Girdwood Barracks and Crumlin Road Gaol - Community Development Opportunities for North Belfast
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interface Promoting social and economic regeneration in Belfast’s interface areas Issue No. 7 March 2007 ISSN 1743-9531 Showcasing, Networking, Generating Ideas... Girdwood Barracks and Crumlin Road Gaol - Community Development Opportunities for North Belfast By Manus Maguire THE regeneration of Girdwood Barracks and T H I S I S S U E Crumlin Road Gaol in North Belfast offers a once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity for local Small groups debate recommendations for the Shared Future Triennial Lower Ormeau Residents Action residents and young people to begin to Action Plan. Photo: Christopher Heaney Group Youth Project tackle multiple deprivation and decades of By Chris O’Halloran sectarian division. TIMEWARP Project Belfast Interface Project held its third The communities that surround Girdwood A Legacy of the Past – ‘Gift or annual conference, this time jointly with and the Gaol have suffered greatly from Hindrance’ the N.I. Community Relations Council thirty years of political and sectarian (CRC), on November 8th 2006 in the Spires Lagan Village Home Safety conflict. The wounds inflicted during Conference Centre, Belfast. The theme Project this conflict have not begun to heal. The of the conference was ‘Belfast Interface existence of interfaces is a testament to the Communities: Building a Shared Future’. The Voice Reconciliation Project open sores that exist. The conference was opened by Jean Brown Community Dialogue residential Residents of these interfaces have (BIP chairperson), Nigel Hamilton (Head on sectarianism been bypassed by recent economic of N.I. Civil Service) and Duncan Morrow developments. There is no peace dividend (CRC CEO) and featured presentations Suffolk and Lenadoon Interface here. But the regeneration of these sites from speakers from within the interface Group - update offers great hope. community sector. Skegoneil and Glandore Project continued on page 2 continued on page 2 Member’s profile: Glenda Davies interface produced a DVD of interviews with speakers and participants filmed at the conference. We aim to forward the conference report executive summary, including the Jean Brown, BIP chairperson, welcomes conference participants. Nigel Hamilton, Head of N.I. Civil Service, addresses the John Loughran, speaking on behalf of Intercomm. recommendations generated for the Shared Photos: Christopher Heaney conference. Future Triennial Action Plan and also the continued from page 1 DVD to all BIP members and conference attendees, with the main report made The aim was that the conference would be: transformation and social and economic (Belfast Interface Project); Stiofán Long available for download from our website. regeneration projects in interface areas. (Finaghy Crossroads Group); Sid Trotter • a showcase for existing good practice (LINC); John Loughran (Intercomm); Jean We would like to take this opportunity to across a range of kinds of work Each was followed by small group Brown (Suffolk Community Forum); Manus thank all of our speakers for their inputs discussions which explored the issues • stimulating opportunity for networking Maguire (Crumlin Road Gaol and Girdwood and also to thank all of those who attended facing interface communities. The groups and information exchange Advisory Panel), and Dianne Menaul on the day and fed in to the very lively generated recommendations to be • an opportunity to influence future and Malachy Mulgrew (Glandore / Mid group discussions. Finally, a big thank you submitted to the Shared Future Triennial government policy in these areas of work Skegoneil Interface Project). is due also to CRC for their support and Summer diversionary programme: youth group camping trip to the Mourne mountains. Photo: Ronan Mc Kenna Action Plan which would help to support assistance in planning and delivering the interface work more effectively in the The conference was well attended and Speakers representing interface community event – we couldn’t have managed it on our future. feedback from participants has been organisations from across much of the own. Lower Ormeau Residents Action extremely positive. A conference report is city each gave a short presentation on a Conference presentations were delivered currently in the final stages of preparation. Chris O’Halloran is the Director of Belfast particular aspect of their work, ranging from by the following: Seán Montgomery (Short Northern Visions TV (NVTV) has also Interface Project. conflict management through to conflict Strand Community Forum); Erik Cownie Group Youth Project By Gerard Rice Lower Ormeau Residents Action Group youth and community alienation. In the past (LORAG) Youth Project was established in this has led to significant difficulties both continued from page 1 1995 and was staffed on a voluntary basis within the community and for neighbouring At this stage there is little evidence to show around the contentious issues that divide poverty, disadvantage and division, with the throughout that year. At that time the project communities. received programme and transport support that the redevelopment of these sites will our two communities. only growth area being in more sectarian The main aim of the project is to provide result in social and economic benefits for interfaces. from the Probation Service, support which Discussion and dialogue across the A problem- young people who are not currently availing local communities. consisted of a small grant towards equipment The government has developed its policy of other youth provision, with a safe place community divide can use an adversarial or and the provision of a Probation Service mini around a Shared Future. Surely the to go, to meet and plan their own activities The real options for Girdwood and the Gaol a problem-solving approach. An adversarial solving approach bus. are: approach, with the aim of maximising each regeneration of Girdwood and Crumlin as well as run them. It also aims to provide community’s benefits against the other, Road Gaol will be a test for that policy. Will a support based centre to build confidence, A deal between the two communities to will solve none of the problems facing does not mean the policy remain on a shelf in an ivory encourage achievement and provide new and split the sites between them. This may The main aim of the our communities and any benefits will be tower or can it make a practical impact positive experiences for the young people. offer some short term benefits, but it will short term. A problem-solving approach being conciliatory that benefits the lives of people living in project is to provide not address the long term divisions which The project targets young people aged does not mean being conciliatory or these communities? Do senior government exist. young people who are not between 12 and 25. At this moment in time officials have the skills and training to weak. It should look at the big picture. or weak. It needs currently availing of other the project is engaging with over 60 young The sites could be developed Laganside- It needs to be creative and create much implement this policy and facilitate deeply people. The project operates seven days per style. Large private sector companies larger opportunities and benefits for both divided and wounded communities to plan youth provision, with a safe week, with opening periods ranging from could create jobs which would go to to be creative for the future? Or are they only interested in communities. It would need to address the place to go, to meet and afternoon sessions on three of those days and people living outside North Belfast. Local real fears that exist and provide clear and maintaining harmony until they leave North evening sessions everyday. people would be the cleaners and security tangible benefits for residents and young and create Belfast at 5.00 p.m.? plan their own activities guards. people from both communities — especially The following activities and services are Somebody or some agency needs to take those suffering from multiple disadvantage. as well as run them. provided through the project: The two communities could decide to work much larger the initiative to begin this process or together for mutual benefit and embark This is a risky path for everyone involved. today’s opportunities will be lost. Life Skills on the journey of addressing the core For some the Laganside model would be In 1996, successful applications to various Active Citizenship Skills opportunities and Manus Maguire is a member of the problems of a deeply divided society and the easy option. To encourage the two funding agencies resulted in the appointment Peer Education Girdwood and Crumlin Road Gaol Advisory address the genuine fears and concerns communities to work together for mutual of two full time workers along with Health and Well Being benefits for both Panel. He is writing this article in his that people have. benefit will not be easy. However, the programme, training and administration costs. Outdoor Education and Team Building capacity as a community worker with prize will be potentially much greater and Since then the project has been supported CV Writing Skills and Job Club A fourth option is to do nothing and let Cliftonville Community Regeneration Forum. it offers the only real hope of beginning communities. by Youth Net, Belfast European Partnership Crime Diversion and Intervention Girdwood and the Gaol remain derelict. to tackle the many deep rooted problems Contact: Board and Neighbourhood Renewal (phase 2). Programmes To date, consultations on Girdwood and Cliftonville Community Regeneration Forum Mentoring Programme which exist in North Belfast. It offers Lack of resources, particularly space for the Gaol have taken place involving local inactivity, low educational attainment, 185 Clifton Park Avenue Drop-in Facilities an opportunity to begin to address young people to call their own, has and communities. These consultations have poor health and the lack of a future for Belfast BT14 6DT Cooking Facilities the divisions which exist within our does lead to under age drinking, substance been purely on a single identity basis.