view issue 22

Social Affairs magazine for community/voluntary sectorWebsite: viewdigital.org Issue 22, 2014

MISERY AHEAD IF STORMONT

PASSES WELFARE REFORM BILL

VIEW

SEE PAGES FOUR AND FIVE

VIEW, issue 22, 2014 Website: viewdigital.org

VIEW

EditorialVIEW, the online publicationfor the community/voluntarysector in Northern Ireland.

CONTENTSCONTENTSCelebration

Page 6 A vital projectwhich supports men iscelebrating after winninga prestigious all-Irelandaward

Advice tips

Pages 8-15 The community/voluntarysector and journalistsmet recently for a speed-matching event in Belfast,see image right

Rural support

Page 16 A new group tosupport women in ruralareas and the disadvantaged has beenlaunched in NorthernIreland

Photographer Kevincooper has more

than 25 years experience in Press

and Prphotography. Kevin

works to a widerange of clients in

community andvoluntary sector

organisations as wellas the trade union

movement.

Kevin cooper

PHoToLinE

For quoTaTions

conTacT

E: [email protected]: 028 90777299

M: 07712044751

Iwill always remember myfirst ‘appearance’ on theStephen Nolan show on

BBC Radio Ulster. It happened recently

when the producers of theshow asked if I would debatethe Welfare Reform Bill withthe chairman of the NorthernIreland Conservative Party,Irwin Armstrong.

I went head-to-head withNolan, followed by Mr Armstrong as I travelled in thefront of a taxi on the M1.

One of the reasons I wasasked to take part in the showwas because of a blog I hadwritten for our website, titled,‘Can we kill the Welfare Reform Bill in Northern Ireland?’

One of the things thatparticulary annoyed me was

when Mr Armstrong referredto many on unemploymentbenefit as having “a lifestylechoice”.

This type of language usedwhen referring to the joblesshas a corrosive effect overtime.

It is also a myth that

people would ‘chose’ to be unemployed if proper jobs paying a decent salary were onoffer.

The question, ‘Can we killthe Welfare Reform Bill’ issomething that all those whooppose it have to ask themselves.

Already people are beingsubjected to a wave of threatsin the form of financial penalties if the Bill is notpassed.

Whilst there has been anumber of protestmeetings held at various venues throughout NorthernIreland, we have still to witnessa co-ordinated effort betweenthe trade unions and othergroups to build an effectivecampaign.

Time is not on their side.

VIEW executive editorBrian Pelan

Salaries hearing

Page 17 The pay of toppeople in the Republic’scommunity/voluntarysector was raised at aDail hearing recently

Help for youth

Page 18 Lucy Golloglyreports on a project atArdoyne Youth Clubwhich is aimed at helpingyoung people to developtheir skills

On the move

Page 19 Andrea Begley,above, lends a helpinghand to RNIB directorDavid Galloway as theorganisation prepares tomove into new offices

Website: viewdigital.orgVIEW, issue 22, 2014

Apageant with a difference is takingplace in Stormont on March 8 tocelebrate International Women’s

Day.A group of women from all walks of

life will take part in Alternative Ms Ulsterto demand improvements that will lead to equality of the sexes in Northern Ireland.

They will be accompanied by XSLF,former members of legendary Belfast bandStiff Little Fingers, who will play their famous punk anthem ‘Alternative Ulster’.

The event is being hosted by theGreen Party NI and women’s collectiveReclaim the Agenda to highlight the barriers to full participation in public life

faced by women in Northern Ireland.Event organiser Clare Bailey said the

women would be sending a clear messageto Northern Ireland’s decision-makers and politicians.

She said: “A key principal of the GoodFriday Agreement is equality for all people.But when we look at the statistics, it isclear that the number of women in publiclife is not increasing. In fact in some areas itis decreasing. Our Government is failingwomen and failing in its duty to promoteequality for women.

“We have yet to see the childcarestrategy, gender equality strategy and sex-ual orientation strategy, promised underthe Programme for Government. This was

published in 2011 and set the goals of theNI Executive until 2015. We are now in2014 and these fundamental issues appearto have been to shelved. This is not conducive for promoting equal opportunity to women in this new Northern Ireland.”

For more information about Interna-tional Women’s Day events in NorthernIreland, check out www.facebook.com/In-ternationalWomensDayNorthernIrelandor email [email protected].

Places for Alternative Ms Ulster arelimited at the event and if you would liketake part in or want further informationemail Clare at: [email protected] or call 07543 296 402.

Sending a message to Stormont

for International Women’s Day

Pete Burns from XSLF with Clare Bailey, Green Party; Kellie O'Dowd from Reclaim the Agenda and comedian Nuala McKeever at the Stormont launch of the Alternative Ms Ulster pageant, which will takeplace on March 8 at Stormont as part of International Women’s Day 2014


Welfare Reform:Decisionday loomingfor MLAsat Stormont

The debate over the Welfare Reform Bill in Northern Irelandhas heated up in recent weeks.

DUP Finance Minister SimonHamilton warned recently that hewould have no option but to publish alist of cuts from every department tomeet the potential £1bn cost of failingto introduce welfare reforms inNorthern Ireland.

However, a Sinn Fein spokesmanstated: “Sinn Fein's opposition to theTory welfare cuts is well known. It hasbeen articulated publicly by MartinMcGuinness, Alex Maskey and manyothers. We are not prepared to acquiesce to the Tory agenda.

“We have sought to bring aboutsignificant change to the bill initiallyproposed by the DUP and DSD Minister Nelson McCausland in orderto protect the most vulnerable andlow paid in society. That work continues.”

In a recent BBC TV debate onThe Nolan Show, Sinn Fein’s AlexMaskey said: “People have said kill thebill. It might make a good headline butwe will be responsible.”

Recent stories which have highlighted severe hardship in the restof the UK, where the Welfare Reformchanges have already been implemented, point to the social upheavel and warnings of ‘misery”which Northern Ireland will face if theWelfare Reform Bill is approved by Stormont.

Thousands of young people havebeen forced to go without food orother essentials after their benefitswere wrongly stopped under a “draconian” new sanctions regime, new research suggests.

Since the British government introduced more punitive benefit sanctions in October 2012, more than45,000 young people have been hitwith an incorrect penalty, according toanalysis of Department for Work andPensions (DWP) figures.

A sanction can mean having welfare payments cut off entirely for aminimum of a month and as much asthree years for “repeat offenders”.

The hardline system, which meanspeople can end up cast adrift for accidentally missing an appointment, isthought to be one of the reasons behind the vast numbers turning to food banks.

MAIN CHANGES

What are the changes tobenefits being introducedin Northern Ireland?• Introduction of Universal Credit• Introduction of PersonalIndependence Payment• Changes to Housing Benefit• Introduction of a BenefitCap• End of the current SocialFund scheme which willbe replaced by a newservice called Discretionary Support• Changes to Employmentand Support Allowance• Introduction of newFraud and Error powers• Introduction of furthersanctions and hardshipmeasures


Do you have a bright idea about how£50,000 could improve your community?

Big Lottery Fund will belaunching The People’s Millions competition again soon.

If you have an idea that could trans-form the lives of people in your community, don't let this opportunity passyou by.

If your project is shortlisted it will feature in a short film to be shown on

UTV. The public will get their chance toshow support for a project whichcould win a prize of £50,000 from the BigLottery Fund.

But don’t be daunted – you will receive training and support to help youshow off your project and hopefully winthose all important votes.

If you have a great idea and want toexplore whether the People's Millions is anoption for you, Big Lottery Fund will be

holding an information session onMarch 11 in The MAC, 10 Exchange StreetWest, Belfast.

If you want to attend, please email [email protected] to request a place and receive full details.

Remember to include your name, organisation, contact details and any accessrequirements (such as requiring large printmaterials or BSL interpreter) or any dietary requirements.

Chance to win £50,000 for your community

Aproject that supports menin Northern Ireland is celebrating after winning a

prestigious all-Ireland award forits work with adult learners.

Man Matters, which is led bythe Workers’ Educational Association in partnershipwith Home-Start NI, the Men’sHealth Forum in Ireland and Parenting NI, won an AONTAS

STAR Award in Dublin last week. The STAR Awards ceremony

is about acknowledging the workundertaken by adult learningprojects throughout Irelandand Man Matters won in the Ulster category.

The award was accepted atthe ceremony in the DoubletreeHotel by Andy Quigley, a ManMatters learner. Andy said:

“Without these courses I wouldhave been dead – they saved mylife.”

Mr Quigley added: “Focusingon education was the best anti-dote I ever came across to helpme beat my addictions and improve my life.

“I got the learning bug andnow feel like a sponge – I can’t getenough learning.”

Cathy McCart from Springwell House, left, with Diarmuid Moore from Man Matters, Siobhán Harding fromMan Matters and Andy Quigley, a Man Matters learner

‘Without these courses I would havebeen dead – they have saved my life’

Edwards & Co. solicitors advises charities and the voluntary sector in Northern Ireland

on a wide range of legal issues including charity creation, charitable status and

constitutional matters, trading and commercial arrangements, employment law,

finance, fundraising and property law, as well as dealing with the Charity Commission

for Northern Ireland.

Our team offers a full range of legal services including mediation, wills,criminal law,

clinical negligence and personal injury claims, as well as family/matrimonial work.

Practical advice and a sensitivepersonal approach. We prideourselves on our unrivalledcommitment to clients’ needs.

Contact Jenny and Teresa: Edwards & Co. Solicitors, 28 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LA.

Tel: (028) 9032 1863 Email: [email protected]

Web: edwardsandcompany.co.uk


The annual speed-matching event run byVIEWdigital, NICVA, and The Law Centreand supported by the National Union of

Journalists took place recently with eight community organisations taking part withmedia matches.

Speed-matching involves community andvoluntary sector groups getting five minuteswith a local journalist to pitch story ideas andget tips on how to engage better with themedia.

VIEWdigital co-founder Una Murphy said: “Icame across the speed-matching concept as amember of the London based Media Trust, acharity which links media professionals andThird Sector organisations. It seemed a simpleway to bring journalists and community and voluntary sector organisations together andthey were happy for me to use the idea inBelfast.

“I would like thank my journalism colleagueswho have volunteered their time to take part inthe speed-matching event and the continued support from the National Union ofJournalists.”

“It has been great working again with UrsulaO’Hare from the Law Centre and ElizabethHendron from NICVA to run another successfulnetworking opportunity between journalistsand Third Sector organisations. I hope everyonehas gained new contacts and found out aboutinteresting stories as a result of the event.”

Gettingyour messageacross atspeedmatchingnight


Facing the media: Staff from the community/voluntary sector with members of the media

Images: Michaël Marie, www.michaelmarie.com

Broadcasting lecturer Julia Paul, left, with Sharon Curran, Contact


Darren Ferguson from Beyond Skin


emma toner colin neighbourhood partnership

Journalist Lucy Gollogly

VIEW, issue 22, 2014 Page13Website: viewdigital.org

Clockwise, from above: Elizabeth Hendron, NICVA, left, with VIEW co-founder Una Murphy and Ursula O’Hare Law Centre in Belfast. BBC journalist Josephine Long; VIEW editor Brian Pelan; BBC NI Education and Arts cor Together For You project and former BBC NI Editor TV News Angelina Fusco


e, Law Centre NI at the speed-matching event at the rrespondent Maggie Taggart; Amanda Jones,



Anew consortium to support theneeds of local women from ruraland disadvantaged areas was

launched recently in Belfast .The Women’s Regional Consortium

event took place at the Wellington ParkHotel, Malone Road, on Thursday, February 13. More than100 women attended and they shared their views onkey topics such as welfare reform andwomen’s health.

The new consortium consists of sevenwomen’s sector organisations from acrossNorthern Ireland working in partnership together.

They are: Foyle Women’s InformationNetwork (FWIN), Women’s Resource andDevelopment Agency (WRDA), Training forWomen Network (TWN), Women’s Sup-port Network (WSN), NI Rural Women’s

Network (NIRWN), WOMEN’S TEC andthe Women’s Centre Derry.

The Women’s Regional Consortiumwill act as the established link between thegovernment, statutory agencies andwomen in disadvantaged and rural areas,ensuring there is a continuous flow of information to and from all parties.

Five main areas of focus have beenidentified for the consortium: • Advocacy and leadership for women indisadvantaged and rural areas• Influence policy for women in disadvantaged and rural areas• Research for women in disadvantagedand rural areas• Service support for women in disadvantaged and rural areas• Engagement for women in disadvantagedand rural areas

WRDA director Anne McVicker said,“WRDA is delighted to be a partner in theWomen’s Regional Consortium.

“Put simply this consortium is allabout giving women in disadvantaged andrural areas a voice, and making sure thatvoice is heard.”

The Consortium was formed in re-sponse to a survey carried out by DSDand DARD which identified a need forgreater support for women in disadvantaged and rural areas. It is fundedby both departments.

• For more information pleasecontact: Robyn Scott, WRDACommunications and Membership Worker, on 028 90230212 or [email protected]: www.wrda.net

Back row, left to right; Helen Crickard, WOMEN’STEC; Anne McVicker, WRDA; Dr. Caroline Walsh, WSN;Rosie Mc Cann, FWIN; Margaret Logue, Derry WC and Majella Murphy, NIRWN. Front row, Karen Sweeney,TWN, left with Norma Shearer, TWN, and Martin Ireland-DSD Image: Kevin Cooper

Speaking up for women from rural and disadvantaged areas


Protesters outside the Andersonstown Leisure Centre in west Belfast recently, who where voicingtheir objections to plans to privatise a number of leisure centres by Belfast City Council. For more onthis protest, see the video produced by Trade Union TV Ireland atwww.youtube.com/watch?v=8Uo6V8iHvg8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

The Public Accounts Committe (PAC) in the Republic said itis seeking legal advice on the publication of pay details ofsenior Rehab staff, after the Dail committee was given the information by the HSE, due to data protection issues.

PAC chairman John McGuinness earlier told the Rehab witnesses to “clear up” matters regarding any connection the charity may have had with the company EcoSolutions, with which former CEO of Rehab Frank Flanneryand Joseph McCarthy, a brother of current Rehab CEO An-gela Kerins, were involved.

However, the chairman described the recent hearing asconstructive and said excellent information was provided.

Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald had earlier challenged Ms Kerins over her pay being morethan the Taoiseach and the US President Barack Obama.

Ms Kerins said she was a private citizen, not paid by thetaxpayer and does not intend to provide any furtherinformation on her personal pay.

Ms McDonald had asked her why her salary increasedby €6,000 to €240,000 in the most recent figures on hersalary.

She also asked Ms Kerins about the reduction in theprovision of service fees which led to a number of employees going to the Labour Court.

Ms Kerins pointed out that that was resolved in theLabour Court in 2012.

Ms McDonald put it to the Rehab CEO that she washappy to recognise and align herself with public pay policy infront of the Labour Court and while in respect of her ownsalary, she took “a hard line view” that she was not “linkedto the public service”.

Ms Kerins reiterated what she said in her openingstatement that Rehab has “independent assessment of remuneration of the group management team within theRehab group”.

Charity urged to reveal details

about the salaries of senior staff


The symbols of division are all aroundin north Belfast. A ‘peaceline’ – afence topped with metal spikes –

looms over Flax Street in the mainly na-tionalist Ardoyne, cutting it off from theCrumlin Road.

Just down the street clusters of youngpeople are walking through the doors ofArdoyne Youth Club. The centre has recently been awarded £469,845 by the BigLottery Fund for Breaking Through Barriers, a project helping young people atrisk of falling into criminality.

The leader in charge, Thomas Turley,has personal experience of how intervention can steer a young personaway from crime.

“As an 18-year-old living and growingup in Ardoyne, I got involved in some ofthe rioting one 12th of July. I was there, didit, got the T-shirt and paid the penalty,” hesaid. Thomas, now 30 and a dad-of-two,was given a community service order as apunishment and was referred to ArdoyneYouth Club. He went on to study youthwork at university.

Now he tries to use his experience tostop young people from making the same

mistakes. “We try and create a family orientated atmosphere here where theyoung people can feel that we are fully supportive of them,” he said.

“I’d be quite open about my background with all the young people wework with.

“I feel that it’s relevant in terms ofmaking them aware of the pitfalls.

“I don’t want young people from hisarea to go down the same route that Iwent down.”

Caitlin Ewing is one of the young people involved in the Breaking ThroughBarriers project.

“Breaking Through Barriers got me intouch with a careers advisor and she’s been helping me decide what to do,”she said.

“I’m really open minded at the moment – I’ll take anything going,” shesaid.

The 16-year-old has been gaining experience in youth work at the club. Despite her modesty, Thomas said she, likethe other young volunteers, is already anasset to the centre.

“Caitlin’s only 16 and her level of ability is fantastic,” he said. “As much as shethinks we’re supporting her, we’re gainingthat support back.”

Thomas said he wants to continue toraise young people’s aspirations. “Just be-cause you live in Northern Ireland ornorth Belfast or Ardoyne or wherever, itdoesn’t mean that you can’t be what youwant to be,” he said.

Lucy Gollogly reports on a youth project in Ardoyne which is helping young people to develop their skills

‘Just because you live innorth Belfast, it doesn’t mean you can’t be what you want to be’

Ardoyne Youth Club leader Thomas Turley is trying to create an atmosphere which young people can enjoy

Support: Caitlin Ewing


After almost 25 years situated at40 Linenhall Street, Belfast, theRoyal National Institute ofBlind People Northern Ireland

(RNIB NI) is moving to new offices in Belfast city centre.

The head office will relocate onMonday, March 31, to Victoria House,15-17 Gloucester Street, Belfast.

The new office space will houseover forty staff and volunteers. Care hasbeen taken to ensure the new accom-modation is fully accessible to disabledpeople.

Particular attention has been paidto meeting the needs of blind and partially sighted people.

The RNIB NI Shop will be situatedon the ground floor of Victoria Housewith direct level access from GloucesterStreet. Blind and partially sighted peopleand their families and friends and supporters, will be able to find adviceand information, independent living aidsand products at the new shop.

David Galloway, Director of RNIBNorthern Ireland said: “After manyyears in Belfast's Linen Quarter we arevery excited about the move. VictoriaHouse offers improved access to ourservices as it is located between MayStreet and Chichester Street. “Our newmodern offices will provide a hub fromwhich we will develop our services in

the years ahead. “Whilst many of us have great af-

fection for the Linenhall Street building,our new home will better equip us tomeet the needs of blind and partially sighted people for yearsto come.”

BBC’s The Voice winner Andrea Begley (RNIB NI Committee member),who was on hand to lend her supportwith the move, said: “I wish all RNIB'sstaff and volunteers the very best forthe move to Victoria House,.

“Having had a tour of the newpremises with David, I am sure thateveryone using the building will enjoythis new accessible space.”

Andrea lends a hand as RNIB prepares for life in new office

The Voice winner Andrea Begley helps RNIB NI director David Galloway in move to new offices


Gemma McConnell takes a big leap aspart of Opportunity Youth’s GRIT Plusexperience. The image picture wastaken at a selection day event at BelfastActivity Centre. To find out more aboutGRIT Plus, visit www.opportunity-youth.org

Image: Pete Townshend

If you would like your community/voluntary organisation to be selectedfor The Big Picture in the next issue ofVIEW, send images, marked ‘Big Pictureentry’ to [email protected]

The Big Picture


Pupils Jasmine McQuade, Leah McGarvey and Emma Given, from St Theresa’s PS, Lenamore, in Derryparticipating in the schools education workshops at the Tower Museum in the city which where held as partof the events of the recent Holocaust Memorial Week

Image: Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com

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view issue 22

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northern ireland

group of women

irwin armstrong

helpingyoung people

new group tosupport

trade unionmovement

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lucy golloglyreports