parents and encourage their participation in their new communities.

Work in collaboration with the HSE’s intergenerational project to establish new community gardens and roll out the Good Relations & Healthy Communities Training.

Work with IDP to develop tailored packages of training and capacity- building courses for new participants in cross-community activity in the border settlements.

3 Impacts

Actions for DCC Action B4 - Social Integration Project

B4 - Put in place a programme of interventions to facilitate greater social integration in border towns and villages in Donegal so as to promote greater cohesion between the 'new' residents and the local communities.

Overall outputs as per Service Level Agreement

(a) 6 towns/villages participating.

(b) 12 events/opportunities for social interaction.

(d) Improved cohesion between the schools in the area.

(e) 6 community group committees participating in Community Development training.

(f) 6 community action plans/templates produced.

(g) 6 actions/events launched as priority actions from the communities.

March to June 2012 Quarter 2.

(a) 6 Cluster areas selected. Muff, Bridgend Burnfoot, Newtown Manor, Killea Carrigan St. Johnston, Lifford Ballindrait Raphoe and Killygordon Castlefinn Doneyloop.

(b) (c) and (d)

• Fheile An Grianan. 1000 participants. 300 new residents.

32 • 440 at Castlrfinn St. Patricks Day Event. 50 new residents. • 300 at Newtowncunningham St. Patrick's Day 50 new residents. Primary School Programme Started. • 15 local Primary Schools Catholic and Protestant are participating in production of individual school publications profiling schools to new residents. • Pre school directory started. • 30 Pre school services are being profiled in publication in conjunction with Committee. Donegal County Childcare

(e)

Peace & Reconciliation Group Derry contracted to deliver Good Relations & Healthy Communities Training to Community & Voluntary Sector in Border Villages. IDP to facilitate recruitment in conjunction with Community Groups and Residents Associations.

(f) and (g)

• 6 Community Action Plans exist in Killygordon, Castlefinn, St. Johnston, Newtown, Carrigans and Muff. • Strategies agreed in Killea and Lifford for advancing Community Gardens. • Community Resource Material to be developed in all villages. • Launch of Border Villages Project. • Launch of Youthview. • Community Resource Material to be launched including: Pre school Services directory, Primary Schools Brochures. • Border Villages Web presence and launch of 2 community gardens. Overall project evaluation to be published.

33 What evidence will you provide with this report to demonstrate that the outputs have been achieved? Please attach publicity material including newspapers clippings.

Sign in sheets for all events and audio-visual and still recordings are available. Evaluation sheets and reports available from all relevant activities. Newspaper clippings available in hard copy on file and some in social media. Attendance sheets clearly demonstrate background of participants from cross-community and new residents.

Outline projected targets for the next period / quarter.

• Social Integration Events to be held in Muff, St. Johnston, Carrigans, Manorcunningham, Burnfoot, Castlefinn and Killygordon. • Web presence and development of community resource guides for each village to start.

34 • Good Relations and Healthy Communities Training to start. • Completion of Primary Schools brochures. • Completion of Pre-school services Directory • Completion of two Community Gardens in Killea and Lifford

Cumulative progress/outputs to date.

(a)

6 Cluster areas selected. Muff, Bridgend Burnfoot, Newtown Manor, Killea Carrigan St. Johnston, Lifford Ballindrait Raphoe and Killygordon Castlefinn Doneyloop.

(b) and (c)

• Social Integration events held at Muff, St. Johnston, Newtowncunningham, Manorcunningham, Killygordon and Castlefinn.

35 • Integrating Newspaper launched in conjunction with Castlefinn Doneyloop Youth Clubs ''Youthview'' 1st and 2nd edition published. • Newtowncunningham St Patrick's Day Festival committee hosted an integrating Festival Family Event where local Orange Lodge Band participated in event for first time in history of Newtowncunningham where there was a substantial number of new-comers attending the community hall for the first time. • Castlefinn Youth Club hosted an intercultural evening on St. Patrick's Day with over 440 attending including cross community and new residents which has increased the profile of the Border Villages Project and created a positive atmosphere of integration in the wider area. • 120 at Youthview Launch 20 new residents. 440 at Castlrfinn St. Patricks Day Event. 50 new residents. 300 at Newtowncunningham St. Patrick's Day 50 new residents. • Walk n Talk Event held at Inch Levels 50 participants mixed community 60% new residents • Fheile An Grianan 1,000+ attendees. Supported the Schools Pageant hosted by Bridgend and Groarty Primary Schools. • Muff Community Day held on 9th June

(d)

• 15 local Primary Schools Catholic and Protestant are participating in production of individual school publications profiling schools to new residents. • 30 Pre school services are being profiled in publication in conjunction with Donegal County Childcare Committee.

(e) • Peace & Reconciliation Group Derry contracted to deliver Good Relations & Healthy Communities Training to Community & Voluntary Sector in Border Villages. • IDP to facilitate recruitment in conjunction with Community Groups and Residents Associations.

36 • Greenlight Media recruited to develop Border Web site and 10 community resource guides

(f)

(g) • Launch of Border Villages Project. • Launch of YouthView. • Community Resource Material to be launched including: 1. Pre school Services directory 2. Primary Schools Brochures 3. Border Villages Web presence 4. launch of 2 community gardens. • Overall project evaluation to be published.

Evaluation.

Evaluation on the project is ongoing and the findings from each activity is collated to give direction to the project in consultation with the local communities.

Wallace Media has been procured at the very beginning of the project to carry out an audio-visual & photographic recording of the project including text and to record events and live feed back from participants. This material will be part of the web presence and will be linked to the PEACE III Web page.