cross border achievements celebrated - european...

Cross border achievements celebrated

Your EU! ISSN: 1750-6719 Published by the Special EU Programmes Body www.seupb.orgTo submit ideas, material and photographs for the next issue, please email [email protected] by 10 April 2006.

Special EU Programmes BodyBelfast EU House, 6 Cromac Place, Belfast BT7 2JB tel: +44 (0) 28 9026 6660Omagh EU House, 11 Kevlin Road, Omagh BT78 1LB tel: +44 (0) 28 8225 5750Monaghan EU House, Castle Meadow Court, Dublin Road, Monaghan tel: +353 (0) 477 7003

Editorial Production Management: Dolores Vischer, DVPR [email protected]: www.michaelcooper.com Design: www.whitenoisestudios.com Print: W&G Baird

Over 50 organisations were celebrated and six specialrecognition awards presented at the first Daily Ireland CrossBorder Achievement Awards at the Slieve Russell Hotelin Co. Cavan in March.

Sponsored by the Special EU Programmes Body and Bank ofIreland, the awards recognised organisations and individualswho had made a valuable contribution to cross-border socialand economic relationships. Guests at the event were addressedby Minister of State Brendan Smith, TD for Cavan, Pat Colgan,Chief Executive of the Special EU Programmes Body and SirGeorge Quigley, Chairman of Bombardier Aerospace.

Six special recognition awards were presented to: Bunscoilan Iúir - established in 1989, this Newry primary school hasmoved from humble beginnings to modern facilities. Over 100 pupilsattend, from the Newry City, south Down, south Armagh and northLouth areas. The school has helped to create a new generationof fluent Irish speakers.

Avril Crawford, Arts & Disability Forum - founder of a numberof groundbreaking initiatives, the Arts & Disability Forum wasestablished in 1993 to promote disabled people in the arts sector.The forum works closely with the Arts Council of Northern Irelandand Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon and runs a galleryin Belfast, an awards scheme and a number of other projects.

Bridie Sweeney, Riverbrooke Cross-Border Project - This projectsprang from a ten year association between communities inRiverstown Co. Sligo and Brookeborough, Co. Fermanagh, drivenby a mutual desire to build a relationship of understanding and trust.

George Newell, Ballymacarret Arts & Cultural Society - Based ineast Belfast, Ballymacarret Arts & Cultural Society has been pioneeringprogrammes of social and cultural regeneration since 1996. It hasdeveloped a number of partnerships between community and youthgroups and schools in east Belfast and the border counties.

Atlantic Drift - In 2003, Donegal County Council and LimavadyBorough Council joined forces to launch the Atlantic DriftCross-Border scheme, to boost the ferry connection betweenMagilligan in Derry and Greencastle in Donegal and improvingtourism in the area.

Dr. Barney Toal, Digital Media Works - this partnership betweenthe North West Institute of Further and Higher Education and theLetterkenny Institute has created a business incubation unit to assistthe development of the digital multimedia industry in the northwest.

Details of the people and projects are contained in a magazinedownloadable from www.dailyireland.com

Cross Border Achievements Celebrated... Fifty organisations were honored at the Daily Ireland awards ceremony celebrating cross border achievements.Pictured are, Pat Colgan, Chief Executive of the Special EU Programmes Body and (left) Bridie Sweeney, Riverbrooke Cross-Border Project, Sligo and (right)George Newell, Ballymacarret Arts and Cultural Society, East Belfast.

PEACE INTERREG

TALL SHIPS

Return!Nick Price on good food■ Dentists get their teeth into trainingPlus all the latest project news!

Your EU!An update on European Union PEACE and INTERREG programmes Spring 2006

Part-financed by the European Union

Your EU! brings together withinthe one publication news of the widerange of projects that are fundedby the European Union’s Programmefor Peace and Reconciliation andINTERREG IIIA Programme.

The European Union is often seen asa huge, impersonal organisation that isfar removed from everyday life. The aimof this publication is to recognise thecontribution EU funding is makingto communities and individuals. Wehave spoken to dozens of individualsthroughout Northern Ireland and theborder counties of the Irish Republicabout their personal experiencesof EU funded projects.

In these pages, you will read aboutmany wide-ranging EU funded projectactivities. As part of a new ‘Real LifeInterview’ feature, we interviewed fourindividuals involved with, or whose liveshave changed as a result of taking partin, an EU project or training course.

The magazine is also availableto view online at www.seupb.org

Your EU! will be published fourtimes a year. If you are involved with anexciting or successful project and wouldlike others to read about it in thesepages, then we’d love to hear fromyou. Contact us at [email protected]

Similarly, we need to know aboutforthcoming events for a new calendarlist. Please complete a simple formonline at www.seupb.org to registeryour event.

We would also welcome yourfeedback and views on this firstissue of Your EU!

Please also send any suggestionsyou have for improving it.

I hope you enjoy reading Your EU!

Roger HopeEditor

Welcome to the first issueof our magazine Your EU!

2 Your EU! Spring 2006

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SpringContentsProject News

Real Life Interviews

Creative enterprisescome together

PSNI and An Garda Síochánalaunch cross border diversitytraining

Birthday marks Taughmonagh’s£1 million investment

Taoiseach visits cross communityyouth project

Harmony in Action teamsimprove communitygreen spaces

Cameras roll for Louth, Newryand Mourne Film Commission

Castleregh students awardThe Corrs

Marie helps women followin her footsteps and returnto work or education

John and the ‘Gateto Plate’ farm initiative

IT Express supportedGreg’s return to work

Carers course helped Mae

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2230

Welcome

Front cover photograph: Taughmonagh woman Marie McGarryhelps women in her area return to work or education.

Projects part-financed by the European Union

Since their introduction, the European Union’s PEACE and INTERREG programmes have

been instrumental in bringing people together to work towards improved economic and social conditions for all.

Success has been based on an ethos of partnershipencompassing business, the voluntary and communitysectors, government and other agencies and, fundamentally,between people. These partnerships, many of which havebeen on a cross-border basis, have resulted in engagement,participation, consultation and trust.

The European Union is a jigsaw of border areas, many of whichare areas of social need. The experience and skills developedon the island of Ireland over the past number of years, particularlyin relation to cross-border collaboration and the ability to worktowards improving competitiveness and employment, is viewed

as a source of inspiration and encouragement within the EUas its newest members, particularly those in border regions,seek to overcome their own past, building better societies andeconomies. With the support of the EU, we have been able towork towards genuinely beneficial cross-border partnerships- a theme that sets the tone for future EU funding programmes.

As we reflect on the success to date of cross-bordercollaboration, we recognise that there is still much to do withinNorthern Ireland and the border region if we are to achieveour goal - a peaceful and more economically and sociallystable society where diversity is accepted as the norm.

Pat ColganChief ExecutiveSpecial EU Programmes Body

FOREWORD“”

Spring 2006 Your EU! 3Projects part-financed by the European Union

The Special EU Programmes Body is a North/South Implementation Body sponsored by the Department of Finance and Personnelin Northern Ireland and the Department of Finance in Ireland. The Body was established on 2nd December 1999, under the GoodFriday Agreement 1998 and the British Irish Agreement, establishing implementing bodies. The Body reports to the North/SouthMinisterial Council.

The Special EU Programmes Body’s principal function is to act as the Managing Authority for certain European Union StructuralFunds, such as the €182 million INTERREG IIIA Programme, the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (PEACE II and extension),worth over €994 million, and other community initiatives.

The European Unionhas a major impact onthe lives of its 459 millioncitizens. Yet opinion pollsshow that more and morepeople know little aboutthe EU or about what ithas achieved over thelast 50 fifty years.

s media attention has inevitably focused on

differences between memberstates over big issues suchas the future financing ofthe EU and the challenge ofglobalisation, the relevanceof the EU is in danger of being

overlooked or, at the veryleast, taken for granted.

It is therefore worthrestating some of themain achievements.

Successive enlargementshave helped transformEurope underpinningdemocracy, stabilityand economic prosperityacross an ever greaterpart of the continent.

The single market has madeit much easier for companiesto trade and for many people

to live, work and studyin other parts of Europe.

Working together EUcountries are able tocome up with solutionsto shared problems suchas environmental pollutionor cross-border crime.

Yet despite the successes,there are increasing doubtsabout what Europe is forand where it is heading.

For the EuropeanCommission, the best wayof overcoming this crisis of

News & Info

4 Spring 2006 Your EU! Projects part-financed by the European Union

Communicating Europe

A

confidence in the EU is to pressahead with a practical agenda,including economic reform,better regulation, the creationof jobs, tackling climate changeand other environmental issues.

Another challenge isto explain why the EUcontinues to be relevantin the 21st century.

As far as Northern Irelandis concerned, an increasedawareness of and dialogueabout European policiesand programmes is also vitalif the province is to continueto derive maximum benefitfrom EU membership.

Eddie McVeigh

Head of the EuropeanCommission Officein Northern Ireland

Preparing for the New EU ProgrammesIn December 2005 theEuropean Council ofMinisters agreed to includea €200 million PEACE IIIprogramme in the EUbudget for 2007-2013.

The European Parliament willbe asked to ratify the decision

and then refer it to the Councilof Ministers. The EuropeanCommission will then makea formal announcement.

“Given the size of the budgetit is reasonable to assume thatPEACE III cannot simply be acontinuation of the previous

measures and priorities,”said Shaun Henry, Director,Programmes, Special EUProgrammes Body.

“The Irish and UK governmentshave asked us to complete aconsultation as soon as wecan following the formal

announcement ofthe programmes.

“The EU budget for TerritorialCo-operation will fund PEACEIII and the successor to theINTERREG programme.This will shape the objectivesfor the programmes and willprovide the framework forthe consultation,”Shaun said.

Northern Ireland FinanceMinister, Jeff Rooker, haswelcomed the new €200million PEACE fundingfor the 2007-2013 period.

The funding is coming toNorthern Ireland as a result ofthe European Council BudgetAgreement. Jeff Rooker said:“The European Union PEACEfunding has meant a lot toNorthern Ireland and the

border region of Ireland overthe last 11 years or so. It hasallowed thousands of crosscommunity projects to tacklesome of the most difficultissues facing everyone inNorthern Ireland as we tryto build a society based onmutual trust and recognition.This further EU funding willallow this work to continueuntil 2013 and is verywelcome indeed.

Jeff Rooker welcomes new€200 million PEACE funding

News & Info

Spring 2006 Your EU! 5

“Northern Ireland will alsobenefit from other mainstreamEU funding programmes.

Enlargement and ourrelative prosperity withinthe EU means that thelevel of funding will be muchreduced from current levels,but it will still be of significantbenefit to everyone here.

We will be taking forward thedevelopment of Programmes,in consultation withstakeholders and socialpartners, over thecoming months.”

Northern Ireland FinanceMinister, Jeff Rooker.

PEACE

Interparliamentary visit to Belfast

Pictured (l-r) are: Damien English TD; Baroness Harris of Richmond;Michael German, Member of the Welsh Assembly; Rosemary McKennaMP; John Griffiths, Member of the Welsh Assembly and Pat Colgan,Chief Executive, SEUPB.

During a recent visitto Belfast, membersof the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Bodyvisited projects supportedby the EU Programme forPeace and Reconciliation.

embers of theBritish-Irish Inter-

Parliamentary Body visitedBelfast as part of their inquiryinto Economic Deprivationin Northern Ireland.

During their visit theymet with the Special EUProgrammes Body, LigonielImprovement Association,East Belfast Partnershipand Oasis to learn moreabout the positive impactof European Union PEACEfunding in terms of socio-economic development.

PEACE

M


Marie helps women follow in herfootsteps and return to work


Main Image: Taughmonagh woman Marie McGarry helps women in her area return to work or education.

“

“

European Union PEACE funding over

the last seven years has had a significant

impact on the Taughmonagh Community. The

funding has supported a wide range of programmes

including women’s training, economic development,

childcare and educational development allowing

aspirations to develop and the opportunity

for people to gain qualifications, skills

and employment.

Marie McGarry, Taughmonagh.

REAL LIFE INTERVIEWS

PEACE

For Marie, the availability of PEACE funding has also markeda transformation in her own life.

“As a lone-parent, I know how difficult it can be to juggle lookingafter a child with training and/or employment,” Marie said. By attendingEU PEACE funded courses Marie McGarry from Taughmonagh inSouth Belfast was able to gain skills, experience and qualifications.Then she applied to work on the programme and, happily, wassuccessful. She has worked in Taughmonagh for the past threeyears as the Training for Women Network Project Officer providingsupport, advice and guidance on education and employmentissues to local women.

Since the project began three years ago, she and her colleagueshave helped more than 120 people from Taughmonagh and Finaghyaccess training, qualifications and progress into employment throughmentoring, study support, advocacy and provision of childcare.

“We have had great success getting people into employment,” Mariestates. “Examples include young mothers who have come throughthe programme, found jobs and, importantly, stayed in employment- to a young women who has gone on to study radiotherapy at theUniversity of Ulster.”

Although these are just a few examples of the success of theprogramme there are so many other benefits to the women and thewider community: for example, encouraging the ethos of educationin families and financial security through employment or gaining higherpaid employment. The training on offer includes a basic computerclass for women.

For those people, perhaps already in part-time employment, whowant to access other training, a bursary scheme has been put inplace to help meet the cost of fees that would otherwise presenta deterrent due to financial restraints. Underpinning the programmeis the belief that community and individual empowerment is all aboutbuilding confidence and self-esteem. Marie explains:

“We have worked hard to create an environmentin which people can recognise their own strengthsallowing the development of individual opportunities.”

“The local community is fully aware of what we have on offerand isn’t afraid to access our services. As well as advice, guidance,support and training, we also help with the completion of job applicationforms, interview skills and signpost people in the right directionif they require further assistance through links with the Training& Employment Agency and New Deal,” Marie adds.

The support the programme provides to the local women isfundamental in the progression and success the women achieve.



Project NewsProject News

CREATIVE ENTERPRISES come together

A new cross-border initiative,supported by the EuropeanUnion’s INTERREG IIIAprogramme, is bringingtogether people workingin creative industries ineast border region countiesArmagh, Down, Louth andMonaghan to share theirexperiences and skillsand provide a platformfor cooperation andbusiness growth.

Known as the Creative EnterpriseOffice Club, the network was setup last July and is a partnershipbetween two developmentagencies, Louth CountyEnterprise Board and Newry& Mourne Enterprise Agency.

Membership of the growing Clubincludes poets, painters, web sitedesigners, jewellery makers andother crafts people, multimediaand production companies’staff, publishers and more.

Daniel Phillips of RavensdaleCounty Louth designs andmanufactures contemporarygarden furniture throughhis business, Patio.

He explains how Clubmembership is benefitinghim: “The Club offers a rangeof services from formal seminarsto informal networking gatherings.At these monthly events, it’s beensupportive to meet and exchangeideas with other creative people

from a wide range of fields. Infact, I’m now collaborating withanother Club member, GardenDesigner Anne Kennedy, andtogether we are to create adisplay garden at the importantSpring Home and Garden Showat Dublin’s RDS in March.”

Daniel added that he found theseminar talk given by BBC RadioUlster broadcaster Marie McStayto have been very thought-provoking: “She helped Clubmembers to focus on the linkof creativity that we share and tofeel confident about what we aredoing - that creativity counts!”

Jacqui Molloy is BusinessManager with Top Drawer

Productions, a recording facilityand audio/visual post-productioncompany in Jonesborough setup in 2002. The company wasresponsible for producing theCEO Club promotional DVD.Jacqui added: “What’s great isthe chance to meet other peopleworking in creative industries andto start generating business.On top of that it’s an opportunityto market the business - to letpeople know what serviceswe can offer.”

The Club launched its newmember web site in Januaryat a networking event in Armagh.For further information visitwww.ceoclub.ie

Image Above: Daniel Philips, at work from his County Louth home on the innovative sculptural garden furniture he creates,is benefiting from membership of the Creative Enterprise Office Club.

INTERREG


CHAP arts project sustaining rural community halls

Kathy O’Hare of Mountnorrisshows the mosaic mural shehelped create at her localcommunity hall as partof the CHAP project.

PEACE

Project News

Spring 2006 Your EU! 9Projects part-financed by the European Union

A successful European UnionPEACE project that promotedculture, arts and heritage ona cross community basis inrural County Armagh engaged700 local participants.

Highlight of the project forone participant, Kathy O’Hareof Mountnorris, was the creationof a mosaic mural: “Wethoroughly enjoyed theentire experience of CHAP. Itwas such a brilliant project thatgot the whole community towork together, and we produceda beautiful mosaic mural thateveryone contributed to. It wasparticularly nice to watch theinteraction between all membersof our community from bothmain traditions, regardless ofwhat age they were - CHAPcatered for all of us. The mosaichas pride of place outside ourcommunity hall and it’s a greatfeeling to know that we madeit, that we will always have it andit will be there for years to come.

I would definitely love to do morearts projects in the future as aresult of being involved in CHAP.”

Known as CHAP, theRural Community Halls ArtsPartnership ran over a 16-monthperiod. It was funded by the EU’sPEACE II through the RuralDevelopment Council andled by Regenerationof South Armagh.

The project encouragedpromotion of arts and culture,and also illustrated theopportunities that arts andcultural activities can providein the sustainability of ruralcommunity halls.

Groups from seven rural areasof County Armagh worked inpartnership together in 74 artsworkshops. In addition, sevencultural events were organisedwhich brought in membersof the wider community.Speaking about the success

of the project, Aine McCauley,Arts Co-ordinator, said: “CHAPbrought new horizons to ruralcommunities in South Armaghthrough an array of artisticdisciplines. It provided buddingartists with the facility to practisein a creative expression of theirchoice ranging from paintingand drawing to mosaic muralsand sculpture - from danceand drama to textile craftand silk painting. It alsoenticed those who just fancieddoing ‘something different’,and more often than not it wasthese very people who excelledin the activity they had chosen.

“As well as the training in a varietyof art forms the people involveddeveloped strong friendshipswith neighbouring communitieswho ordinarily they would nothave associated with, and I thinkthis is the most important thingof all. I believe that ‘art’ in whatever form it takes, has the neutralqualities required to provide us

with the forum to interact withoutprejudice. I would welcome moreprogrammes like that of CHAPin the future.”


Project News

PSNI and An Garda Síochánalaunch cross border diversity training

An innovative cross-bordertraining programme aimedat helping police officersgain a better understandingof the communities they servewas launched in Armaghon 14 February by the PoliceService of Northern Irelandand An Garda Síochána.

The project Diversity Works isfunded through the EuropeanUnion’s PEACE II Programmeand endeavours to challengeofficers’ perceptions and raisetheir awareness of diversity

issues. It is to comprise around55 one-day training sessionsto be held in both NorthernIreland and the Republic ofIreland this year. Training willbe delivered by PSNI/Gardatrainers who will be assistedby a team of expert diversityfacilitators appointed fromthe community.

Speaking at the launch,the Police Service of NorthernIreland Chief ConstableSir Hugh Orde welcomedthe roll-out of the training

programme. “This initiativeis another positive step inbuilding further on the existingco-operation between the PSNIand An Garda Síochána andis designed to enable officersto deliver a more effectiveservice to every community.

“Both Northern Irelandandthe Republic of Irelandare becoming more diversesocieties and we as policeofficers must be able tounderstand and appreciatethe different cultures that make

Launching the innovative Diversity Works training programme are (l-r): Sir Hugh Orde, Chief Constable,Police Service of Northern Ireland; Pat Colgan, Chief Executive, Special EU Programmes Bodyand Noel Conroy, Garda Commissioner.

PEACE


up the communities we serve.Diversity training is also abouthelping officers to recognisethe policing needs of eachindividual whether that is bytheir religion, gender, sexualorientation, ethnic background,physical or mental abilitiesor age.”

The An Garda SíochánaCommissioner Noel Conroysaid the training programmewas an important step inbringing together the twoorganisations to workto promote diversity.

Commissioner Conroy said:“The programme will developpolice officers’ skills in dealingwith differences, recognizingthe role of group think andacknowledging the uniquecharacteristics of policingin Ireland - North and South.

“The emerging diversityof society on this island hasthe capacity to enrich all ourcommunities and to showcaseboth jurisdictions as anexample of best practicein promoting inclusion.”

Your EU! Spring 2006 11

News & Info

The biggest annual eventon European regional policy,‘European Week of Regionsand Cities - OPEN DAYS 2006’,is taking place in Brusselsbetween 9 and 12October 2006.

The Committee of the Regionsand the European Commission’sRegional Policy DirectorateGeneral organise the week.134 partner regions andcities from 20 MemberStates, two candidate countriesand Norway and Switzerland will

take part this year. The theme ofthe week is ‘Investing in Europe’sRegions and Cities: Public andPrivate Partners for Growth andJobs’. The organisers expectmore than 3,000 participantsto visit the 80 workshops.

The subjects coveredby the workshops will be:■ Investing in competitive

enterprises and high quality jobs.

■ Fostering regional innovation.

■ Investing in sustainable

use of resources and environmental technologies.

■ Supporting public-private partnerships for larger infrastructure projects, and,

■ Cutting red tape: Managing the Structural Funds between 2007and 2013.

For information on OPEN DAYS2006, visit the following websitehttp://europa.eu.int/comm/regionalpolicy/conferences/od2006


PEACE II AnnualImplementation Report 2004The fifth annual report of theEU Programme for Peaceand Reconciliation in NorthernIreland and the Border Regionof Ireland (2000 - 2004) hasbeen prepared by the SpecialEU Programmes Body.

PEACE II Mid-termEvaluation Update

The Mid-term Evaluation ofPEACE II has been updatedfollowing its extension.A summary of the updateis now available. Copiesof both publications canbe downloadable fromhttp://www.seupb.org/pubpeace.htm or on requestfrom Programme Office,SEUPB, 6 Cromac Place,Belfast BT7 2JB.

New reports published

Invitation to Brussels open daysNewTechnologyExposedLeading Europeantechnology will be onshow in Newry for theE-europe4all conferenceon 18 and 19 May inthe Canal Court Hotel.

The conference willshowcase the beste-technology in Europe.

There will interactivedemonstrations of e-health,e-business, e-commerce,e-government, ande-community.

For further details, includingregistration, itineraryand current sponsorsvisit www.e-europe4all.netor contact Joanne Hugheson +44 (0)28 9039 3837;email [email protected]


Project News

Birthday marks Taughmonagh’s £1 million investment

A day nursery situatedin South Belfast’sTaughmonagh Estaterecently celebrated itsfirst birthday - a milestonereached thanks to thesupport of the EuropeanUnion Programme forPeace and Reconciliation.

On hand to help withthe celebrations were PatColgan, Chief Executive ofthe Special EU ProgrammesBody which is the managingauthority for the PEACE IIprogramme and Jim AllisterMEP, who has taken a keeninterest in the estate.

The Scribbles Day Nursery,which is situated in the centreof the estate, received£244,000 from the PEACEprogramme and now employsnine fully qualified staff andcares for up to 39 childrenaged between 3 monthsand 4 years. The projectis seen as a model exampleof a social economicproject funded by theEU through the BelfastLocal Strategy Partnership.

Pat Colgan, SEUPBChief Executive, saidthat Taughmonagh was anoutstanding demonstrationof the transition which could

be achieved throughworking in partnership withcommunities and drawingupon the expertise andsupport, in this case,of the Belfast LocalStrategy Partnership.

“Each and every day thePEACE programme is makinga significant difference to thelives of thousands of peoplein Northern Ireland as wellas in the Border region.The Taughmonagh projectis just one example ofhow the EU’s investmenthas acted as a catalystfor meaningful change.”he said.

Image Above: At the first birthday celebration for the Scribbles nursery were: Jim Allister, MEP (left);Pat Colgan, Chief Executive, SEUPB (right) and three-year old Joshua Hamilton (middle).

PEACE


An exciting Rural Showcaseproject, hosted on theinnovative Culture NorthernIreland web site, reflects therichness and diversity of rurallife and heritage in NorthernIreland as never before- and all in the spaceof a few mouse-clicks.

The Rural Showcase aims togive rural locations parity with

metropolitan centres bypresenting rural Northern Irelandon a hi-tech platform. Theproject is funded by theEuropean Union Programmefor Peace and Reconciliationthrough the RuralDevelopment Council.

Launched in February, theonline multimedia showcasecelebrates the amazing diversity

of rural life. It comprises afascinating collection of articles,photoessays and short filmsshowcasing rural life. Morethan a hundred contributorshave taken part in the project,including Rathlin Co-operativeSociety, Cookstown andWestern Shores Area Network,Regeneration of South Armaghnetwork and the Glens of AntrimHistorical Society. The

CultureNorthernIreland website was launched one yearago to showcase NorthernIreland’s cultural assets in theinternational arena. It resultsfrom a partnership between theNerve Centre in Londonderryand the Linen Hall Libraryin Belfast.

PEACE

Project News


Image Above: Rural life on Rathlin Island is showcased online thanks to contributions from the Rathlin Co-operative Society.(Image reproduced courtesy of the Linen Hall Library, Belfast)

Rural Life showcased online

Celebrating the achievementsof Rural Development wasthe theme for the first co-ordinated ‘Rural Life Week’in March. The week longseries of events, activitiesand promotions was aimed

at creating a betterunderstanding of whatrural development is allabout. The focus wason communities, groupsand individuals participatingin the current programme who

provided true examples ofthe contribution local peoplemake to the developmentand sustainability of ruralareas. There were alsoopportunities to discussshaping rural development

in the future. The weekwas coordinated by the RuralDevelopment Council and theRural Development Divisionof DARD.

Rural Life Celebrated

INTERREG


John and the‘Gate to Plate’ farm initiative


Main Image: John Barron, who is participating in the ‘Gate to Plate’ project, at his Donegal farm where he keeps a suckler herd.

“

“

The project group is working on a range

of actions that farmers can introduce

to improve the quality of the suckler herd on

a family farm. In particular, we are focusing on

improvements in animal welfare, good farming

practice, food chain safety, health and safety

and business competitiveness.

John Barron, Ballyshannon.

Ballyshannon farmer John Barron is one of 40 cattle farmersin the West Fermanagh, North Leitrim, North Sligo and SouthDonegal area participating in the Gate to Plate project.The project aims to help them sustain and improvethe family farm income through improving the qualityof their suckler herds.

The cross border project is being run by MED Rural DevelopmentCompany Ltd, and was awarded €385,000 in European Unionfunding through the Irish Central Border Area INTERREG IIIAPartnership (ICBAN).

John has been managing his Donegal farm business for 15 yearsand has a herd of 40 suckler cows and their followers. He spoketo Your EU! about his involvement in ‘Gate to Plate’.

Launched in September 2005, the project runs regular networkingevents on a cross border basis. Networking opportunities are also

made for producers to link with similar groups, breed societies,processors and retailers - further promoting the ‘gate to plate’ideal. The project also offers participants professional mentorsupport on a one to one basis to help them assessand improve the farm business.

John feels he is benefiting from his project involvement in anumber of ways. “It is good that the project is addressing anumber of issues that are not currently widely addressed, inparticular animal welfare. For example, there is an accompanyingsmall grants programme for participants: I have used the moneyfrom this to purchase rubber matting to cover the slatted floorwhere the cattle are housed and a new meal storage bin - smallsteps that improve life for the cattle and safety in the food chain.

“The project is also examining the important issue of ‘maternaltraits’ in a bid to find solutions to the common problem of cowsnot producing enough milk to suckle their calves. We had a visitinganimal breeder expert attend one of our meetings and the exchangeof views and breeding tips was useful.”

John said that he enjoys the exchange of views and informationwith the other participants at the regular networking events, andespecially the exchanges with the farmers from Northern Ireland.

In addition to participating in the project John acts aMentor to a group of ten other participants.“In this role,I work alongside the farmers, exploring ways to improve theirbusiness competitiveness and assisting the project managerin addressing the needs of the participants through meetings,specialist advice and training activities,” he explained.“In particular this role gives me the opportunityto have more regular contact with and to learnfrom others in the same business as me”. INTERREG




Project News

INTERREG

Project News

NEW DENTAL TRAINING CENTRE in the North West

A new training facility inStrabane offers dentists anddental staff from both sidesof the border in the NorthWest region opportunitiesto take part in professionaldevelopment coursesthat are run locally.

The centre was fundedby the European Union’sINTERREG IIIA Programmeunder Measure 3.2 ‘Healthand Well-being’, throughCooperation and WorkingTogether (CAWT), the crossborder health and social carepartnership. The state of the artCross Border Dental OutreachCentre opened in April last yearat the North West Institute ofFurther and Higher Education

campus. Judi McGaffin, Directorof Dental Health with theWestern Health and SocialServices Board, was a keyplayer in setting up the Centre,working collaboratively withthe Health Service Executivein the Republic of Ireland.

Summarising the Centre’sactivities Ms McGaffin said.“The Centre currently runshands on postgraduate coursesfor dentists on both sides ofthe border and an oral healtheducation certificate coursefor dental nurses on bothsides of the border.

“Cross border cooperationbetween health serviceproviders is ongoing and wehope to introduce courses

for dental nurses who areregistering with the GeneralDental Council. In addition,looking ahead, we would intendto run careers information daysfor local schools to includehands on experience.”

Strabane dentist, Dr DonalMcEnhill, recently completeda postgraduate short courseon endodontics. He said of thenew Centre: “This is a first-classtraining facility - a centreof excellence.

“As dentists we must complete15 hours of verifiable continuingprofessional development eachyear. It is great now that in theNorth-West area dentists, dentalnurses, therapists, hygienistsand everyone working in the

field have the opportunityfor professional developmentcourses on our door step -without the need to travel toBelfast, Dublin or further afield.

“I was very impressed tooby the video conferencinglinks the Centre can offer.It is possible in the Centreto receive instruction in aspecialist field by linkingup with an expert in adental school anywhere.

“I congratulate Judi McGaffinand the partnership team thatsecured this facility for the NorthWest,” Dr McEnhill added.

Image Above: Dr Andrew Bolas, Deputy Principal Oral Surgeon, HSE North Western area,gets to grips with facilities at the Cross Border Dental Outreach Centre in Strabane.


WELCOMEto GoodFood.ie


A new web site -www.goodfood.iewas launched in January aspart of a project funded by theEuropean Union’s INTERREGIIIA Programme, through theIrish Central Border AreaINTERREG IIIA Partnership(ICBAN).

The web site’s creation isone of the latest initiatives ofthe Euro-Toques Small FoodInitiative, aiming to bring chefsand restaurateurs togetherwith small food producers fromthe border and cross borderto encourage local sourcingof quality food.

Nick Price is head chefand proprietor of the Belfastrestaurant Nick’s Warehousewhere the web site launch tookplace. One of Euro-Toques 200members in Ireland he said:“Euro-Toques is very happy tobe involved with this initiativethat is intended to encourage

small producers. We wantmore people to take up cheesemaking or growing vegetablesin wind tunnels, on a smallscale, for the restaurant market:it’s not always necessary togo after the mass market.”

Gearoid Lynch, Euro-Toquessteering committee memberand chef proprietor of theOlde Post Inn, County Cavan,pointed out the potential valueof the website: “It provideschefs with information aboutproducers in their areas andallows them to share knowledgeand communicate via thediscussion forum”.

Image: Euro-Toques chefs Nick Price(left) and Gearoid Lynch launch thewebsite as part of the Euro-Toquessmall food initiative.

PEACE

INTERREG

Councils and Local StrategyPartnerships in the BelfastMetropolitan Region arecontinuing with their exchangesof best practice with regionsthroughout Europe, with fundingfrom the European Union Peaceand Reconciliation Programmefor the Connect project.

The Connect project aims tofacilitate an exchange of know

how and best practice ondevelopment issues such asurban regeneration and socialpartnerships. To date the projecthas included best practiceexchanges with the Valenciaregion in Spain and theStockholm City Region inSweden. In April, there will bea two-way exchange betweenthe Comet region and Vilniusin Lithuania.

The exchange with Stockholmtook place last autumn andincluded a visit to the Cometregion to see best practice ineconomic development andcreative industries. As part ofthe three day visit the delegationalso visited other PEACE IIfunded projects. Members ofthe Swedish entourage wereextremely impressed and onedelegate stated, “In Sweden,

Comet making connectionswhere almost half of thepopulation is against EUmembership, many peoplethink that the EU wastemoney on useless subsidiesto other countries.

“When we visited Belfastwe could see the beneficialresults of EU funding andthat it makes a differenceand really contributes toimportant development”.


Project News


Sailors enjoy improvements at Kinnego Marina

Paul Magee, Assistant HarbourMaster at Kinnego Marina onLough Neagh at Craigavon,is pleased to report thatthe recent improvementsmade to two jetties atthe marina are proving tobe a great success withthe sailing community.

With part funding of €185,000from the European Union’sINTERREG IIIA Programmethrough the East Border RegionTourism Partnership, additionalberths at the marina werecreated. The initiative is partof an EU funded €2.6 milliontourism development project

being implementing to promotecross border developmentand co-operation.

“Thanks to the recent investment,two older-style jetties that hada capacity of 50 berths havebeen replaced with modern,new and extended jetties with10 additional berths.

And users find the modernjetties more accessible,”Paul Magee explained.

Image Above: Pictured at the launchof the enhanced facilities at Kinnegomarina on Lough Neagh are (l-r): Mayorof Craigavon, Councillor GeorgeSavage; Paddy Prunty, Harbour Masterfor Kinnego Marina; Dette Hughes,Pamela Arthurs and Jackie Crowe.

Six of the famous tall ships, along with over 100 other boats ofall shapes and sizes, will set sail up Lough Foyle on 4 June, asthe finale to the first Celtic European Festival of the Sea, whichis supported by the European Union’s INTERREG IIIA programme.

The Celtic European Festival of the Sea is supported by the INTERREGIIIA Programme through the Department of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment, Border Action and the Irish Central Border Area Network.It is managed by North West Rural Development.

Additional funding has been secured from the Loughs Agencyand the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.The Celtic European Festival of the Sea celebrates the North West’sshared rich maritime heritage. It will run 22 May - 4 June, with a seriesof events to take place along the north coast, run by the five Councilareas involved: Coleraine, Derry, Donegal, Limavady and Moyle.For further information on the Festival log onto www.maritimefestival.net

Tall ships set sail for Lough Foyle

INTERREG


Taoiseach Bertie AhernTD confirmed his supportfor a further extension ofthe PEACE Programmeduring a visit to the CreativeCrosslinks cross communityyouth project currentlyfunded under the EuropeanUnion’s Programme forPeace and Reconciliation(PEACE II).

he Belfast project isa partnership between

Youth Initiatives (lead partnerbased in West Belfast) and

Oasis Caring in Action(based in inner East Belfast).

Creative Crosslinks aims tohelp young people (aged 14-20) in disadvantaged areas todevelop skills, self-confidenceand self-understanding andin practical terms to bridgegaps in understandingand relationships.

Through the media of dance,drama, art, IT and musicthe project addresses issuesof self-awareness, cultural

awareness, prejudice,leadership, citizenshipand respect for diversity andbrings together young peoplefrom different communitieswho would not normallymeet each other.

Doug Smith, Director of YouthInitiatives, the CreativeCrosslinks project leadpartner said: “We weredelighted to share withthe Taoiseach the work ofCreative Crosslinks, which isjust one example of a project

which is making a realdifference in breaking downbarriers and building peaceand reconciliation here.

“Without the PEACE II fundingwe would not have beenable to provide these much-needed services for youngpeople and are hopeful thata further extension to theprogramme would enableus to develop and expandour services.”

PEACE

Project News


Taoiseach visits cross community youth project

Image Above: Taoiseach Bertie Ahern TD with Pat Colgan, SEUB Chief Executive and Doug Smith, Director of Youth Initiatives,the Creative Crosslinks project lead partner, enjoyed a creative performance of song and dance from young project participants during their visit.

T


The Commission will considerproposals for the following areas:

1. eGovernment

2. eHealth

3. eInclusion

4. eLearning

5. Trust & Security, and

6. Services supporting small andmedium-sized enterprise.

Funding of up to 50%(or 100% under theadditional cost model)is available.

Total budget: €45.6 million.

Deadline for proposals:19 May 2006.

Further details at:http://europa.eu.int/eten

Innovative Youth Projects

In the framework of theYouth Programme, theEuropean Commissionhas published a call forproposals for innovativecooperation, trainingand information projectsin non-formal education.

Priority themes include: culturaldiversity and tolerance; less-favoured regions; innovationin EU citizenship education;and cooperation betweenlocal or regional authoritiesand youth NGOs. Projectsmust have a clear transnationaldimension and must lead tonew or enhanced partnerships.

Total budget: €2 million.


News & Info

Programmecalls for proposalsIntelligent Energy Europe

The Intelligent Energy Europe(IEE) programme (2000-‘06)will publish the last call forproposals in May 2006.

About €55 million willbe available to co-financeprojects on energy efficiency,renewables, intelligent useof energy in transport andto create new local or regionalenergy agencies. The deadlinefor applications is the endof October 2006.

There is a EuropeanInformation Day in Brusselson 30 May and there are plansfor National Information Days.Further details at:http://europa.eu.int/comm/energy/intelligent/index_en.html

Town Twinning

The 2006 call for proposalsto promote Active EuropeanCitizenship will support citizens’meetings in the framework oftown-twinning. Meetings shouldaim to raise awareness of theEU and reinforce commitment

to European integration.They should:

■ Bring EU citizens closer together and increasetheir sense of ‘Europeaness’.

■ Promote active citizen participation to discussthe future of the EU, and

■ Create new, and strengthen existing, links between municipalitiesin Europe.

Total budget: €7.5 million.

Grants for a project can rangefrom €2,000 to €20,000. Thenext deadlines for proposals are3 April and 1 June 2006.

Further details at:http://europa.eu.int/comm/towntwinning/call/call_en.html

e-Services

To help set up e-servicesin the EU, the EuropeanCommission is callingfor proposals to support‘initial deployment’ or‘market validation’ underthe eTEN programme.


News & Info


A wide-ranging consultationto identify priorities forEuropean Union StructuralFunds spending across theUK from 2007 to 2013 hasbeen launched.

A Northern Ireland chapterincludes proposals forhigh-level priorities toimprove competitivenessand employment.The consultation asksfor comments on:■ A draft ‘National Strategic

Reference Framework’for future Structural Funds Programmes in the UK

to establish the broad priorities for Structural Fundsspending across the UKfor the period 2007-2013.

■ The Government’s proposals for distributingthe UK’s Structural Funds allocations under the new Competitiveness Objective,and

■ Future arrangementsfor delivery of the Funds.

Structural Funds are used toreduce regional disparities andto promote regional developmentand employment. The prioritiesproposed for the UK are closelylinked to those of the Lisbon

National Consultationon Future Structural Funds


Funding per project canbe between €100,000and €300,000. 10 to 15projects will be supported.

Deadline for applications:1 July 2006.

Further details at:http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth/call/index_en.html

Ireland’s Structural FundsAllocation for 2007-2013

The European Commissionis planning to provide €811million of Structural Fundsto Ireland for the 2007to 2013 period. This is roughlyin line with expectations. Thebreakdown of the money is: ■ €419 million for the Border,

Midlands and Western region.

■ €260 million for the Southern and Eastern Region.

■ €74 million for Territorial Co-operation (€63 million for cross-borderco-operation and €11 million for transnationalco-operation).

A further €58 million is forthe PEACE programme.

Funding to the BMW region willstart with €143 million in 2007and drop to €13 million in thefinal three years.

Money for the otherprogrammes will be spreadevenly through the 7-year period.

The figures are a guide to helpplanning and confirmation willfollow approval of the StructuralFunds Regulations in July.

Agenda aiming to promote jobsand growth in Europe.

The Northern Ireland chapter isclosely linked to the EconomicVision document launched bythe Government last year andincludes a strong focus onactivities to support enterprise,innovation and sustainabledevelopment as well as boostingskills and employment.

Welcoming the consultation,Minister of State, Jeff Rookersaid: “It is important that thisfunding is used to maximumadvantage here to increaseeconomic prosperity andemployment and we are keento receive all views on theproposals in the document.During the consultation period

we will be actively engagingwith stakeholders to seekviews on what is the rightstrategic framework forfuture mainstream EU Fundsspending in Northern Ireland.”

The consultation endson 22 May 2006.

The consultation document anddraft National Framework areavailable on the DTI website athttp://www.dti.gov.uk/europe/nsrf.html

The draft CommunityStrategic Guidelines areavailable on the EuropeanCommission website athttp://europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/sources/docoffic/2007/osc/index_en.htm

IT Express supportedGreg’s return to work


Main Image: Tutor Ronan Small and the specialist IT training available at the Oasis Centre in East Belfast helped Greg Hanna secure a great job.

“

“

Employers said they were looking for

a ‘hands-on’ professional qualification,

together with work experience. At that point

this was a big disappointment to me. But then

I saw the IT Express course advertised. It offered

the qualification known as an MCSA (Microsoft

Certified Systems Administrator), which is very

highly sought after in the IT industry and had

been mentioned at an interview I attended.

Greg Hanna, East Belfast.


PEACE


Greg Hanna of East Belfast, who is employed asan IT Administrator with BT, states simply that he is“the living proof that the IT Express course works”.

Greg had studied part-time at the Belfast Institute of Furtherand Higher Education over a four-year period for an AdvancedDiploma and then a Higher National Diploma, only to find that thesequalifications weren’t quite enough to secure the job he wantedin the IT field.

Greg signed up for the course almost two years ago. As a singleparent with a small son, he was delighted that support in the wayof crèche facilities was also available.

The European Union funded IT Express project started two yearsago at the Oasis Centre in East Belfast to train unemployed peoplein areas of computer engineering. Students spend 12 months on

the course, six in-house working for the MCSA qualification andthe other six on work placement. The project is funded by the EUProgramme for Peace and Reconciliation, through Proteus (NI) Ltd.

“The whole course was a fantastic opportunity - so well worthwhile.I can’t say enough good about it. I would strongly recommendit to anyone who wants to work in IT. Yes, it’s hard work, butif you want a job in IT and put in the work, then IT Expressequips you with the skills you need,” Greg says.

Greg found that the work placement experience in particular wasinvaluable. “The Oasis Centre has forged very successful partnershipswith placement providers - AVEC Solutions, SureSkills, BIC Systems,Belfast City Council, Castlereagh Council and BT to name a few.I was placed with SureSkills, an IT outsourcing business. Not onlydid I gain technical experience in the company’s Belfast office,but also got fantastic experience by working with their client BT.

“The personal development module also helped build up myconfidence for interviews. It included such topics as assertiveness,self-confidence and interview techniques.

“In fact I wouldn’t have the job I hold today if I hadn’t done thecourse and got the BT work experience,” says Greg summing up.Three months after completing the course, Greg applied for theposition he now holds with BT.

Greg’s course tutor, Ronan Small, commented: “The coursecombination of taught modules and work placement seems tohave worked and the success has been great both for the centreand students. To date, seventeen people have completed training,with four currently participating. Of those seventeen 10 - includingGreg Hanna - have gained employment in the IT industry. Two havegone on to University to start computer degrees and twoare currently on placement.”


Implementing Body News

CAWT ‘SAILS’ away withEU-wide cross border award

The Europe-wide ‘Sail ofPapenburg’ Award, thatrecognises excellence incross border co-operation,has recently been awarded tocross border health and socialcare partnership Co-operationand Working Together(CAWT).

The award was presented bythe Association of EuropeanBorder Regions (AEBR) atits recent annual conferencein Drama, Greece.

A variety of cross borderprojects - 52 in total -were entered for the ‘Sailof Papenburg’ award from anumber of sectors includingeconomic, social andinfrastructure and culture.The judges selected CAWTas the overall winner andan innovative and effectivemodel of how cross borderco-operation can be plannedand implemented.This is the fourth year the ‘Sailof Papenburg’ award has beenpresented and the first timethat an Ireland / Northern

Ireland project has beenrecognised.

It is also the first award of itskind to be presented for healthand social care services.

Speaking following thepresentation of the award,Colm Donaghy, DirectorGeneral of CAWT said,“Cross border linkagesbetween the two jurisdictions’health and social care sectorsare well established.

“Management and staff havebeen engaged in cross borderwork since 1993, mainlythrough cross borderworking groups:

“It is wonderful tohave this recognitionand to be able to profileCAWT as a successfulmodel of cross borderco-operation in action.”

www.cawt.com


PEACE INTERREG

The Irish Central BorderArea Network (ICBAN)celebrated its tenth anniversaryin December with a celebrationof their work at LustyBeg Island.

n attendance were representatives from

ICBAN’s 58 projects fromacross Ireland/Northern Ireland;Councillors of the ICBAN Board;special guests Mary Buntingand Joe Hayes, Joint Secretariatof the North South MinisterialCouncil and representativesof ICBAN’s social partners fromacross the voluntary, communityand statutory sector.

ICBAN was formed back in1995 to try and address some

of the region’s problems througha cross border approach. Sincethen there have been manychanges, and ICBAN haschanged and grown to becomea dynamic, effective andsuccessful model for crossborder development.

Over the last three years,the organisation has beenparticularly active as they werecontracted to implement a largepart of the INTERREG IIIAProgramme. To date, they haveoffered funding for fifty-eightprojects totalling over €21million.

The projects are varied andmeet the needs of many interestgroups. Chairman Caillin Ellis,“We have funded project

ranging from softwaredesign programme for specialneeds training and educationalmaterials, to the eco tourismGreen Box initiative. We havealso concentrated on traditionalsectors too, and so we have thesupported the 3rd level collegesin establishing RoboticsEngineering Centres in Sligoand Ballymena and also fundednew processing equipmentwhich will add value to shellfish products at Errigal Fishin South Donegal. Dozensof jobs have been createdand business innovationand business growth havebeen particularly significant”.

As well as delivering animportant part of the INTERREG

IIIA Programme, ICBANalso secured monies forinfrastructure improvementworks, on roads and harbours,and is active in policy areas suchas cross border tourism andwaste management. The totalfunds levered into the regionby ICBAN over the lasttwo years is €32 million.The most important resulthowever, is the increasedcross border working, thenew relationships and a jointapproach to overcomingshared problems.

Coinciding with the10th birthday celebration,ICBAN’s redevelopedwebsite was launched.www.icban.com

ICBAN celebrates 10th Birthday!Implementing Body News


I

Over 80 representativesinvolved in cross-borderEuropean Union Peace andReconciliation Programmeinitiatives attended aone-day conference onWednesday 25 January.Hosted jointly by the

Community RelationsCouncil and SpecialEuropean UnionProgrammes Body itwas the fifth of sevenevents intended to highlightand discuss the impactof the European Union’s

€576 million investmentthrough the PEACE IIprogramme.

Conference reviewed cross-border PEACE initiatives


Image: Jim Dennison (Director EuropeanProgramme), Duncan Morrow(Chief Executive Officer CommunityRelations Council) and Pat Colgan(Chief Executive SEUPB).


Project News

INTERREG

CAMERAS ROLL, for Louth, Newry & Mourne Film Commission

Launched in November last year,the new Louth, Newry & MourneFilm Commission, is makinggood headway in drawingproduction companies to theattractions of the beautiful regionaround Carlingford Lough,thanks to support from theEuropean Union’s INTERREGIIIA Programme.

‘14 Days in Great Britain’,a documentary made by aLos Angeles based productioncompany at locations throughoutGreat Britain, was partially filmedin Newry. An exhibition of stillphotography from last summer’sshoot will be on display in theSean Hollywood Arts Centre inNewry for a week in June (3-10)

with a Newry screening ofthe documentary plannedfor Saturday, 10 June.

Your EU! spoke to Mairtínde Barra, Director of the FilmCommission, to find out moreabout the role of theCommissionthat is also supported by LouthCounty Council and Newry& Mourne District Council.

“At this relatively early stageof the project we are primarilyfocusing on strengtheningthe Commission’s profilethroughout the industry with arange of marketing activities andbuilding good relationships withmedia producers. To date, wehave received over 70 enquiries,with one low budget feature film

‘Fiddlers Walk’, one featuredocumentary, part of a newIrish Feature Film ‘In LikeFlynn’, a BBC Northern Irelanddocumentary ‘So you thoughtyou knew Cuchulainn’ and anAsda commercial. We are inadvanced discussions with twoother projects which we hopewill film here in the near future.

“We have put together acomprehensive package forproducers with the support oflocal business and community.Our aim is to make it as attractiveas possible for them to comeand film in our region. We havecompiled for their use lists oflocal extras, hotels, locationsand more. With our ownbackgrounds in film and

television location management,Assistant Director Pat Nangleand I can offer support with thefine detail of filming on location.For example, we act as a singlecontact for all enquiries relatingto Council services in LouthCounty Council and Newry & Mourne District Council,including road closures, parkingissues, etc,” Mairtín reports.

There’s little doubt that futuretourism to the region can onlybenefit from increasing the area’spresence in television andfilm programmes.

Image Above: Shooting on location arranged by the Louth, Newry & Mourne Film Commission.


CROSS BORDER TRAININGsupported in Blackwater region


Project News

Testament to its success,more than 320 local peopletook part in a wide rangeof training courses offeredduring the first year ofthe Blackwater RegionalPartnership’s HumanResources and Re-skillingproject funded bythe European Union.

The three-year cross borderproject provides rural peoplein the Dungannon, Armaghand Monaghan areas withopportunities to experience

life-long learning and developskills, right in the heart of theirown communities. It alsoenhances qualifications andskills levels in the border region.Funding for the project hasbeen received from the EU’sINTEREG IIIA Programmethrough the Irish Central BorderArea Interreg IIIA Partnership(ICBAN), with additionalsupport form local councils.

The wide choice of coursesoffered for the second yearranges from hill-walking and

mountain leadership, toconservation constructionskills that include dry stonewalling, and from hospitalitymanagement to IT businessskills for SMEs.

The project works inpartnership with the localcollege and other trainingproviders to run the coursesin local community centres.After training, participantscan arrange a meetingwith guidance services toexamine progression routes.

Annette McGarrity runs a B&Bbusiness on the main roadbetween Auchnacloy andBallygawley. She has alreadycompleted three coursesthrough the programme - arefresher course in basic foodhygiene, then the intermediatefood hygiene, plus a foodservice course. “The fact thatthe courses were run so closeby in the community centrewas very appealing” she said.

“Not only is the trainingmore accessible, but beinglocal I knew most of the otherparticipants which made theenvironment more informal andfriendly: it was less intimidatingthan going somewhere elsewhere you don’t knowthe people.”

In addition, Mrs McGarrity saidthat she picked up some usefultips for marketing her smallbusiness and on managingher finances from the businessset up and advice talks givenon the courses. “The courseencouraged me to approachlocal industry and businessesto arrange special ratesfor their business visitorsand to distribute morepromotional leaflets.”

Image Above: Annette McGarrity and her B&B business have benefited from the training she undertook in her local communitycentre through the Blackwater Regional Partnership’s Human resources and Re-skilling project.

INTERREG



Project NewsProject News

Psychological legacy of‘The Troubles’ surveyedA large-scale surveyexamining the long-termpsychological effectsof the Troubles found aconsiderable proportionof the population experiencesignificant mental healthproblems that they attributedirectly to the Troubles.

The ‘Legacy of the Troubles:Mental Health and Attitudesto Reconciliation’ was a crossborder collaborative researchproject conducted byresearchers from theSchool of Psychologyat Queen’s University

Belfast and the Department ofApplied Psychology, UniversityCollege Cork. The project wasfunded by the European UnionProgramme for Peace andReconciliation throughBorder Action.

Findings from the project’ssurvey were revealed ata conference in Armaghlast November.

3000 people from NorthernIreland and the six bordercounties of the Irish Republicwere surveyed in 2004for the report.

Queen’s University School ofPsychology Senior LecturerDr Orla Muldoon directed thesurvey. She said the resultsshowed the Troubles did havea significant effect on somepeople’s lives: “One in10 people reported post-traumatic symptoms thatare suggestive of clinicalPost Traumatic StressDisorder (PTSD).”

It also found that PTSD wastwice as common in NorthernIreland than in the bordercounties: however, onein 20 respondents from

the border counties alsodisplayed clinical symptomssuggestive of PTSD asa result of the Troubles.

“What these findings tell usis that there is a proportionof people living in NorthernIreland and the six bordercounties that have beentraumatised by The Troubles.

“The findings also showthat while The Troubleshave affected people inNorthern Ireland and theborder counties, the effectof the conflict has not beenfelt evenly across thepopulation - some havesuffered while othershave not suffered at all,”Dr Muldoon added.

PEACE

Support for carers of people affected by mentalillness has been provided thanks to funding assistance fromthe European Union Peace and Reconciliation Programme.

Twenty-five carers and mental health professionals havebenefited from specialist training and support received onan innovative pilot-project run by Co-operation and WorkingTogether (CAWT) in association with mental health family

Caring for Carers support specialists The Meriden Programme. Initially, thirteenmental health professional staff and carers participated ina ‘Training for Trainers’ course which provided them with theknowledge and skills jointly to run a carer support programme.Following on from this, two mental health professionals andtwo carers delivered a pilot carer support programme totwelve carers drawn from the Health Service ExecutiveNW region. This pilot carer support programmeis gradually being rolled out across the region.

Read on page 31 how the programme benefited one participant, Mae Kelly.


PEACE


Harmony in Action Teamsimprove community green spaces

Enhanced green spacesfeaturing interlinked pathwaysare part of the NewhavenTrust’s Harmony in ActionTeams (HATS II) projects inthe Newry/Dundalk borderarea which are nearingcompletion, thanks to helpfrom the European Union.

articipants from two communities are working

together to design andcreate two environmentalimprovement schemes.A strong working relationshipwas developed duringthe HATS I project betweencommunities of Damolly/Shandon Park, Newry(perceived as predominantlyProtestant) and the Bay Estate,Dundalk (perceived aspredominantly Catholic).

“To date we havecompleted work on thegreen area north of theborder at Shandon Park,providing much neededrecreational and openspace for the entirecommunity to use,”

commented HATS IIDevelopment Officer,

John Stewart. “We commencedthe Bay Estate green areaenhancement schemein February.”

Funded under INTERREG IIIAthe tri-community partnershipis led by Newhaven Trust.

The project’s aim is todismantle barriers toinclusiveness by way ofphysical and course workthat will bring mutual benefitsto both communities.

Fiona Campbell, ProjectsManager with NewhavenTrust said that HATS IIhas been “an excitingand rewarding projectto be part of.

“It brings people from botha cross border and crosscommunity perspectivetogether to work in harmonyto complete much neededfacilities for their respectivecommunities.”

Shandon Park, Newry where community groups improved their local green space. Admiring the end resultsare (l-r): Audrey Moody, Shandon Park; Joe Coyle, managing director Newhaven Trust & Mary McArdle,Chairperson Shandon Park.

INTERREGPProjects part-financed by the European Union

Project News

Carers course helped Mae


Main Image: Support for carers of people affected by mental illness has been provided through the innovative Caring for Carers training programme, fundedby PEACE II and run by Co-operation and Working Together (CAWT) in association with mental health family support specialists The Meriden Programme.

“ “

The first time my son was admitted

to hospital I knew I needed counselling

of some sort. I enquired at the hospital to

be told that there was nothing available.

I nearly hit rock bottom.

Mae Kelly, Manorhamilton.

Mae Kelly cares for her son who suffers fromSchizophrenia. Since his diagnosis nine years ago,Mae has learnt to accept each day as it comes.


PEACE


Here she reflects on her experience of the Caring for CarersProgramme made possible by the European Union’s PEACE IIfunding through CAWT.

I accepted the invitation to join the training programme with much

apprehension. I was joining a group of 13 people comprising doctors,

community psychiatric nurses, nurses and carers training to become

facilitators of a new ‘Caring for Carers’ course. I wondered how the

‘playing field’ would level out, but soon found that while each person’s

story and needs were different, we all had a common goal.

The course was very intensive and involved a lot of reading at homein the evening in preparation for the next day’s activities. However,it was well presented and I found the language easy to understandand the enthusiasm and professionalism of each presenter

really motivating.

When the course ended, we were divided into teams. I was selectedto facilitate the ‘Cross-Border’ project with two ‘professional’ ladiesand another ‘carer’. We delivered the pilot carer support programmeto twelve carers from Sligo Town, North Sligo/South Donegal,

North Leitrim, West Cavan and Fermanagh.

The course consisted of 11 evening sessions lasting two hours.

The title of the last session was ‘Taking Care of Your Own Health’and I gave a presentation on my recovery. It was hard to condensenine years’ experience into a few minutes. I do feel that carers benefitfrom talking about their experiences and there’s not much opportunityto do so.

I believe that accepting my son’s illness was the start of the recovery

process for me. I realised that I could not live my son’s life for him -I had to allow him to be ill on the one hand and to be a normal person(i.e. himself) on the other and treat him as such and give him his ownspace. I also realised that I could try to improve my own life in orderto be a better wife and mother to my other children.

Between reading self-help books and attending a few coursesrecommended by our community psychiatric nurse I started to getback on track. We were blessed to have had an excellent communitypsychiatric nurse who spared no effort to keep our, or at least my,head above water during those bleak times. Progress was slow,

is continual and requires renewed effort.

It was gratifying to hear some of the carers say at the end of thecourse “at least I can talk about my loved one’s illness now and haveacquired a lot of information on the illness and on the system.”

It makes such a difference to the way you cope with a situation

like this. I really wish I’d had the benefit of a course like this early

on in my son’s illness.

PEACE

New bus station for Downpatrick

32 Spring 2006 Your EU!

Public transport users inthe Down region are enjoyingthe benefits of a new busstation in Downpatrick thanksto support from the EuropeanUnion. Convenience,comfort and accessibilityare its hallmarks.

The modern new passengerfacility was purpose-built tothe highest specification, withfunding from PEACE II, as partof a £2 million plus investmentto improve Northern Ireland’spublic transport stationinfrastructure. The Downpatrickproject also included theupgrade and refurbishmentof the neighbouring busengineering facilities.

Gary Mawhinney,Translink’s District Managerin Downpatrick reports thatregular passengers using thestation have told him often that

“It’s great to havesuch modern andcomfortable facilitiesnow - a tremendousimprovement on thesmall waiting areawe had before.”

Ulsterbus passengers in Downpatrick now enjoy the improved facilities in the town’s new bus station.


Project News

He said that: “Not only isthe new station great for localcustomers, but it helps createa good impression of the townamong the many visitorsto Downpatrick.

The 55-strong team ofUlsterbus staff based hereare also pleased with theirnew canteen, shower area andrecreation room.” He added:

“The completion of this centremarks another milestonein a programme of stationrefurbishments andimprovement.”

Fully accessible and compliantwith the latest regulations ondisability access, Downpatrick’snew bus centre offers covereddeparture stands, comfortablepassenger waiting /

refreshment areas, cycle racks,public toilets and a parent-and-baby room. Low- level ticketdesks and an induction loopfor the hard of hearing areintegral to the station andCCTV helps reinforcethe safety message.

Innovative visitorinformation kiosks,unveiled at January’sHoliday World exhibitionsin Belfast and Dublin,with funding from theEuropean Union’sINTERREG IIIA Programme,are the brainchild of theEast Border RegionTourism Partnership.

The state-of-the-art,interactive InformationTechnology project has beendeveloped by the innovativecross border Tourism

Partnership that compriseseight local authoritieswhich straddle the border.The visitor informationkiosks are an initiative undera four-year strategy of crossborder activity to developtourism in the region.

Easy to use, the multi-mediakiosks provide visitors withinformation on the region’stourist attractions, hotels,restaurants and more.

The new kiosks are to belocated at key tourist sites

and selected ports ofentry including: BelfastInternational Airport;Belfast City Airport;Mount Stewart,Newtownards; NewcastleTourist Information Centre(TIC); Banbridge TIC;Lough Neagh DiscoveryCentre; Armagh TIC; TheMarket House, MonaghanTown; Warrenpoint TIC;and at the Museum,Dundalk Town.

High-Tech visitor information Kiosks introduced


INTERREG

A cross border project,supported by the EuropeanUnion’s INTERREG IIIAProgramme, to help publicbodies use geographicalinformation for better policy-making and strategic planningwas launched last November.

he Spatial Indicators Project will introduce

the potential benefits of

Geographic InformationSystems (GIS) to governmentdepartments and statefunded bodies.

The project is beingprogressed through a crossborder partnership includingOrdnance Survey of NorthernIreland and Ordnance SurveyIreland. It has been fundedinitially for three years by the

European Union’s INTERREGIIIA Programme through theNorth West Region CrossBorder Group.

The purpose of the SpatialIndicators Project is to createa local centre of excellenceto encourage and assistgovernment departments andstate funded bodies inNorthern Ireland and the

Border counties of theRepublic of Ireland to utilisethe data and applicationscreated by the DirectorateGeneral Joint ResearchCouncil (DG JRC) of theEuropean Community, usingthe MOLAND (MonitoringLand Cover/Use Dynamics)methodology.

Geographical Information to support better policy-making

INTERREGT

Visitors at Belfast Internationalairport use the new interactiveinformation kiosks.Visitors at Belfast InternationalAirport use the new interactiveinformation kiosks.


Project News

Protecting our health

Project News

34 Spring 2006 Your EU!

INTERREG

Senior public health officialson both sides of the border areworking together to developcross border plans and policiesfor a variety of infectiousdiseases and other relatedhealth protection issues.

The two-year project,‘Health protection - a newchallenge’, is funded by theEuropean Union INTERREGIIIA programme and managedby Co-operation and WorkingTogether (CAWT).

Two cross border plansprepared under the projectwere launched recently:

■ Cross Border Planto Deal with an Outbreak of Foodborne Illness.

■ Cross Border Planfor Legionnaires’ Disease.

The control plan to deal with anoutbreak of foodborne illnessessuch as salmonella and e-coliwas launched at the All IslandInfectious Intestinal Diseaseconference. Safefood, the FoodSafety Promotion Board, wasalso involved in its development.

CAWT’s ‘Health Protection’Project Manager, JoanMcCaffrey, explains: “Eachof these new plans defines theroles and responsibilities of thedifferent statutory authorities

involved. Each also containscomprehensive informationto enable all partners to beable to respond efficientlyand effectively to a crossborder outbreak of theillness or disease.”

At the launch of the plan forLegionnaires’ disease (a formof pneumonia), Mags Moran,Infection Control Manager fromthe Health Service Executive

North West Area said, “Thiscross border plan now providesus with greater preparednessin the event of having to mangeand control an outbreak whichimpacts on both sides ofthe border.”

‘Don’t spread infection- it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!’The ‘Health Protection’ projectalso recently launched aninitiative last October to reduce

the spread of contagiousdiseases. Leaflets and postersin the border region urgedpeople to:■ Wash hands thoroughly■ Cover your mouth and

nose when sneezingor coughing, and

■ Avoid contact withothers when ill.

www.cawt.com

CAWT’S ‘Health Protection - A New Challenge’ Project Board.



Castlereagh students award The Corrs

Two students of CastlereaghCollege in Belfast had amemorable evening recentlywhen they presented well-known band The Corrs withspecial awards in the UTVstudios ahead of the band’sappearance on the last everKelly Show.

And all in connection with acollege project funded by theEuropean Union’s Programmefor Peace and Reconciliation. Thetwo lucky students were LauraMcNaught and Grace Lambe.

They were part of a groupof students to make Corrsmembers beautiful speciallycrafted awards in their classes.The students chose the bandas winners of their ‘Excellencein Entrepreneurship’ awards,in recognition of their writingand performing talents.

The idea for the awardswas developed through the‘Entrepreneurship in FurtherEducation Project’. Aimed atencouraging entrepreneurshipamong students, the PEACE II

funded project is managed byCastlereagh College throughProteus (NI) Ltd.

Commenting on the project LauraMcNaught said: “I found it to bea very rewarding and enjoyableexperience. To be given thechance personally to presentyour work makes all the timeand effort used worth it!”

College students JackieMcMaster and Jill Quinn whoattend the part-time Jewellery-making classes at the College,

Two Castlereagh College students (far left and right) present band The Corrs with special awards:Grace Lambe (Multimedia Student); Sharon Corr, Andrea Corr, Jim Corr, Caroline Corr and Laura McNaught(Multimedia Student).

PEACE


Project News

designed and made speciallycrafted pieces of unique silverjewellery for each female memberof the band. The full-time BTECNational Diploma in eMediastudents designed and madecertificates. Grace Lambe alsoenjoyed the entire project andthe award night. “It was good toget the opportunity to participatein a professional project and itwill be good experience for myfuture career within the media.The project work will be includedin my portfolio and I hopeto show it to help me geta place in university.”

Commenting on theEntrepreneurship in FurtherEducation Project, MarkBrotherston, CastlereaghCollege Project Manager,said: “The project challengeis to create an environmentin which entrepreneurshipflourishes and entrepreneursbecome future employer andemployee. The future mustnot only focus on fosteringand supporting entrepreneurshipin Northern Ireland, but also onaccelerating entrepreneurshipin Further Education.”

cross border achievements celebrated - european...

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