Partnership Agenda

Schools in Crisis Unite for Better Resources

Over three hundred teachers from inner city second-level schools attended a conference on 24 March 2003 to respond to the crisis of education in inner city schools. The schools wish to develop an active network to highlight issues of common concern and to prepare a joint plan for their schools at the request of the Minister for Education and Science Noel Dempsey TD. Principals of the twelve schools recognise the need for a coordinated approach in a bid to improve educational opportunities for their students and improve the work environment for their teaching staff. Critical issues for the schools include:

1. Early school leaving - students leaving school without completing the Leaving Certificate.
2. Low level of educational attainment - students behind average reading age.
3. The increasing number of students presenting disruptive behaviour.
4. High turnover of teaching staff.
5. Inadequate resources to meet students' needs.
6. Four schools excluded from the School Completion Programme.
7. Large number of students from immigrant communities with language difficulties.

According to Ken Duggan, Chair of the Second-level Schools Network and Principal of CBS Westland Row, The development of this Network is a vital element in improving the cooperation between the schools and highlighting the serious education and resource issues that need to be addressed. Inner city schools are unique in many respects and the purpose of this meeting with all the teachers is to agree on common issues and a way forward. I welcome the positive response from the Minister for Education.

The Second-level Schools Network was established in 2000. By working together the Second-level Schools Network hope to obtain more resources for schools located in disadvantaged inner city areas, specific training for teachers, adequate provision of psychologists for in-school assessment, more resource teachers, improved parental involvement and increased activities for children.

SSN MEMBER SCHOOLS

1. CBS James's Street, Dublin 8
2. CBS Westland Row, Dublin 2
3. Larkin Community College, Champion's Avenue, Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin 1
4. Liberties College, Bull Alley, Dublin 8
5. Mount Carmel Secondary School, King's Inn Street, Dublin 1
6. Connell CBS, North Richmond Street, Dublin 1
7. Presentation Secondary School, Warrenmount, Dublin 8
8. Ringsend Technical Institute, Cambridge Road, Dublin 4
9. St Joseph's Secondary School, Stanhope Street, Dublin 7
10. St Mary's Holy Faith Secondary School, Haddington Road, Dublin 4
11. St Paul's CBS, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7
12. Synge Street CBS, Dublin 8

For more information, contact Ken Duggan, Chair of Second-level Schools Network Telephone (01) 661 4143

Partnership Forum to Address Inner City Issues

Dublin Inner City Partnership convened the local community infrastructure on 29 April 2003 in the National College of Ireland to look at the current local development environment and address recent changes, in particular the withdrawal of investment to the Partnership and inner city community groups. The forum was a useful opportunity for groups to share information on the extent of changes affecting individual groups and action needed to protect local community development activity.

Over 120 people participated in the forum which was opened by Professor Joyce O'Connor, Chairperson of the DICP. The Director of the Partnership, David Connolly, addressed the forum on the outcomes achieved for the first two years of the action plan and the present issues of concern in the inner city. The current issues included the recent rise in unemployment, the lack of adequate and sustainable investment in the major flat / housing areas, the scale and impact of disinvestment of government funding from the most disadvantaged areas and the new needs that are emerging in the inner city that require a response, particularly among immigrant communities, older residents and lone parents.

The severe reduction in previously approved funding due to the Partnership for 2003 was also raised. The removal of Partnership support funds is likely to have a devastating impact on local development organisations in the inner city area supported through the Partnership action plan. As a result of this cut-back all funding for community-based activity has ceased. Many of the other organisations present confirmed that their budgets have also been reduced, while others have lost Community Employment places. One group stated they were operating with monthly funding. During the plenary session Dr Tommy Cooke of the DISC project stressed that valuable educational initiatives could be lost if funding is not secured.

Charlie Hammond of SWICN called for groups to make a concerted effort to highlight this issue to elected representatives, while Larry Byrne of MACRO agreed that there was a need for a inner city-wide approach to prevent projects and programmes from slipping away. The forum was divided into five working groups to consider specific issues based on the strategies in the Partnership action plan 2001-2006, Achieving Equality, Overcoming Exclusion.

A broad range of representatives attended each of the groups which examined educational disadvantage, enterprise and employment services, community regeneration, sustaining community services and local development rationalisation and coordination. Intense discussion and debate occurred in each of the groups and a number of areas for further action were agreed. It was decided to convene a further forum in the Autumn to determine priorities and consider future action in relation to the Partnership strategic plan 2004- 2006.

Strive 2002-2003

Millennium Partnership Fund for Disadvantage Access to Third Level

During the 2002-2003 academic year the DICP has, through the use of the STRIVE Fund, financially supported third level students who reside in the Partnerships designated area. Twenty-seven men and twenty two women, all living in the inner city and currently in third level education or on a linked-to-college programme availed of the funding. ICES Guidance Advisors completed the initial application procedures on behalf of each applicant.

Local Woman Wins Lord Mayors Award

A local community activist working in the north east inner city was one of six recipients of this year's Lord Mayor's Awards. Bernadette Walsh of Sunflower Recycling Project was presented with an award from the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councilor Dermot Lacey in the Mansion House on 18 June 2003. The Annual Lord Mayor's Awards are presented to individuals and organisations based on their outstanding services to the city of Dublin and its citizens or for representing their country internationally.

Bernie Walsh was chosen for the real practical environmental improvements she has made to the lives of many Dubliners. Sunflower Recycling was set up to recycle waste in the north inner city; a door to door collection has been established in residential areas, as well as a business collection in the Temple Bar area and community sector. Other recipients this year were Ken Doherty, Frank McDonald, Jean Spain, The Irish Foundation for Torture Survivors, and Scouting Ireland.

The Second-level Schools Network is supported by Dublin Inner City Partnership as part of its strategy to tackle educational disadvantage. Principals of the twelve inner city schools involved in the Second-level Schools Network. Photo by Tommy Clancy

ICON Food Festival Marks Anti-racism Day

The ICON Multicultural Working Group hosted an international food festival on 26 March in Mandela House, Gardiner Street to mark International Anti-racism Day. David Little spoke about plans for Mandela House to be used as a multicultural space for the north inner city.

Digital Community Initiative

The launch of the Digital Community Initiative took place on 10 April in Dolphin House. The initiative is a partnership between statutory, private, educational and community organisations that has equipped nine local authority flat complexes with state of the art information technology equipment. In June, a selection process commenced for two flat complexes in which two pilot the projects expansion to the north inner city. in the north inner city. For further information contact Peter Byrne, Coordinator, on 087 243 0742.

Computer Clubhouse

The SWICN / Intel Computer Clubhouse was officially launched on 29 May 2003. It aims to promote the creative use of technology in the community, and is working with a number of groups at present. The Clubhouse, which has 15 PCs complete with a range of software, is sponsored by Intel. Still in its formative stages. The Computer Clubhouse is based at Medialab, Belvue, Sugarhouse Lane, Dublin 8. For more information contact Eilish on 086 831 5360.

St Vincent's Trust Video

St Vincent's Trust launched a video on their services on 14 May 2003. The video gives a history of St Vincent's Trust and shows their current range of services, from St Mary's Nursery, the Community Training Workshop, to the Adult Education service. The video was produced by Paul Williams from Smashing Times Theatre Company.

Primary Schools Plan

The Primary Schools Initiative has submitted a plan to the Department of Education & Science that highlights the major concerns school have in relation to educational disadvantage. The plan makes a series of recommendations to the Department for changes that principals have identified as necessary to improve the educational service. The plan is supported by data from 35 of the inner city based primary schools.

St Andrews Social Services

St Andrews Resource Centre celebrates thirty years of its social services centre this year. Opened in 1973 in No 9 Westland Row, the Social Service Centre originally providing a social worker service funded by Health Board. In the late 1980s, the centre moved into the former St Andrews School on Pearse Street. In 1997 the social worker service was reviewed and the present service focuses on youth and welfare rights services.

SARI

Sports Against Racism Ireland, otherwise known as SARI, hosted a spectacular multicultural soccerfest on bank holiday Monday, 5 May, in Pearse Park Crumlin, where they introduced Irelands first multicultural international soccer team. The aim was to celebrate this new diversity and raise awareness of the issue of racism in Ireland.

The event is part of four planned exhibition games that will take place this summer. In addition to the soccer, the crowds were entertained by the Garda Band, and by face painters, clowns and fire eaters.

SARI is a registered charity that seeks to bring people from different cultures together through sport. For more information contact Frank Buckley at SARI, 135 Capel Street. Telephone 873 5077

North West Group Wins Multicultural Award for Good Practice Guide

The Intercultural Working Group of the North West Inner City Area Network recently won a MAMA - a Media and Multicultural Award, for their efforts to produce a series of good practice guidelines which promote interculturalism in the community sector. The working group has been in existence for three years and has been involved in activities ranging from school art competitions to promote interculturalism, consultation sessions and training, information fairs and events to celebrate diversity. Accepting the award on behalf of the group, Pat Barrett of the North West Inner City Women's Network said:

One of the main strengths of the group is the representation of diverse community organisations and local residents. Both the people involved in the group and their respective organisations have shown huge commitment to interculturalism in the north west inner city, and we have no doubt it will continue over the coming years.

The MAMA awards are organised annually by Metro Eireann. The awards ceremony was held in the Guinness Storehouse on Friday 2 May, 2003. If you are interested in finding out more about the Intercultural Working Group, contact NWICAN on 617 4847.

OUThouse

OUThouse at 105 Inner City Enterprise (ICE) provides a comprehensive range of enterprise support services to assist potential entrepreneurs from all marginalised sectors of Dublin's inner city. ICE pro-actively assists people to transform basic ideas into commercial businesses. The ICE development team provide hands-on business advice and encouragement, identify resource requirements and potential sources of funding.

ICE can also provide loan finance and subsidies directly. Since 1992, ICE has helped to establish over 750 new enterprises, creating over 950 jobs. In addition to helping individuals establish their own businesses, ICE is currently piloting a project aimed at delivering business planning support services to community groups in the south west quadrant of Dublin's inner city. ICE is funded by Dublin Inner City Partnership, FÁS and commercial sector sponsorship.

For further information call ICE @ 836 4073 Support for inner city unemployed people starting their own businesses Apology In the last issue of Partnership Agenda (Spring 2003), an article on the forum on ex-prisoners stated that there were only twenty probation social workers nationally. The Probation & Welfare Service has informed us that this was incorrect. There are thirty-one workers in the greater Dublin area and fifteen in rural areas. Outhouse is Dublin's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community resource centre, located in Capel Street since 2000.

Services at the centre range from information provision, advice and assistance through our outreach services, a café and meeting rooms for groups. We have 20 groups meeting at OUThouse, ranging from support groups to social groups to community groups. Centre users range from 14-75 years of age and we are very proud to have had a youth worker join our staff team. We are open for people to drop in and have a coffee from 1.30 to 5.30 pm Monday to Saturday. Come and visit us!

We can be found at 105 Capel Street (near Bolton Street). Our telephone numbers are 01- 873 4932 or 01 873 4933 or you can email us at info@outhouse.ie, or find us on the web at www.outhouse.ie For more information contact Louise Tierney, Manager of OUThouse or Peter Nolan in the DICP on 872 1321.

Childcare News

TRAINING

The Inner City Childcare Network organised an introductory course to explore issues of diversity and equality within the childcare setting. Local childcare facilities involved in the network note that there is a greater diversity of clients from immigrant communities attending their services. A recent survey carried out by the network showed that there were 33 different nationalities/ethnic groups represented in inner city childcare facilities.

Childcare workers sought the training to enable them to incorporation diversity and integration issues into their work practices. The course took place over two evenings, 11 and 18 June, in Whitefriar Street Community Centre. Approximately twenty childcare professionals participated in both of the evening sessions.

ONESTOPSHOP

Dublin City Childcare Committee has invited tenders for a pilot one stop shop to provide childcare information and stimulate the market to expand on the number of childcare places, while at the same time facilitating the delivery of quality, accessible and affordable childcare. Five such services are envisaged for the Dublin area.

EVALUATION

An evaluation has been published of the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme. Overall it finds that the programme is being delivered reasonably well but makes a number of recommendations such as increasing turnaround time for applications.

Staff from CDVEC, DICP, ICES and FIT with Graduates from the 2002-2003 FIT Course delivered in the Ringsend Technical Institute for ICES Clients. Photo by Richard Kelly

Partnership Agenda is produced by the Dublin Inner City Partnership, Equity House, 16 Upper Ormond Quay, Dublin 7.

Telephone (01) 872 1321

Fax (01) 872 1330

Email office@dicp.ie

Website www.dicp.ie

ISSN 1393-9068

Funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2000 - 2006

created & designed by

© Copyright DICP 2006