Phase Two Developing Women in the Community Programme organisations announced

The second phase of the Developing Women in the Community is underway following the award of contracts to organisations from across five Council areas.

 

Tony Murphy, DfC Fresh Start team, said: “I’m delighted to announce an award of contract to eight successful organisations following a rigorous and competitive process.

 

“Each of the organisations will deliver training, personal development programmes and volunteering opportunities for women. This will be through individual and collective projects to support the development of the skills, knowledge and confidence to enable participants to take on leadership and decision making roles in their communities.”

 

 

Phase Two builds on the achievements of the pilot programme led by DfC involving 14 organisations from across Northern Ireland in the delivery of bespoke projects based on the needs of local communities.

 

The pilot organisations adopted different approaches resulting in a range of benefits including increased confidence and self esteem, promoting community safety, greater awareness of community support in the local area, leadership, increased collaboration and networking between the groups and participants.

 

The Department has extended the original programme to the end of March 2023, providing additional investment to the groups to support continued delivery. The programme was assessed by an Independent Advisory panel with all learnings informing the design of Phase Two.

 

The details of the successful organisations and the areas the Phase Two programme will be delivered in are listed in the table below:

 

Programme Team and delivery partners host the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

Work has been underway for a number of months now by the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee (NIAC) who are carrying out an inquiry into the effects of paramilitarism in Northern Ireland. The Programme’s then lead Minister gave evidence to the Committee as well as submitting written evidence.

 

NIAC Chair Simon Hoare MP addresses delivery partners from the Fresh Start Through Sport programme at Windsor Park

The Committee visited Northern Ireland and spent some time with projects that receive investment from the Programme. It gave them an opportunity to listen to those who deliver the initiatives and to talk to service users about the difference that the Programme has made.

 

Committee Chairman, Simon Hoare MP said: “It was valuable to see the work of various projects funded by the Programme during our time in Northern Ireland, and certainly helped our considerations on how to effectively tackle paramilitarism as part of our ongoing inquiry. It underlined the scale and range of paramilitary activity confirming we are dealing with child groomers, drug dealers, abusers and extortionists. They all need to be stamped out.”

Carrickfergus Neighbourhood police officers box clever to engage with young people

Research shows that community confidence in policing is a key factor in addressing paramilitary control. This year, the programme has invested £145,000 to help improve long-term relationships between police and communities.


PSNI Neighbourhood Constable Richard Cull

One such project is a boxing programme in Carrickfergus aimed at addressing anti-social behaviour and paramilitary influence through sport and fitness.

We spoke to Neighbourhood Policing Officer Richard Cull who has been leading this initiative:  “Every Saturday night 20-30 young people aged between 10-18 years take part in a boxing session, with Neighbourhood Officers in attendance. Projects like this help us to develop relationships with these young people which helps to lower or even end offending before it begins, whilst encouraging those who may be vulnerable to criminal or paramilitary influence to make positive life choices.

 

“The young people seem to be really enjoying the project so far and it’s inspiring to see the change in some of them as the weeks progress.”