Dublin Inner City Partnership: Progress Report 2005

Contents

• 1 INTRODUCTION
  • 1.1 Contextual changes and overall achievement of objectives
  • 1.2 Sectoral Challenges to Partnership
  • 1.3 Measures taken to support participation
  • 1.4 Outreach strategy regarding target groups
  • 1.5 Attainment of the Programme objectives
• 2 EXECUTIVE REPORT
  • 2.1 Key milestones
    • 2.1.1 Co-operation, Collaboration, Linkages
  • 2.2 LEVERAGE OF FUNDING
    • 2.2.1 Direct Funding
    • 2.2.2 Indirect funding
  • 2.3 ORGANISATIONAL CHART
    • 2.3.1 Executive Committee
    • 2.3.2 Social Economy Monitoring Committee
    • 2.3.3 Employment & Enterprise Monitoring Committee
  • 2.4 Rotation policy
  • 2.5 Vacancies
  • 2.6 Number of meetings held
• 3 STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS 2004
  • 3.1 Measure A Services for the Unemployed
    • 3.1.1 Strategy 1 Training, Mediation & Guidance for Employment Actions
    • 3.1.2 Strategy 2 Social Economic Development
    • 3.1.3 Strategy 3 Enterprise Support
    • 3.1.4 Additional Measure A Outcomes
  • 3.2 Measure B Community Development
    • 3.2.1 Strategy 1 Promoting Social Integration
    • 3.2.2 Strategy 2 Co-ordination of a community-based social inclusion infrastructure
    • 3.2.3 Strategy 3 Capacity development, technical assistance and training
    • 3.2.4 Strategy 4 Research & policy development to support sustainable regeneration
  • 3.3 Measure C Community Based Youth Initiatives
    • 3.3.1 Strategy 1 Integration and Developing Local Educational Services
    • 3.3.2 Strategy 2 Preventing Early School Leaving / Promoting Educational Development
    • 3.3.3 Strategy 3 Promoting Developmental Youth Work
• 4 FRAMEWORK AGREEMENTS
  • 4.1 FÁS Framework Agreement / JI and CE
  • 4.2 Local Employment Service Framework for Operation Agreement
  • 4.3 Back to Work Enterprise Allowance
  • 4.4 National Employment Action Plan
• 5 Co-operation with Northern Ireland
  • 5.1 Participation and Practice of Rights Project
  • 5.2 Equal at Work
  • 5.3 ICES Cross-Border Co-operation
  • 5.4 Belfast GEMS
  • 5.5 Digital Communities Project
• 6 HORIZONTAL ISSUES
  • 6.1 Gender Equality
    • 6.1.1 Gender equality policy
    • 6.1.2 Mechanisms to ensure gender balance
    • 6.1.3 Positive actions have been developed to ensure equality
  • 6.2 Equality for People with Disabilities
  • 6.3 Poverty Proofing
  • 6.4 Other target groups
    • 6.4.1 Travellers
    • 6.4.2 Disability
    • 6.4.3 Refugees / Asylum Seekers
    • 6.4.4 Older people
    • 6.4.5 Other equality measures
• 7 Information / Research
• 8 APPENDIX A Target Groups - Codes
• 9 Appendix I
  • 9.1 Staff
  • 9.2 Use of DICP Meeting Space 2004
  • 9.3 Volunteers Report

1 Introduction.

1.1 Contextual changes and overall achievement of objectives

The DICP invests in a range of activities in the context of our Strategic Action plan under the annual Programme of Activities and the local employment service. The Partnership is also involved in a range of organisational and development work that complements the core investments. In this context, during the year to end of December 2005, the Partnership participated in and supported progress in the following areas:

A collaborative funding proposal to establish a Childcare Resource Centre in the Central area was approved in principle by the Dublin City Childcare Committee. The proposal was developed by Dublin Inner City Partnership, Finglas Cabra Partnership and Dublin City Council. When established, the centre will provide information on childcare availability, careers and training, quality standards, etc. to parents and the childcare sector.

The DICP worked with the Dublin city childcare committee and the ICTU to undertake research on employment conditions in the childcare sector and to produce an information leaflet on employment rights in the sector. This was published in the Mansion House in November.

In March, DICP Board members met with Minister Eamon O’Cuiv, TD and a senior representative of his Department to discuss particular local development issues in the inner city and in the wider context of the Ministers plans.

In May, the Dublin Local Employment Service network received an award from the Lord Mayor of Dublin. The Partnership’s Employment & Enterprise Coordinator accepted the award on behalf of the network. The Dublin city Drugs Task Forces also received an award from the Lord Mayor, in recognition of their contribution. The Director of DICP received the award on behalf of the Task Forces.

A sub-group of the ICON Youth at Risk Project was established to examine the needs of foreign national young people at risk who are living in the north inner city. The group organised a seminar in January and drafted a report which was distributed to relevant agencies and groups. Partnership staff was closely involved with the sub-group and will continue to give support to progress the recommendations of the report.

DICP is represented on the Dublin Employment Pact ‘Equal at Work’ initiative. This initiative successfully applied for Round 2 funding this year. The work of the initiative will be structured around different sites, and will build on the successes of the Round 1 project. The Partnership director is chairperson of the Development Partnership which is comprised of fifty statutory and community organisations. Four development sites have been established and the DICP is active in the community/ voluntary site aimed at improving equality of access to employment in the sector and development of best human resource practices.

The North West Inner City Women’s Network met with representatives of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs earlier in the year with regard to continuation of funding for the network. A new work plan was developed and submitted to the Department. The Minister for State Noel Ahern TD confirmed further funding in December.

The feasibility stage of the Participation and Practice of Rights project was continued during the year. The Dublin Inner city Partnership supplied funding to keep a full time worker in place in the north inner city to end September. The two community networks, ICON and NWICN provided time, effort and energy to develop the project. The project was able to draw in other levels of expertise, e.g. a researcher from the Royal College of Surgeon’s Ph.D. programme is working in the north east on Primary Community Health Care and the community. The project was formally launched in January in the Mansion house to a packed house. Significant long-term funding from Atlantic Philanthropies was confirmed in November and this major project, including communities in north Belfast and north inner city Dublin together with national organisations ICTU, CAJ, ICCL, Combat Poverty and Community trust NI, will be established in the New Year.

A teacher training programme focusing on the local context of the inner city and how this impacts on school children was delivered to second level teachers working in inner city schools.

Staff supported a new initiative of the National College of Ireland that will focus on school readiness and early education opportunities for pre-school children in the area surrounding the college campus.

In May, an outline proposal was submitted by DICP to the Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform for the development of an anti racism plan for the inner city, as a means of implementing locally the recently published National Anti Racism Plan. This was approved in September and the the anti-racism and diversity plan will be produced in the first quarter of the New Year.

1.2 Sectoral Challenges to Partnership

One of the main challenges to the community sector in continuing involvement with the partnership process is the increasing demand on people’s time caused by the expansion of initiatives and structures. Likewise with statutory representatives, the range of other State structures such as RAPID has put increased demands on their time. It has proved more difficult to maintain consistent participation from the private sector. Over the year the Board membership has changed on a number of occasions particularly among statutory representatives. Despite this the DICP has maintained a high level of attendance at meetings and broad participation from the Board members and their agencies on a range of initiatives. There is increasing pressure on the availability of representatives due to the proliferation of partnership type structures in the inner city however generally there is not duplication in membership which results in a large number of different people being involved.

As can be seen from the organisational chart in 2.3 below, there is sustained commitment to the Dublin Inner City Partnership from all sectors.

1.3 Measures taken to support participation

During the year the Partnership convened large scale community development meetings, which took place in the National College of Ireland. The purpose of these fora was to bring a range of local development interests together to look at common themes, prevent duplication, and give direction and focus to the Partnership strategy. These meetings were attended by community, statutory, trade union and employer representatives.

The Partnership supports four community networks (with full time social inclusion coordinators employed in three of them), one in each quadrant of the inner city. This strategy aims to co-ordinate the integrated delivery of community based services to socially excluded individuals and families. Each community network acts as an umbrella body for a range of smaller community and voluntary organisations. This is considered an appropriate mechanism to link in with the relevant local groups tackling poverty. Specific effort is made to ensure that local residents are involved in all of the activities at a community level. The network staff and workers employed in other local development structures such as the local drug task forces and the community development projects provide significant support form local residents who are members of the relevant structures. This has ensured that a comparatively high number of local people are participating in their local organisations and structures. In addition the local and community development workers employed in the inner city area are encouraged to participate in local structures and organisations and this provides significant resources through voluntary effort. The DICP has also used additional funding provided in 2005 to support volunteering.

The Partnership operates a communication strategy, including newsletter and website, progress reports and publications, seminars and conferences, etc in order to promote greater participation and inform as wide an audience as possible of actions undertaken. The increased use of information technology has resulted in more effective communication on events and activities.

1.4 Outreach strategy regarding target groups

During 2005, specific actions were taken to outreach the Partnership strategy to key target groups that were identified in the socio-economic profiling analysis.

Disability equality training was organised for Partnership board members, staff and the wider community infrastructure. Partnership staff have also become involved with a range of disability focused organisations, including the Centres for Independent Living, Disability Federation of Ireland (National Leader Forum), and a local disability working group in the north west inner city.

Work targeting the inclusion of ethnic minority groups continues, mainly through participation in working groups attached to area networks in each quadrant of the inner city. The Partnership has invested in developing the organisational infrastructure for new communities and the diverse range of minority ethnic groups now present in the inner city. This has resulted in the establishment of many new connections being forged with the local community networks and resident organisations. The anti-racism and diversity plan to be undertaken in early 2006 will identify needs and investment demands emerging from this sector.

A new group has been established in the north east inner city to look at the needs of young foreign nationals living in the area and unaccompanied minors. The group operates under the auspices of the ICON Young People at Risk Initiative and Partnership staff have been involved in providing a response to the needs of this group.

During 2005, the Partnership continued to work with the Dublin City Childcare Committee to outreach to child minders living in the central area in an effort to meet the training needs of this hidden group.

1.5 Attainment of the Programme objectives

The Partnership Board and staff regularly review progress in relation to the implementation of the strategic action plan. The overall attainment of objectives has been positive during 2005 given the level of resources available to the DICP

Quantitative results for the Local Employment Service are strong, and statistical indicators (Scope) are satisfactory.

Qualitative case studies, research and analysis and technical and professional support to the local community infrastructure has also formed a major part of the workload during 2005.

The range of Partnership supported activity in 2005 has included:

• A large-scale community meeting involving almost two hundred people took place in the National College of Ireland in early 2005 attended by Minister O’Cuiv.
• Further expansion of the Digital Communities Initiative occurred with a major exhibition organised in December 2005 attended by the Minister of State Noel Ahern TD. This highlighted the delivery of accredited computer training to local residents in eleven local authority sites.
• Local residents graduated with Dublin Institute of Technology accreditation following their participation in a teacher training programme organised by the Digital Communities Initiative. The course was designed to enable people to teach in their own communities.
• Forty schools benefited from participation in the DISC Project. Teachers in inner city schools have accessed relevant IT training for use of software and hardware as an educational aid.
• Equal at Work Project successfully completed Phase 1 and initiated a new project involving fifty partner organisations chaired by the DICP Director.
• ICES placed 260 people in full time jobs.
• Significant progress was achieved by the ICON, SWICN and NWICN community networks in relation to developing new initiatives, coordinating social inclusion activity in their areas and engaging with local statutory structures and activities.
• Development of the Tenants First Initiative, and the production of a best practice brochure on regeneration.
• The DICP continued to support Community Technical Aid who provided professional training and advice to local resident groups. Continuation of the community planning service delivered through Community Technical Aid
• Participation and Practice of Rights initiative developed from feasibility stage to obtaining significant mainstream funding.
• Further development of EQUAL initiative Community and Voluntary site with full engagement with trade unions, SIPTU and IMPACT.
• Development worker employed in O’Devaney Gardens to support local participation, capacity building, and expansion of services and initiatives.
• Tenant workers employed in north east inner city and south west inner city.
• Provision of a wide range of training and workshops for community based childcare providers
• Delivery of Disability Equality Training for community workers.
• Educational support for young asylum seekers.
• Participation in multi-agency initiatives targeting disadvantage, e.g. the ICON Young People at Risk Initiative.
• Initiation of research into human resources issues in the childcare sector with Dublin city childcare committee and ICTU, launched in November in the Mansion house.
• New development worker employed in the North West Inner City Network.
• Annual Sports Against Racism multicultural soccer tournament.
• Expansion of training places and modules on the Gateway pre-employment training project.
• Further development and support for the Second level Schools Principals Network.
• Participation by DICP in four School Completion clusters in the inner city.
• Partnership Agenda newsletter published
• Childcare newsletter published.

2. Executive Report

2.1 Key milestones

2.1.1 Co-operation, Collaboration, Linkages

This section provides information on co-operation, collaborative approaches and linkages at local, county, regional and national level. The purpose is to provide a summary of the key agencies/programmes involved; the linkage to the Partnership/Community Group structure and achievements, progress, issues and challenges during the year.

2.1.1.1 Collaborations

• FÁS, DICP Board and sub-committees - Employment & Enterprise Coordinator links with the NEAP, LES and Social Economy Programme in FÁS
• DSFA - NEAP Protocols and Monitoring
• VEC - DICP Education Coordinator has regular meetings with the CDVEC Community Education Facilitators. She liaises with the AEO on issues of adult education and with the ALO in Parnell Adult Learning Centre. Links with the CDVEC Separated Children’s Programme (through various working groups) Principals from two VEC schools are involved in the Second Level Schools Network which is supported by DICP. Other links with the VEC through the Millennium Fund and contacts with further education colleges. DICP Employment & Enterprise Coordinator is involved with adult guidance services in the inner city and with FIT in Ringsend.
• HEALTH BOARD, Working groups of the area networks - Health Board represented on the DICP Board. Links to Local Drugs Task Force Coordinators
• PEACE II
• Teagasc
• Coillte
• LEADER
• National Rural Development Programme
• LEADER Plus
• RAPID, 4 RAPID AITs in the inner city area - DICP support for planning, participation, lobbying.
• CLAR
• Local Authority, DICP Board - DICP Employment & Enterprise Coordinator links with Dublin City Council via the CTA WIDE (EQUAL funded) initiative, DICP Partnership Development worker links with Local Authorities via Equal at Work (Equal funded) initiative
• County Development Board, Partnership represented by Director on DCDB - Under the CDB strategy, DICP is Lead Agency on Social Inclusion.
• County SIMS Committee- Represented on SIM
• Enterprise Board
• County Childcare Committee - Staff are involved on various sub-committees (e.g. Funding and Mentoring Sub-committee). Joint research project completed in 2005. Partnerships are represented on the committee.
• Other European Programmes, EQUAL - Dublin Employment Pact
• Other NGOs
• Any further Depts, Dept. of Education and Science. - Social Inclusion Unit of the Dept. of Educ & Sci DICP Employment & Enterprise Coordinator is involved with the National Monitoring of the Adult Guidance Services
• ADM/Pobal - DICP Employment & Enterprise Coordinator links with the Income Maintenance Sub-group and the ADM Services for the Unemployed Review Group. DICP Education Coordinator links with ADM though the national Education Coordinators network.

2.2 LEVERAGE OF FUNDING

Leverage of funding refers to funding committed from other organisations to the area and to the implementation of the strategic plan.

2.2.1 Direct Funding

Direct funding passes through the company bank accounts. Funding secured during the year as income to the Partnership/ Community Group from other organisations and which impacts on the implementation of the LDSIP plan.

• FÁS CE
• FÁS LES 960,000 51,800
• FÁS Social Economy
• FÁS Other 28,770
• DSFA
• VEC
• HEALTH BOARD
• EOCP
• PEACE II
• Dormant Accounts
• Dept of Education
• Millennium Access 25,740
• Teagasc
• Coillte
• LEADER
• National Rural Development
• LEADER Plus
• Rural Transport
• RAPID
• CLAR
• Local Authority
• County Development Board
• County SIMS Committee
• Enterprise Board
• County Childcare Committee
• Other European Programmes
• Other NGOs
• Any further Departments 20,000

2.2.2 Indirect funding

Funding sourced for LDSIP activity but not directly expended by the Company, i.e. support from another source as part of a strategy commenced by you or a jointly funded action. This funding does not pass through the company bank accounts.

• FÁS CE
• FÁS LES
• FÁS Social Economy
• FÁS Other
• DSFA
• VEC
• HEALTH BOARD
• EOCP
• PEACE II
• Dormant Accounts
• Dept of Education
• Millennium Access
• Teagasc
• Coillte
• LEADER
• National Rural Development Programme
• LEADER Plus
• Rural Transport
• RAPID
• CLAR
• Local Authority
• County Development Board
• County SIMS Committee
• Enterprise Board
• County Childcare Committee
• Other European Programmes
• Other NGOs
• Any further Depts.

2.3 ORGANISATIONAL CHART

This section gives an overview of the structure of the organisation at Board and sub board level. It is also an opportunity to include the policy of the company in terms of nominations, rotations and the number of meetings per year. Details of executive and staff should be given as an appendix.

• Chair Joyce O’Connor Female Independent 5 years
• Director Des Bonass Male P 6 years
• Director James Boylan Male P 2 years
• Director Grainne Foy Female P 1 year
• Director Marie Dooley Female P 4 years
• Director Evelyn Fitzpatrick Female P 3 years
• Director Pauline Kane Female P 5 years
• Director Seanie Lambe Male P 6 years
• Director Fegus McCabe Male P 6 years
• Director Charlie Lowe Male P 6 months
• Director Cllr Andrew O’Connell Male P 1 year
• Director Cllr Aodhan O’Riordain Male P 1 year
• Director Danny Pender Male P 1 year
• Director Tom Ryan Male P 1 year
• Director Cllr Tom Stafford Male P 1 year
• Director Maria Tyrrell Female P 5 years
• Director Fionula Anderson Female P 1 year
• Director Gabrielle Weafer Female P 2 years

2.3.1 Executive Committee

• Member Des Bonass Male P 5 years
• Member Maria Tyrrell Female P 5 years
• Member Pauline Kane Female P 5 years
• Member Seanie Lambe Male P 5 years
• Member James Boylan Male P 2 years
• Member Evelyn Fitzpatrick Female P 3 years
• Member Marie Dooley Female P 4 years

2.3.2 Social Economy Monitoring Committee

• Member Des Bonass Male P 5 years
• Member Maria Tyrrell Female P 5 years
• Member Fergus McCabe Male P 5 years
• Member Fionula Anderson Female P 1 year

2.3.3 Employment & Enterprise Monitoring Committee

• Member Des Bonass Male P 5 years
• Member Evelyn Fitzpatrick Female P 3 years
• Member Pauline Kane Female P 5 years

2.4 Rotation policy

Community directors are elected annually by the area networks at their AGMs. Statutory representatives are appointed and replaced by their agencies. Elected representatives are rotated based on elections every four years, or replaced by the Council if necessary.

2.5 Vacancies

There were no vacancies on the DICP Board at end of 2005.

2.6 Number of meetings held

The Board meets on a quarterly basis.

3 STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS 2005

Measure A: Services for the Unemployed:

The core element of the 2005 strategy and related actions linked to the above measure was directed at sustaining and/or developing the range of inner city initiatives and support structures that focused on disadvantaged long-term unemployed residents, or those residents in danger of becoming long-term unemployed. Each initiative under measure A being informed by the Partnership’s Strategic Action Plan 2001-2006: Achieving Equality, Overcoming Exclusion. Outlined below is an overview of 2005 DICP-supported interventions provided to mirror the range of financial and technical assistance provided by the Partnership during the past year in support of its targeted beneficiaries.

3.1 Measure A: Services for the Unemployed

3.1.1 Strategy 1: Pre-Employment & Employment Support Services, Enterprise Development Assistance

3.1.1.1 The Gateway Project During

2005 the Gateway Project continued to provide certified education and skills training for local women from the Dublin 7 area who intend entering (or re-entering) the workforce. The training ranged from basic keyboard skills, to advanced computer training, and from basic communication skills to Junior Certificate English. Gateway also achieved its accreditation as a FETAC Level 5 Accredited Centre. Gateway is working with DIT to deliver IT training in IC3, an Internet and Computing Core Certification Program. All of this activity opens progression opportunities for the participants. In total 28 women participated in the project during 2005. The demand for places increased, but unfortunately Gateway was unable to offer any additional places. However, for those women who participated in Gateway it was a highly successful intervention mainly due to the operational ethos which values the women's abilities, acknowledges their prior learning, and seeks to tap into their unlimited potential.

Over the past five years many women who have moved through Gateway, gained considerable skills and academic achievements. They have progressed on to full and part-time employment with confidence in their ability as they explore their potential. From a developmental perspective, in 2005 Gateway introduced a range of Microsoft IC3 (Internet and Computing Core Certification) modules for those women who had completed their ECDL but who wanted to further their computer training. Successful completion of IC3 ensures that a student has the knowledge and skills required for jobs in the digital society. On completion of IC3 a student has an understanding of basic use of computer hardware, software, networks, computer applications i.e. Word Processing, Spreadsheets and Presentations and the Internet.

Gateway’s 2005 Quantitative Outcomes include:

• 78 FETAC portfolios’s were examined and passed in 2005.
  • 13 of these were at Level 3
  • 65 of these were at Level 5
• 6 participants received their NCHSX Childcare Certificate
• 7 participants received PITMAN qualifications
• 10 participants received their ECDL certification
• 1 participant received her Junior Certificate English
• 24 participants availed of a ‘Fight like a Girl’ Self Defence Course. This was delivered by Defend U Ireland. Due to the success of the initial course a 2nd level (16 hrs course) was also delivered during 2005.

3.1.1.2 Digital Communities Initiative

The Digital Communities Initiative operates in eleven local authority flat complexes, mostly based in the inner city area. It is a collaborative initiative lead by the Dublin Institute of Technology. High specification computer resource rooms have been established in the eleven sites, and a programme of training is being provided to residents and local site coordinators

IC3 is IT training that is accredited by the Microsoft IT Academy. This training is being delivered in ten of the local sites. Additional training in Teaching & Learning technologies, which is jointly accredited by DIT and Microsoft, is taking place in one of the sites. All sites provide a range of training to their local communities.

Courses are available to groups such as homework clubs, youth clubs, young mothers’ groups, and adult groups. The types of courses include Basic and Intermediate Computers, MOUS (Microsoft Office User Specialist), internet, digital imaging, graphic design, film and animation, and music production. Open access computer sessions are also available in the centres.

2005 was the third year of the Digital Communities Project. Year the emphasis was on training of local residents. The Microsoft IT Academy was selected as the accrediting body and local residents commenced training with the IC3 qualification. IC3 differs from ECDL in that it has three modules instead of the seven in ECDL. The Microsoft qualification was also adopted because it has higher currency with employers. The Dublin Institute of Technology’s Teaching and Learning Centre developed an introductory teacher training course in collaboration with the project. Students who complete one module of IC3 are then offered a place on the teacher training course, which runs for ten weeks with a two-hour session per week. On completion of the three IC3 modules and the Teacher Course, students receive their certification plus five ECTS credits.

This gives participants the opportunity to look at other third level courses and map out their own educational path under the auspices of the Digital Communities Project. Twenty five students have completed all three IC3 exams. Forty additional residents are studying IC3 with a view to sitting the exam. Two people who completed IC3 training are now working as part-time paid tutors within the project. Digital Communities is led by the Dublin Institute of Technology. Partners include DICP, Eircom, Hewlett Packard, the National Centre for Technology in Education, Dublin City Council and the Digital Hub.

Participating flat complexes are Bridgefoot Street, Charlemont Street, Dominick Street, Michal Mallin House, Whitefriar Street, St. Teresa’s Gardens, O’Devaney Gardens, Fatima Mansions, Hardwicke Street, Dolphin House, and Iveagh Trust.

Unlimited Potential

Unlimited Potential is a Microsoft sponsored initiative that aims to address the digital divide. In the inner city, four local sites currently participate in the initiative: MACRO CDP, St. Catherine’s Combined, St. Agatha’s/Swan Youth Service and Ringsend Community Centre. The four centres are at varying stages of establishing computer resource rooms. It is intended that full training programmes will be available through the centres. Microsoft is providing a range of software free of charge and a financial contribution to enable the employment of a co-ordinator. Unlimited Potential will complement existing IT initiatives operating in the inner city such as the Digital Communities Project and the DISC Project, both led by the Dublin Institute of Technology.

3.1.1.3 Inner City Employment Service

During 2005, staff of the DICP and ICES had to address a number of key challenges and opportunities. These included:

• Unexpected alterations made by FÁS and the DSA to the inner city operational protocols linked to the National Employment Action Plan measures
• FÁS IT systems and the FÁS 2-monthly client quantitative reporting procedures - that the DICP furnish (refer to FÁS/DICP 2005 Contract) – proved, once again, not to be compatible. This resulted in:
  • Confusion within the ICES network, and
  • A retrograde step in the ability of the DICP to accurately collate the annual ICES quantitative outcomes
• During 2005 local organizational and staffing issues once again dogged the ICES network and operations. And prevented the completion of the 2005 ICES Envisioning Process (refer to 2005 ICES Investment Proposal). Two ICES Managers resigned their posts (ICRG & Connolly), while a number of mediation and guidance staff either left their positions, or requested to adjust their employment contracts (with the ICES Service Provider organizations) and are now working part-time. (The DICP note that these local adjustments made by individual ICES Service Providers may well have a detrimental effect, in the medium to longer-term, on the ability and effectiveness of local ICES staff teams (of 4 full-time posts) to deliver the range of comprehensive ‘in-house’ and outreach services in support of the ICES client cohort. ICES productivity may also be compromised by local Health & Safety issues as a direct consequence of locally adjusted working arrangements)
• During the year, and as a consequence of DICP concerns, an organizational restructuring of ICES in the Connolly Centre was recommended by the DICP Board.
• LESN Benchmarking Awards were nationally approved during 2005. This national development challenged both the DICP administrative procedures and the ICES model of operations - as the Action Plan measures, linked to the benchmarking payment processes, proved difficult to achieve by the four autonomous ICES Service Providers. Issues related to benchmarking will have to be focused on during the first half of 2006 within each of the DICP contracted organizations. Local ICES productive and DICP-related 2006 target achievements could well be affected as a result.
• Delays by FÁS in approving the annual ICES financial allocation again resulted in a 2005 ICES Mediation Fund under spend. This resulted in the DICP having to ‘push’ its Service Providers to spend this resource between September and November. Furthermore, as a consequence of the FÁS payment delay, this prevented ICES from gaining access, via the office of the local FÁS Employment Service Manager, to FÁS HSP funding.

From a more positive perspective the following also took place during 2005:

• The DICP facilitated FÁS staff in completing a very successful ICES-related Financial Monitoring visit
• The local FÁS Employment Services Manager visited each of the ICES Centres and discussed a range of issues with staff. This was a reciprocal visit following the DICP staff visit to the three FÁS locations (D’Olier House, Jervis Street & Cabra Training Centre) all of whom deal with inner city client needs and concerns.
• In May, ICES, along with the other Dublin-city based LESNs, was awarded the 2005 Lord Mayor’s Award in recognition of the success of the Local Employment Services since their establishment in 1996 by the Area Partnership Boards.
• DICP and ICES supported by participating in FÁS Opportunities 2005 in Croke Park FÁS
• DICP and ICES, collaborating with local residents and the Finglas/Cabra Partnership, coordinated a Jobs Fair linked to the Jury’s Doyle Hotel development at Croke Park
• During the year DICP and ICES personnel provided input into a number of policy and research commissioned pieces of work. They included:
  • NEXUS (for the North Inner City Drugs Task Force)
  • National Centre for Guidance in Education – Reviewing Target Groups
  • National Economic and Social Forum (with WRC) – Future Labour Market Intervention Programmes
  • Pobal’s Client Progression Opportunities
  • Pobal/Dublin Employment Pack – Migrant Workers Research Initiative
  • Dublin Employment Pack – Equal 2- Local Labour Market Research

2005 Outcomes: Inner City Employment Service

Client Inward to ICES during 2005:

As of December 2005 the FÁS MIS System, notwithstanding the central IT technical difficulties detailed above, indicate that the following ICES Outcomes for 2005 are:

• Clients Interfacing with ICES staff during 2005: 2583
• NEAP Referrals* during 2005 231

* NEAP referral procedures were unilaterally adjusted by FÁS & DSA during 2005. As a result client referral to ICES all but ceased for the later stages of 2005

Client Outcomes for 2005

• Job Placements in 2005: 393
• NEAP Job Placements in 2005 87
• Clients assisted on CE in 2005 453
• Clients placed on Mainstream Training in 2005 196
• NEAP Training Placements in 2005 18
• Placed on Apprenticeships in 2005 09
• Placed in High Support/Special Needs in 2005 35
• JI (Rollover Figure) for 2005 119

DICP Note: At the year’s end 5,414 client actions under ‘In Progression’ was captured by the FÁS systems. This is an accumulation of shared ICES activities, and incorporates the ICES Employment Guidance Advisor’s outcomes.

Local Outreach Networks:

The 2005 ICES End of Year Reports from the DICP contracted organisations indicate that ICES continues to network and collaborate with a wide range of community, voluntary and national support agencies, at a local level, to enhance the job prospect of the ICES client cohort

Expansion of the Inner City FIT Initiative

The inner city FIT courses for 2005 have been adjusted to reflect the current study and progression needs of inner city disadvantaged residents. However, recruitment of the intended DICP client cohort proved difficult. This resulted in the CDVEC and FIT expanding the intake to a broader client grouping – with the approval of ICES. The DICP, in consultation with ICES, FIT and the CDVEC have agreed that during 2005/6 the number of inner city FIT courses in the inner city will be increased to incorporate:

• A year long part-time course
• A full-time business-focused course, and
• Year 1 of a 2 year Information Technology course.

To maximize the benefit of this development the ICES Employer Liaison Officer will work directly with a designated staff member in each ICES centre.

3.1.2 Strategy 2: Social Economic Development

Employment & Environment Programmes: St Teresa’s Gardens

As part of our strategy to facilitate the social inclusion areas of acute disadvantage the DICP supports an environmental and employment programme in St. Teresa’s Gardens flat complex in the south west inner city. The project through its coordinator has supported the development of a number of initiatives to support employment, education and training and environmental awareness. In 2005 the project enhanced it participation in the inner city Digital Communities initiative through the delivery of IC3 level computer training to fifteen local residents during the year. Training and examination facilities are provided on-site in the complex and this is considered a huge advantage as residents do not have to travel.

The coordinator has facilitated the delivery of capacity training to local tenants in preparation for their active participation in the planned regeneration of the complex by DCC under a Public Private Partnership development.

The project continues to provide developmental, administration and resources support to local residents organisations and has facilitated local residents’ participation in integration initiatives with statutory organisations. Project supported by the project include St Teresa’s Residents Group, St Teresa’s Summer Project, Senior Citizens Group, St Teresa’s Leaving Initiative, St Teresa’s Book Club and the Environmental Awareness group.

The Project manages and supervised the all-weather playing field to ensure it is used in an effective and efficient manner by the community. As well as maintain the current activities, the objectives for 2005 include the development of a new plan that wee map the work of the Project over the next three-years which will coincide with the regeneration of the complex by DCC.

3.1.3 Strategy 3: Enterprise Support

The DICP 2005 financial allocation for enterprise support was exclusively utilised to assist individual members of inner city disadvantaged target groups who were in receipt of the Back to Work (Enterprise) Allowance, and who opted for progressing into self-employment. Take-up of the financial support was slow during the first half of 2005. This was mainly due to the fact that the majority of the inner city clients were receiving support and technical assistance from the DICP Service Providers and prior to the clients deciding on sustainability issues of the self-employment option. Quantitative outcomes linked to the 2005 DICP Enterprise Support Investment:

• 9 clients were financially supported (5 Male, and 4 Female)

3.1.4 Additional DICP Employment & Enterprise Outcomes:

In addition to the above, the DICP Employment & Enterprise Coordinator recorded the following 2005 local, regional and national inter-agency networking and collaboration activities linked to the DICP measure: Services for the Unemployed:

• Ongoing participation on Pobal’s Income Maintenance Policy Working Group (4 meetings attended)
• DICP Board Rep. on the Dublin Inner City Adult Guidance Service Executive Advisory Group (Working with CDVEC and DALC). This service operates in 8 inner city community-based locations providing education guidance support to disadvantaged IC residents in progression. (4 meetings attended)
• DICP Board Rep. on the Department of Education & Science - National Selection and Monitoring Committee, 2001/2006 National Adult Guidance Service Pilot Initiative (4 meetings attended)
• DICP Board Rep. on the Belfast GEMS Advisory Group of Belfast’s South Partnership Board (3 meetings attended)
• DICP Board Rep. on the Migrants Workers Research Initiative with ADM/DEP (7 meetings attended)
• Working with Dublin-based Partnership Companies, LESNs, HSE and FÁS to develop the ‘Bridge – to – Workplace Initiative to support disadvantaged unemployed residents overcoming addition problems (6 meetings attended, and 8 (4M & 4F) unemployed IC residents to be supported)
• Working with 2 local residents committee – NWIC & St Vincent’s Trust - to inform the development of a Local Labour Clause Initiative linked to the DIT development in D7 (3 meetings attended)
• National LESN Coordinator’s Network: (A total of 9 meetings attended)
  • Attended bi-monthly meetings
  • Convener of the LESN 10th Anniversary Celebration Sub-group
• Worked with LC/FRG to encourage the use of the DICP 2004/5 financial investment in Enterprise Support (1 meeting attended; 7 residents supported; 1 staff training initiative approved)
• Speaker at Pobal’s LDSIP Staff Induction Seminar (October) (1 meeting attended)
• Meetings with Dublin City Enterprise Board and Business in the Community to progress enterprise support issues (4 meetings attended)
• Working with Dublin Employment Pact (EQUAL 2) Cross-Boarder Initiative: Labour Market Intervention Programmes (4 meetings attended)

3.2 Measure B Community Development

3.2.1 Strategy 1 Promoting Social Integration

DICP supports the employment of tenant/development workers in different quadrants of the inner city as a means of addressing the traditional low levels of tenant participation in local development structures. Analysis points to the need to facilitate the participation of tenants in local regeneration programmes, to support the development of new tenants groups, and to facilitate productive interaction between residents, C&V sector and the State. The role of tenant/development workers is to support local tenants to participate effectively and productively in the decision-making structures of local development and regeneration programmes in the north east inner city

3.2.1.1 Tenant Worker, North East Inner City

The ICON Tenant Worker has been active during 2005 in various local authority complexes. Her work included the following the:

• Facilitating the development of a community social charter for the residents of Dominick Street to ensure that the delivery of social provision was an integral part of the regeneration of Local Authority flat complex.
• The identification of training needs for tenant of Croke Villas who are about top undergo v the regeneration of their flat complex.
• On going support and facilitation of meeting to tenants associations in Lourdes House, North William Street, Popular Row, Summer Hill Place and Rutland Court. This involved, convening meetings, Chairing AGMs, overseeing election of committee officers and new members.
• Facilitated planning meeting for the tenants in Liberty House flat complex to support their participation in the regeneration plans of the complex.
• Organised and facilitated a public meeting for the tenants of Liberty House flat complex to support greater participation by the community in the regeneration plans.
• Working with local tenants groups to identify training needs and identifying and sourcing funding to support the delivery of the training.
• Provided support in convening meeting of tenants from Cluid Voluntary Housing Association who were having difficulties in relation their rights and tenancy agreement. The meeting identified key issues and as a result a working group was established to work to overcome the issues and problems.
• Representing the local development Partnership in the North East Inner City RAPID AIT. Facilitating the participation of the local community in RAPID through organising public meeting and information seminars through the local tenants associations

The ICON Tenant Worker plays a vital role in supporting the empowerment and organisational capacity of local tenant’s organisations in her area. This is achieved through the practical provision of information, training programmes and securing independent technical support and advice to enable local people participate in an informed manner in regeneration plans and other initiatives that affect their lives.

3.2.1.2 Tenant Worker, South West Inner City

In March 2004, the DICP Board approved funding for the employment of a Tenant Development Worker in the south west inner city. The objective is to maximise the participation of tenants and build the capacity of community groups in order for them to engage with local development issues. The range of work undertaken included:

• Facilitating the participation of the tenants of Chamber/Weaver Court Flats in the future development and regeneration of their community including convening tenants meeting, public meeting, securing independent technical advice for tenants, addressing current maintenance needs and preparing a community social charter for inclusion in the future regeneration plans.
• Sourced insurance funding for after schools project and part-time handyman to carry-out maintenance for local projects in Chamber/Weaver Court.
• Facilitated the establishing of a South West Inner City Community Policing Forum by providing secretarial and administration back up writing minutes and send same out to participants.
• Providing support to local tenants in St. Teresa’s Gardens. Identifying training needs and support the work of the community forum.
• Supporting tenant’s participation in the RAPID programme through needs identification and planning meetings.
• Providing additional support to Robert Emmett Community Development Project Consultative Group working with Dublin City Council in the delivery of a multipurpose community facility for the Oliver Bond Bridgefoot Street area.
• Representing the interests of tenants associations in the South West Inner City on the South West Inner City Development Network.
• Providing information to local tenants to ensure that are aware of issues that will have an impact on their living conditions.

3.2.1.3 Tenant Worker, North West Inner City

A Tenant Development Worker is employed in O’Devaney Gardens flat complex in the north west inner city. During the 2005 her work involved:

• Facilitated the development of the ‘Go Project’ and IT initiative a creative approach to introduce local residents to the many aspect of new Information technology.
• In conjunction with the VEC and local CDP produced a project for the delivery of an after schools project for 5 – 10 year olds in O’Devaney Gardens. This proposal was successful in securing funding from the Dormant Accounts.
• Working with the HSEW community worker secured funding to produce a community video on the social history of O’Devaney Gardens. This project will act as a creative means to involve the community in both past and present social and economic issues facing the community.
• Manage the O’Devaney Gardens Digital Communities initiative. This is part of a broader inner city initiative which provides IT and computer training to local residents of Local Authority housing complexes.
• Negotiated with FÁS for the successful transfer of CE worker from O’Devaney Gardens from a project hat was about to close to a new sponsor.
• Providing information to local community on the progress of the Regeneration plans for O’Devaney Gardens
• Representing the O’Devaney Community Development Forum on the O’Devaney Regeneration Board and ensuring that the Regeneration Board delivers social and economic benefits to existing residents.
• Member of the Management of the Tweenies Playgroup which provides 38 childcare place for parents from O’Devaney Gardens
• Facilitating the development of the O’Devaney Garden’s Women Group and securing funding for training in Child protection, rights around Domestic Violence, rights around sexual abuse, computer training and gender awareness.
• Developing networks with other Local Authority tenant’s organisation in Dublin through the Dublin 7 Community Forum and Tenant First. Through these we share experiences and information and build solidarity.

The O’Devaney Gardens Tenant Worker has been very active in support in the development of social programmes in her community including providing capacity and skills training to local residents. The after school initiative will provide greater opportunities for children to remain in the school system, thereby increasing their educational and employment opportunities.

In 2006 the Tenant Workers will continue to support local development and community initiatives and continue lobby for a community resource centre to be included as a priority in Phase 1 of the regeneration; ensuring ongoing training is provided to residents and a comprehensive social agenda is included as part of the O’Devaney Gardens Regeneration Plans.

3.2.1.4 Development Worker, North West Inner City

DICP invests in the North West Inner City Network to employ a development worker. Recruitment for this position took place in 2004. The worker’s role is to support the development of the network’s working groups, to facilitate the NWIC Community Forum, to promote an understanding of the network in the area and to encourage participation. In 2005 her achievement included the following:

• Facilitated the development of an active Intercultural Working group to promote anti-racism and diversity and the social and economic integration of vulnerable residents from our New Communities.
• Chaired the Network Disability Working Group which organised disability awareness training for Network organisations.
• Chaired and administered the Drugs Working Group of the Network which supports training and development for people with Drug abuse, nominates the community reps to the DTF and co-ordinates the community organisations providing support and other services to the community on issues around drug misuse
• Provided secretarial and administration support to the Grangegorman Working Group which was set up to ensure that the community secures benefit from the redevelopment of the Grangegorman site by the Dublin Institute of Technology.
• Provided support to the North Inner West Inner City Community Forum and helped the Forum review their aims and objectives develop a work plan.

This position is jointly funded by the North Inner City Drugs Task Force.

3.2.1.5 Participation and Practice of Rights Project

The Participation and Practise of Rights Project is collaboration between the two north inner city community networks (ICON and NWICN) and the Dublin Inner City Partnership.

The project originated from meetings convened by Inez McCormack in 2001, in her then capacity as president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. The sponsoring group consists of the Combat Poverty Agency, the Committee on the Administration of Justice, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and Community Foundation NI.

The central objective of this project is to encourage communities in deprived areas to use a rights based approach to redress many of the social and economic deficiencies which affect them.

During 2005, the initiative was funded by Atlantic Philanthropies to conduct a feasibility study into ways of developing a rights based approach to local issues. The two areas selected were North inner city Dublin and North Belfast. Transition funding has been provided by the DICP to secure the continuity of the work from March 2005 – September 2005. Activities of the Worker during this time included:

• Meeting with local organisation to inform them of the aims and objectives of the Participation and Practices of Rights Project
• Working with UISCE drug users project to finalise the ‘We are People Too’ Publication of the view of drug users on health services.
• Meeting with health workers and medical staff on the rights of drug users
• Facilitating the development of an action plan for a social and economic rights based project in Dublin’s North Inner city
• Encouraging a ‘learning by doing’ approach to participation and rights by identifying and facilitating the delivery of relevant rights capacity training/workshops.
• Assisting local groups to identify barriers through participatory action research Funding for this position has been secured from an additional source from September 2005

3.2.2 Strategy 2 Co-ordination of a community-based social inclusion infrastructure

Social Inclusion Coordinators are employed by the inner city Community Based Network and provide a coordinated support to facilitate a collaborative strategy for the development activities of local and community development social inclusion and anti-poverty organisations. The DICP investment in this coordinated and collaborative approach by community-driven organisations is vital in both combating the cumulative affects of social exclusion in designated areas and sustaining their economic and social progress.

Social Inclusion Projects Co-ordination, North East Inner City

The ICON coordinator has continued to strengthen the coordinated work of the Network in 2005 both in terms of supporting greater co-ordination between it 80 affiliated members as well enhancing the internal structures of the network. In 2005 the coordinator’s activities has focused on

• Developing a communication strategy to ensure relevant and timely information is produced to all of the constituent parts of ICON through the use of Information Technology, newsletters, seminars and conferences.
• Revitalising the working groups of the Network including the Housing, Education, Intercultural, Drugs & Health.
• Working with the DICP in the developing greater co-ordination and cohesion of local and community development programmes in the NEIC including RAPID, Dormant Accounts and the Equality for Women measure.
• Facilitating an Anti-racism and diversity plan in the NEIC
• Providing technical assistance to the Good Neighbours Close to Town and local development initiative in the Dorset, Dominick Street area.
• Providing management assistance to BradOg the regional youth services in North Inner City
• Supporting community involvement in the new Participation and Practice of Rights Project.
• Supporting the development of effective drug strategy for the ICON area.
• Providing capacity and development support to new community and resident initiatives in the NEIC.
• An important part of the SI coordinators work has involved preparation for the ICON bi-annual conference to take place in early 2006 and will inform their policy and practice direction for the next four years.

Social Inclusion Projects Coordinator, South West Inner City

The SWICN Coordinator has specific responsibility for a number of social inclusion initiatives including:

• SWICN Youth Services works with over a hundred young people aged between 12 and 21 who live in flat complexes in the locality. The Youth Services has managed to secure premises and lease agreement from DCC for a Youth Information Centre for the south inner city. There has been an increase in the reach of the SWICN Youth Services to new areas such as Kevin Street, Michael Mallin Vicar Street, the Coombe, Clanbrassil Street, Cathedral View, Bishop Street, Oliver Bond & St. Teresa’s Gardens. This is due to the success of the youth services outreach programme for high-risk youth. Over 103 young people have been supported by the SWICN Youth Service.
• The SWICN Computer Clubhouse uses technology as a tool to engage young people. The project has received funding from both the Department of Communication and the Dormant Accounts which will secure the project until 2008. The Clubhouse provides activities to over 90 young people each week.
• The SWICN Tenant Training and Capacity Programme works with tenants & residences associations based in the flat complexes. The current work undertaken is focused on St. Teresa’s Gardens and Chamber /Weaver Court. The projects ultimate aim is to give tenants the ability to manage their own estates in conjunction with DCC. SWICN has supported tenants in the project to participate in the writing of a tenant charter and facilitated tenant participation in the regeneration programme in chamber/ Weaver court. This is supported by the development worker and the regeneration in St. Teresa’s gardens is supported by the social inclusion coordinator.
• Fifty five people are currently employed on the Jobs Initiative in the south west inner city area. The number allocated to SWICN at the start of the programme was 75, but the network is currently not allowed to replace participants. The Jobs Initiative has had a positive impact on the community from the perspective of local people delivering services. It has also given the participants from disadvantaged areas the opportunity to access education and enhances their ability to access employment in the open labour market.
• SWICN Drugs Education and Prevention Project, Since the last monitoring report this project has now passed interim funding and is funded for a further year. The SWICN Drugs working group has now changed its name and focus and is called the South Inner City Drugs Advisory group, since July of 2005. The Catchment area for this project is the whole south inner city. The objective of the project is to deliver drugs prevention and education programmes to adult and youth organizations based in the south inner city. In addition the project has also extended its remit to include the development of a drug Users forum for the south inner city. This project is funded through the SICLDTF and delivered by SWICN in conjunction with the SEN. As part of its prevention work the SIC Drugs Advisory Group has established a Service Users Forum to facilitate the involvement of drug users in a positive way to combat their addiction and enhance support services.
• The SWICN SI coordinator also ensures SWICN has assertive representation on the following local Development For a – South Inner City Drug Task Force, RAPIDD, Digital Hub, Policing Forum, Liberties/Coombe IAP

Social Inclusion Projects Coordinator, North West Inner City

Over the past year the North West Inner City Network its membership base and has over 50 affiliated community and voluntary organisations involved in many different activities from anti-racism, youth provision drug prevention and services to older people to mention but a few. The NWICAN SI Coordinator has focused much his work on consolidation the existing work of the Network as well as the planning, development and production of the a new five-year plan of the Network. Activities for 2005 included.

• Organising and facilitate the planning of a new five-year strategy for the Network
• Reviewing the outcomes of the previous action plan with the Network’s working groups
• Organising planning workshops with Network affiliated organisations.
• Supporting anti-poverty work in the area with a particularly focus on the local authority flat complexes including, O’Devaney Gardens, Dominick Street.
• Providing local development support to O’Devaney Gardens Community Development Forum, O’Devaney Gardens Regeneration Board.
• Coordinated the Networks involvement in
  • NWIC RAPID
  • Grange Gorman Working group
  • Good Neighbours Close to Town Project
  • NWIC Participation and Practice of Rights
• Coordinating the NWIC Anti-racism and diversity plan
• Devising and implementing a communication strategy for the Network through Newsletters, Development of Network Website and email circulars.
• In conjunction with ICON oversee the delivery of a community participation plan to enhance and increase the involvement of local people in local development initiatives.
• Managing policy and research initiatives in the NWIC to ensure that the community has relevant and evidenced based information to support their demands and involvement in public and private investment initiatives in the NWIC.
• Manage the Implementation of accountable Network corporate and governance structures.
• Coordinating a strategic approach to small scale funding such as Dormant Accounts, RAPID Sports Capital, YPFSF etc, etc.
• Providing technical and development support to local residents and tenants organisations.

3.2.3 Strategy 3 Capacity development, technical assistance and training

Planning & Environment Officer

CTA DICP contracts Community Technical Aid (Urban Resource Unit) to deliver a community planning service with the objective of enabling local communities to understand and participate in the change their local areas are experiencing. During 2005, the service provided a range of technical supports including the following:

• Liberty House – work with tenants regarding proposed new developments
• Markets area – objections and appeals process
• Producing objections to residents in North Strand, Infirmary Road, Dunne Street and the Markets Area.
• O’Devaney Gardens – Provisions of training and technical support to blocks committees
• Providing training to tenants in Greek Street, Dominick Street
• Cork Street and Maryland – improved input to planning process
• Technical advice to NWIC Network on the Grange Gorman Development Plan
• MARDAG – input of community objectives into Markets plan
• Participated on the Assessment Board of the O’Devaney Gardens Regeneration Tenders

3.2.4 Strategy 4 Research & policy development to support sustainable regeneration

No activity this period due to staff turnover. The LDSIP supported research and policy development actions delivered through SWICN have been discontinued. Resources were discontinued following staff resignation due to funding cutbacks. In addition to initiatives that received direct financial support, the Community Regeneration Officer provided support and technical assistance to the following groups during 2005.

Name of Group Objectives Set Type of Support

• Dublin City Council and L&CD liaison Group - Building Greater relationships and co-ordination between DCC and the L&CD organisations - Technical and facilitation of meetings
• Inner City Local and Community Development Cohesion Group - Building greater cohesion and collaboration in the Inner city - Technical and facilitation
• ICON - Social Inclusion Co-ordination - Technical Support, Monitoring and Evaluation
• Macro CDP - Bridging Digital Divide - Facilitating Microsoft UP programme
• North Dublin Practice and Participation of Rights - Support social and economic right to socially excluded residents - Facilitating steering committee
• North West Inner City Council of Services to Older People - Co-ordination of Services to older people - Technical support to steering committee
• NWICAN - Social Inclusion Co-ordination - Technical Support, Monitoring and Evaluation
• O’Devaney Gardens Community Development Forum - Maximising community involvement in Community regeneration - Technical Support, Monitoring and Evaluation
• Ringsend Action Project - Target support to local tenants - Technical support to develop collaborative programme for local tenants
• Robert Emmett CDP - Involvement of local people in local development programme - Technical support to CDP
• Social Economy Monitoring Committee - Strategic use of Active Labour Market Programmes - Facilitating meetings and providing technical support
• South East Inner City RAPID - Targeting of investment to SEIC - Local development expertise to AIT
• St. Teresa’s Gardens Environment and Employment Project - To support employment and regeneration of St. Teresa's Gardens - Technical Support, Monitoring and Evaluation
• St. Agatha’s Community Youth Centre - Development of computer training room - Facilitating Microsoft UP programme
• SWICN - Co-ordination of Social Inclusion activities in the south west inner city - Technical Support, Monitoring and Evaluation
• Tenants First - Collective support for Local Authority tenants in regeneration programmes - Technical advice and support
• Threshold Voluntary Housing Organisation - Research into social and public housing policy in Dublin's inner city - Technical advice and support
• Tosach CDP support Agency - Support to local CDPs - Technical support to Management Committee
• Whole Times Jobs Initiative Managing Agents X 7 - Facilitating collective response to issues re WTJI - Facilitating meetings
• Inner City Anti-Racism and Diversity Plan Steering Group - Development of and Inner City ARD Plan - Technical Support and facilitation of meetings
• Inner City Community Employment Research Group - Assess the gender participation on Community Employment - Facilitating the research and liaison with researchers and local stakeholders
• Cairde New Communities Partnership - Development of an independent infrastructure for minority community groups - Overseeing and monitoring DICP investment
• Cairde Community Health Programme - Delivery of training to members from the ethnic minority communities - Provision of technical support and advice

3.3 Measure C Community Based Youth Initiatives

3.3.1 Strategy 1 Integration and Developing Local Educational Services

The objective of this strategy is to tackle educational disadvantage by supporting retention in the formal school system and early education opportunities.

3.3.1.1 Inner City Childcare Network

The Inner City Childcare Network up to October continued to hold regular network meetings in the Partnership office and attracted new membership. However, the Partnership involvement in the Network declined due to the departure of the DICP Development Officer.

The network was involved in organising the following training for childcare workers in inner city community crèches.

• Child Accident Prevention Training (1 day) Child Accident Prevention Trust, UK 15 6 May 2005
• Fire Prevention Training (1 morning) Apex Fire Services 13 14 March 2005
• Fire Prevention Training (1 afternoon) Apex Fire Services 10 14 March 2005
• Nutrition for Pre-school Age Health Promotion Dieticians 15 19 April 2005
• Eist anti-bias training (first of five sessions) Pavee Point 12 1 December 2005

Technical support was provided to St. Vincent’s Trust (Nursery Management Committee), and Scallywags Crèche management committee. The Spring issue of the Childcare Network newsletter, Rattle Mag, was published.

Other childcare actions this period:

• Research on employment issues in childcare (in collaboration with Dublin City Childcare Committee). Publication due in September 2005.
• Seminar on Inclusive Play for Children with Disabilities, in collaboration with DESSA. The seminar took place on 20 April 2005 in the National College of Ireland.
• Funding approved from Dublin City Childcare committee to establish a Childcare Resource Centre in the Central area. The proposal was developed by Dublin City Council, Finglas Cabra Partnership and Dublin Inner City Partnership.
• The Inner City Childcare Network had a stand and provided information on the network’s activities at an Information & Networking Day organised by the NAHB. The event was held on 1 June 2005 in Ozanam House. Books for childminding services were provided through Dublin City Council’s Library service.

Childminding Training

DICP staff supported the delivery of training for child minders in the Central area, which was funded by Dublin City Childcare Committee. This followed on from the successful delivery of courses for child minders in 2004. Between January and June 2005, the following two courses were delivered for child minders:

• Child Accident Prevention Training (1 day workshop) Child Accident Prevention Trust, UK 14 7 May 2005
• Childminding ‘Quality Awareness Programme’ (2 day course) IPPA 14 14 & 21 May 2005

3.3.2 Strategy 2 Preventing Early School Leaving / Promoting Educational Development

Primary Education:

A meeting was held in June with primary school principals regarding the general allocation system for the provision of resources for children with “special needs” and the new Dept. of Education and Science plan on educational inclusion. The DICP Education Coordinator convened the meeting and wrote up a report on the session. It was agreed that DICP will carry out a survey regarding general allocation in September 2005. The Education Coordinator conducted the survey in September 2005 and the results were as follows:

• The inner city has lost the equivalent of 6.76 teachers over 30 designated disadvantaged schools. The average impact in each school has been the loss of .22 of a teacher
• North side schools have lost out disproportionately: there has been a net loss of 7.88 teachers over 18 schools or an average of a loss of .43 of a teacher per school. The south side made a slight but insignificant gain (an average of .09 teachers)
• Boys’ schools lost out disproportionately: the average impact in the 18 boys’ schools was a loss of .728 of a teacher per school, as opposed to a smaller average loss of .16 for mixed schools and a slight average gain for girls’ schools of .18 of a teacher

The survey was sent to all principals, presented at a District 10 INTO meeting on the subject and sent to the Minister for Education and Science Mary Hannafin.

An in-service course was organized for primary teachers in the North West Inner City. The course was entitled 'The Inner City Child and his/her community'. The course consisted of field visits to, and inputs from, local organizations, many of them involved in education.

The course covered the following organizations:

• Gateway,
• St. Vincent’s Trust,
• Macro Resource Centre,
• Vincentian Refugee Centre,
• Blackhall Place Crèche, among others.

23 local teachers attended the course and the feedback was very positive. One home-school liaison teacher later commented that the participation of teachers in the course had made her work much easier as the teachers understood better the context that the students and their parents were coming from.

On 18 January, a literacy meeting was held for all interested in education in Dublin city. The aim was to make relevant people aware of research results from the Education Research Centre in Drumcondra, which carried out a study on literacy levels in designated disadvantaged schools. The DICP Education Coordinator convened and facilitated the meeting, and drafted a report. It was attended by almost sixty people.

Second Level Retention Programme

Eleven disadvantaged secondary schools in the inner city participate in the Second-Level Schools Network (SSN).

This year saw the start of an innovative professional development programme for second level teachers in the inner city. The training in 2005 was targeted at teachers with long years of experience of teaching in the inner city. The training is being delivered at National College of Ireland and is overseen by a steering group made up of representatives of the SSN, NCI, the Second Level Support Service, the School Planning and Development Initiative, the DICP and two practicing secondary teachers. Five in-service sessions took place with attendance of between twelve and sixteen teachers at each session. The topics covered included profile of the inner city and the inner city student; dealing with challenging behaviour and conflict; mixed ability teaching and factors which cause stress in teachers.

The SSN carried out a tendering process to secure the services of evaluators for the programme. The evaluators carried out a preliminary evaluation with the participants The results of this evaluation will inform the development of the next round of training – targeted at less experienced teachers – which will take place in 2006.

The SSN also continued its engagement with the DES, through meetings with the Social Inclusion Unit of DES and with the Council for Special Education. In May, twelve principals (from primary and secondary schools)were selected to attend a Howard Gardner meeting in the National College of Ireland. The principals benefited from the lecture by learning about how to take multiple intelligences into consideration in managing their school

3.3.2.2 Skills Enhancement Through Information Technology

This year, DISC has worked with eight schools that had submitted proposals for ICT projects. Each school was supplied with the relevant hardware, software and training to develop their project. The eight schools have a teaching staff of 33 teachers and a school population of 45 students.

Project range from

• Clay Animation,
• Programmable Lego,
• Digital Video,
• School/class newsletters and
• websites.

Six schools received computer upgrades:

• Mt. Carmel Sec. School,
• Westland Row CBS,
• St. Audeon’s NS,
• St. Gabriel’s NS,
• St. Joseph’s Sec. School And
• Presentation Sec. School, Warrenmount.

A number of schools were also upgraded with both Memory and hard drives and many schools are receiving Broadband under the DES’s scheme.

The following schools also received software:

• Gardiner St. NS,
• St. Patrick’s BNS,
• Rutland St. NS,
• O’ Connell’s NS,
• Brunswick St. NS,
• St. Mary’s NS

The Go project – Grangegorman on Line – is a project in the North west Inner City, the area surrounding the proposed Grangegorman DIT campus, and involves support two schools and two local training centres with mobile wireless equipment. The schools supported by this project in 2006 were St. Gabriel’s NS and St. Joseph’s Sec. School.

DISC received funding from the Civil Service Charities fund and the Ireland Funds which enabled the project to purchase 13 digital cameras, 5 iBooks, 6 digital video cameras and other equipment for the schools such as hard drives. This equipment is held by DISC and loaned to the schools.

Nine courses were held for teachers. These included

• programmable Lego,
• Clay Animation,
• Digital Cameras and
• scanning.

Thirty one female and twelve male teachers benefited from the training. The DISC website went live and is being used as a support tool and as a means of showcasing the work that is taking place in the DISC project schools. Donations of computers were made to the Clareville Senior Citizens Complex, Glasnevin and the Dublin Christian Mission homework Club, Chancery St., Dublin 7.

Early school leaving:

The Education Coordinator participated in a steering group to draw up the terms of reference for a Life start survey on Early School Leaving in Dublin 8. Consultants are in place to carry out the survey, and the research methods and objectives have been agreed. When the survey is completed, follow-up activity will take place. The survey is being commissioned by SICCDA.

She worked with the School Completion Programme cluster in Dublin 8 to identify the scale of the school transfer problem in the area. A letter was drafted to relevant authorities regarding children for whom services are not working.

She sat on school completion clusters in Synge Street, Dublin 7 and Dublin 1, collaborating with principals and community representatives in addressing issues of attendance and early school leaving. In the Dublin 7 cluster she worked with the cluster on the development of a review strategy for the programme in the area.

The education coordinator organized a meeting of after-schools projects in the inner city with a view to investigating the possibility of setting up a network. The meeting looked at funding for after-schools projects and decided to look at the remit of after-schools projects vis-a-vis youth projects.

3.3.3 Strategy 3 Promoting Developmental Youth Work

3.3.3.1 Youth Integration Programme

A FETAC Level One Computer course took place for asylum seekers living in the inner city between November 2004 and April 2005. Fourteen asylum seekers participated in the course over its duration, but there were many who did not finish the course due to illness, depression caused by bad news re their status from the Dept. of Justice, transfer, etc. Five students presented work for FETAC Level One. A small celebration was held to celebrate the end of the course.

The Education Coordinator continued to participate on the reception and Integration Agency’s Transitions Support group whose objective is to promote the educational and social inclusion of “aged out unaccompanied minors” in Dublin inner City.

The Education Coordinator held a meeting for secondary school and community training workshop personnel to provide information on the National Foundation for Training in Enterprise’s courses for disadvantaged youth. As a result one secondary school in the area signed up for the course.

3.3.4.1 Equality & Rights Based Approaches to Education

The DICP Education Coordinator is involved in a working group that has been set up under the North West Inner City Network with the aim of supporting community input into the proposed Dublin Institute of Technology development at Grangegorman in Dublin 7. During 2005, the working group lobbied successfully for the inclusion of a local resident on the Board of the Grangegorman development Agency and a redrawing of the definition of the 'local area' in the legislation setting up the GDA. It also networked with local residents’ groups not involved in the North west Inner City network in order to create support for a Community Forum which would elect the resident representative on the Board.

The Education Working group of the Network also organized a consultation meeting in December with adult education providers to identify their hopes and fears in relation to the development of the Grangegorman campus. The education Coordinator facilitated a meeting to revive the ICON Education working group.

The Education Coordinator was also involved in a group convened by the RAPID Coordinator in Dublin 8 which is looking at access to third level education in Dublin 8. A meeting was held with millennium beneficiaries in Dublin 8 to promote mutual support and identify needs. The RAPID group also approached Liberties College with a view to examining the low level of take up of places by local residents. This resulted in a partnership between the RAPID group and the college, and a two pronged strategy, one aimed at devising a collaboration strategy with local community education providers and one aimed at promoting the college among local community organizations. The latter strategy culminated in a well attended, participative information and consultation meeting at the college in November, attended by 50 people working in local community organizations in Dublin 7 and Dublin 8. The Education Coordinator also nominated one adult learner and four school leavers for the Bank of Ireland Millennium Scholarship and supported them in their applications to B o I.

The YPAR Foreign National Young People at Risk Subgroup held a seminar in January on foreign national young people at risk in the north inner city. A report was produced which made recommendations to the community and statutory sectors as to the delivery of services and supports for this group. The report was presented to statutory agencies involved with FNYPAR in order to seek commitments for engagement. The results of the process were presented to a follow-up seminar and to YPAR.

The main agencies targeted were the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA), the Health Service Executive, the Social Inclusion Section of the Department of Education and Science. In keeping with one of the recommendations of the FNYPAR report, a one-day anti-racism training session was delivered by the Education Coordinator to groups delivering services to Young people at Risk in the Inner City. The training took place on 20 October and was attended by 16 people from youth services, the NEWB, after-school services, schools, family support agencies etc. Anti-racism and disability equality training was also provided in October to participants in a Special Needs Assistants’ course in the North Wall Women centre.

Each session lasted half a day and was attended by 12 participants. The FNYPAR report was presented to the National Access Office and arising from this and also discussions at the Network of Education personnel a working group was set up between Pobal and NEP, convened by the DICP Education Coordinator, which commissioned a piece of research on the barriers faced by minority ethnic groups in accessing higher and further education. The Education Coordinator was involved in the design of the research brief, the tender process and the selecting of case studies to be highlighted.

4. FRAMEWORK AGREEMENTS

4.1 FÁS Framework Agreement / JI and CE

The FÁS Framework Agreement / JI and CE is operated successfully with a strong working relationship with FÁS community services and involving a wide range of local community interests through the Partnership structure. The Partnership board approved a new agreement based on the needs of the DICP action plan linked to the two programmes. There was a successful outcome in relation to sustaining JI positions during 2004 for the future.

4.2 Local Employment Service Framework for Operation Agreement

Throughout 2004, the Inner City Employment Service in co-operation with inner city offices of FÁS and with the FÁS National Employment Policy Unit, worked to enhance the inner city service provision for people who are long term unemployed, within the area of specific target groups which includes ex-prisoners, lone parents, immigrant communities and women returning to the workforce.

4.3 Back to Work Enterprise Allowance

As a consequence of DSFA eligibility criteria changes, the uptake of Back to Work Enterprise Allowance by inner city long-term unemployed residents is poor. An indication of this is that during the first half of 2004, only thirteen residents availed of the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance. However, the number of general enquiries for information regarding self-employment has increased. In order to support self employment in the inner city, the Partnership allocated limited resources in November 2004 to support leverage of additional funding for this activity. The DICP service providers (Larkin Unemployed Centre and Fountain Resource Group) will continue to work with this cohort, who may not be able to avail of the BTWEA due to the three year eligibility criteria.

4.4 National Employment Action Plan

The Inner City Employment Service was up to recently the only LES that took direct referrals from the Dept. of SFA under the terms of the roll-out in the Dublin area of the National Employment Action Plan. Twelve clients from the DSFA are passed to ICES on a weekly basis. Placement outcomes remain very small from this client cohort, and this is due anecdotally to the socio-economic issues preventing the individuals from progressing into the workforce. To inform this anecdotal information, during 2005 ICES in collaboration with DICP and CTA, will conduct area-specific research into the NEAP client cohort and their progression difficulties. Local protocols that are monitored by the DICP guarantee that NEAP clients reside within one of the four quadrant areas of the DICP geographical boundary. Furthermore, consultation between local DSFA staff and ICES personnel takes place prior to any DSFA making decisions regarding welfare payments for the individual concerned. Currently the annual referral figure into ICES from the DSFA is standing at 624.

5. Co-operation with Northern Ireland

DICP was involved in a number of cross-border initiatives during the year.

5.1 Participation and Practice of Rights Project

The Rights Project is a cross-border initiative that aims to secure social and economic rights for disadvantaged communities in North Dublin and North Belfast. The underlying concept is to support local residents to address social exclusion by making use of relevant national, EU and international agreements. The project was initiated by Inez McCormack, former President of ICTU. The sponsoring body is a collaborative group which includes the Combat Poverty Agency, Community Foundation Northern Ireland, and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and the Committee for the Administration of Justice in Northern Ireland.

5.2 Equal at Work

Some cross border work was carried out under Equal at Work, the Dublin Employment Pact led EQUAL funded initiative the focuses on adaptability of the work environment to create more equal opportunities for target groups. The project featured a cross-border working group that produced summary documents on equality legislation in Northern Ireland and in the Republic.

5.3 ICES Cross-Border Co-operation

During 2005 the DICP facilitated a series of collaborative meetings between ICES, and Belfast GEMS staff. The purpose of these meetings was primarily to develop client skills analyses protocols designed especially to support staff now working with clients who are directly referred into employment services by State agencies. This work is ongoing.

5.4 Belfast GEMS

The DICP Employment and Enterprise Coordinator is a member of the Advisory/Management Group for Belfast GEMS (Gasworks Area Employment Matching Service) that meets quarterly. During 2004 he provided peer supervision to GEMS Director. GEMS personnel held a joint meeting with ICES staff to develop best practice related to employment support services for clients with acute social and education levels of disadvantage.

5.5 Digital Communities Project

The Digital Communities Project now features a cross-border element, as the project is being used as a model for a similar initiative in Northern Ireland. The Belfast Digital Communities will work with four communities, in Republican and Loyalist areas of the city. A Manager has been appointed for the Belfast sites. In addition, the Dublin Project Coordinator and DIT Community Links Director have visited the project in the north to share information on the model.

6. HORIZONTAL ISSUES

Equality Proofing Mechanisms

The Partnership agreed a set of operating principles which were developed in support of equality proofing. They give a clear outline of the Partnership’s overarching objectives and modus operandi, and help ensure that Partnership activity is correctly targeted, operates to an equality agenda at all times, and results in sustainable benefits to the inner city community.

• Any investment or programme supported by the Partnership must have direct benefit for those residents of the inner city who are without work, experiencing poverty or in low income households.
• Our resources and efforts will be targeted at those of greatest need within the inner city and will aim to ensure sustainable benefit to local residents.
• The underlying value of the Partnership approach is to achieve equality of treatment, access and opportunity for inner city residents who have experienced exclusion from social and economic local development.
• The Partnership will encourage participation by residents in local programmes, organisational structures and activity and will oppose discrimination and compulsion.
• The Partnership will provide the means for transparency in local decision-making by ensuring accountability in the allocation, use and deployment of resources and funding and by identifying the intended beneficiaries.

6.1 Gender Equality

6.1.1 Gender equality policy

The Partnership is committed to achieving gender equality as part of wider equality objectives. This commitment is outlined in the Partnership’s operating principles.

6.1.2 Mechanisms to ensure gender balance

The Partnership gives consideration to issues of gender balance at board, sub-committee and working group levels. To date there has been a good balance of women to men on all Partnership structures. Research carried out through the Equal at Work project showed that three quarters of the employees in the community and voluntary sector are female and this supports a greater gender balance in local structures. Monitoring reports from contracted organisations are required to present disaggregated data for gender. Partnership staff have expertise in equality issues and this informs the local operation of initiatives and provision of services.

6.1.3 Positive actions have been developed to ensure equality

A number of actions are supported to specifically address equality of access, participation and outcome for women and men across LDSIP measures. These include the Gateway Project which offers pre-employment training for women, and the Inner City Childcare Network which supports the development of quality community childcare partly as an equality measure. Although no longer providing LDSIP funding to the NWIC Women’s Network, the Partnership continues to support the network through staff participation in the management committee and working group structure. The Women’s Network underwent an external review during the year to assist with a refocusing of activities and to help it to meet the changing needs of the locality. The management committee was expanded during the year and a new work plan was developed and submitted to the Department. Temporary staff on work experience from The Gateway Project were given the task of organising office systems in the new premises on Manor Street. The network members met regularly to discuss planning and to finalise two pieces of research.

6.2 Equality for People with Disabilities

People with disabilities and their representative organisations are invited to Partnership meetings and included in mailing lists for the dissemination of information. Meetings are held in accessible venues. The Partnership conducted statistical analysis that showed that ten per cent of the inner city population has a disability. The percentage of people with disability increases with age, so that older people are more likely to have disabilities. Two fifths of people aged 65+ have a disability.

Many community services including those run with Jobs Initiative and Community Employment workers, are targeting people with disability.

The Partnership has recently become involved in work that will more directly target people with disabilities. The first step in this work was to organise training in 2004 which continued during 2005 for DICP board and staff members, and community-based organisations. DICP is also participating on local groups dedicated to disability and providing support for disability focused organisations, including the Dublin-based Centres for Independent Living. These structures will enable people with disability to have more direct access to Partnership processes. Partnership staff participated in a Disability Information morning held in MACRO in May 2004.

The event was organised by MACRO in collaboration with DESSA. On foot of this, meetings were convened by MACRO with a view to establishing a Disability Working Group for the area. This was formally established as a working group of the area network. The Partnership is represented on the working group and will continue to support the development of the group in 2005. The DICP Education Coordinator and Partnership Development Worker have given particular support to a consultation process around a National Leader Forum and IWA policy document. Work on this theme will continue in 2005 and will be informed by the ADM guidelines.

6.3 Poverty Proofing

Poverty proofing is defined as: 'the process by which government departments, local authorities and state agencies assess policies and programmes at design and review stages in relation to the likely impact that they will have or have had on poverty and on inequalities which are likely to lead to poverty, with a view to poverty reduction.' The Partnership’s poverty proofing strategy is again enshrined in the operating principles, which highlight the commitment to targeting resources at those most in need. In particular, the first principle states that: 'Any investment or programme supported by the Partnership must have direct benefit for those residents of the inner city who are without work, experiencing poverty or in low income households'

All activities supported by the Partnership are assessed by staff members and the Board as to their impact in terms of poverty. Each LDSIP supported initiative is assessed in relation to its impact in the following areas:

• Prevention of poverty
• Reduction of the numbers living in poverty
• Addressing the effects of poverty
• Address inequalities that might lead to poverty
• Reaching target groups living in poverty

Initiatives must also relate to the equality principles which underpin the NAPS, including:

• encouraging equal access and participation for all;
• guaranteeing the rights of minorities especially through anti-discrimination measures; and,
• Reducing inequalities and, in particular, addressing the gender dimension of poverty.

6.4 Other target groups

6.4.1 Travellers

All Partnership activities take into account the accessibility and cultural appropriateness of its interventions to members of the Travelling Community. However, owing to the very small population of Travellers living in the inner city area, DICP has not directly targeted this group to date with specific initiatives. DICP worked closely with Exchange House Travellers Service on the Equal at Work project.

6.4.2 Disability

Disability Proofing is a way of ensuring an equality outcome for people with disabilities. It is a means to support their inclusion in the development of policies and to ensure equal access to services and initiatives. At an organisational level, DICP has endorsed an equality policy. Representative organisations of people with disabilities are invited to Partnership consultation sessions and community meetings, which are held in accessible venues. Information is provided in a range of formats (web, direct communication, letter, newsletter, presentations). Efforts are made to ensure that information provided by the Partnership is presented in accessible language.

6.4.3 Refugees / Asylum Seekers

The Partnership continues to be involved in intercultural working groups of local area networks. It gave financial and staff support to a multi-agency diversity programme in a local national school during 2005 (One World). DICP staff participate on the NWIC Intercultural Working Group and the ICON Multicultural Working Group. The NWICAN group undertook an extensive programme of activities during 2005 which included anti-racism training, an excursion to Carlingford Adventure Centre for young asylum seekers, and cultural awareness visits (e.g. to the Islamic Cultural Centre) designed to raise awareness of different religions, cultures and traditions. A final report on these activities was submitted to funders Know Racism at the year end. The ICON group held a number of planning meetings during the year and has been working with the management of the new Dublin Multicultural Resource Centre to access funding to make the centre available as a resource to immigrant support groups in the inner city.

6.4.4 Older people

Staff support continued during 2005 for the North West Inner City Council of Services to Older People.

6.4.5 Other equality measures

The Partnership is a main player in a rights-based initiative that has a broad equality focus. DICP is represented on the management committee of Equal at Work, an EU EQUAL funded project that is led by the Dublin Employment Pact. The project involves over 40 organisations from different sectors and focuses on changing human resource systems to improve accessibility and equality in the workforce.

6.5 Equality measures within the organisation

The Partnership monitors gender participation on the Board and sub-group structures and is conscious of equality of access when organising events such as training. Staff has undertaken training in equality related areas (e.g. anti-racism, disability equality, employment equality legislation).

7. Information / Research

Research

During 2005 the Partnership was involved in a number of research studies

DICP staff participated in, supervised and/or gave support to the following:

• The Life Start Research, Reasons for early school leaving in Dublin 8.
• Pobal/NEP Research into Foreign Nationals and access to Third Level Education.
• Gender Issues in Community Employment (DICP/FÁS research initiative)
• Older Persons Research Initiative North West Inner City

Publications and Reports

• The Real Guide to Regeneration for Communities
• DICP Implementation Plan 2004-2006
• Social Cohesion Document 2004 and 2005
• Partnership Agenda (DICP newsletter)
• Rattle Mag (childcare newsletter)
• SSN Newsletter (Second Level Schools Network newsletter)
• Six month progress report, Jan-Jun 2005

8 APPENDIX A Target Groups - Codes

• T1 LTU > 1 year
• T2 Disadvantaged Woman Disadvantaged Women
• T3 Disabled Person Disabled People Disabled Young People
• T4 Disadvantaged Young People Disadvantaged Young People
• T5 Lone Parent Lone Parents Lone Teenage Parents
• T6 Short Term Unemployed (< 1 year) Short Term Unemployed (< 1 year)
• T7 Low Income Smallholder Low Income Farm Households
• T8 Underemployed / seasonal worker
• T9 Traveller Travellers Young Travellers
• T10 Older Person (> 55 years) Older People (> 55 years)
• T11 Homeless Person Homeless People Young Homeless People
• T12 Asylum Seeker/Refugee Asylum Seekers/Refugees Young Asylum Seekers/Refugees
• T13 Ex Prisoner Ex Prisoners
• T14 Substance Mis-User Substance Mis-Users Young Substance Mis-Users
• T15 Person from low income family unit People with Inadequate incomes
• T16 Disadvantaged Communities
• T17 Parents/guardians/carers of young people at risk
• T18 Young Offenders
• T19 Early School Leavers
• T20 Potential Early School Leavers/Young People at risk of underachieving
• T21 Young People with behaviour/learning difficulties (ie children whose difficulties are the result of social factors rather than an impairment)

9 Appendix I

9.1 Staff

• David Connolly Director
• Peter Nolan Employment & Enterprise Coordinator
• Molly O’Duffy Education Coordinator
• Emer Coveney (Resigned October 05) Partnership Development Worker
• Bernadette Berry Administrator
• Patrick Gates Community Regeneration Worker
• Cecilia McMullan Receptionist

9.2 Use of DICP Meeting Space 2005

During 2005, the following groups made use of DICP meeting space (board room and meeting room).

• Access Meeting,
• Education Group Board Meetings
• CDP Eastern Region Group
• Childminding Training x 12
• Community Regeneration Policy & Practice Group
• Connolly Information Centre Meeting ICES
• Council for Services for Older People
• Digital Communities Coordinators
• Disability Equality Training
• Drug Task Force Chairs
• Dublin City Childcare Committee sub-group on EOCP
• Dublin City Partnership Managers
• Dublin Community TV Group
• Participation and Practice of Rights Initiative Steering Group
• Dublin Childcare Coordinators
• Eastern Region CDPs Network
• Education Working Group
• DICP Executive Sub-committee
• Dominican Republic Delegation (Transnational exchange)
• ICES Managers
• Inner City Co-ordination & Synergy Group
• Inner City Local & Community Development Agencies
• Inner City Social Economy Monitoring Committee
• Participation and Practice of Rights Group
• PLANET Meeting
• PSI Principals Meeting
• Review Group Local Development
• Schools Completion Group
• Secondary Schools Network
• Social Economy Group
• Tenants First
• MACRO Disability Working Group
• Cairde – Representatives Ethnic Minorities Groups
• Young People at Risk (YPAR)
• St Stephens Green Trust
• Dublin Partnership Managers meeting with Minister Eamon O’Cuiv
• Primary School Teachers – Summer School
• Inner City After Schools Programme
• African Women’s Network

9.3 Dublin Inner City Partnership Volunteer Fund Progress Report February 2006

Tenant Training Ballybough

The DICP invested €1,250 in capacity training to local tenants from Popular Row/Courtney Place and Ballybough House local authority housing and flat complex in the North East Inner City. The tenants identified committee skills training including roles, responsibilities and how to manage a tenants association, as their most appropriate training needs. In all 14 local tenants took part in the training which was delivered by Community Technical Aid. The €1,250 invested by the Partnership went towards the cost of the tutor who delivered the training.

Regeneration Information and planning events – Chamber/Weaver Court Flats

The DICP invested €700 to support the tenants of Chamber/Weaver Court local authority flat complex to participate in a creative event to support their participation in the regeneration planning of their complex. The event involved creative artists working with adults and children using music, puppet shows and exhibitions to inform local residents of the regeneration plans. The event happened over 2 days in April 2005 and ended with a community party in which the creative art by the community was exhibited to local politicians. The DICP investment went towards the cost of the artists and materials.

Regeneration Publication

The DICP invested €1,250 to co-fund the Tenants First publication ‘The Real Guide to Regeneration for Communities’ This publication will be use in workshops and seminars to inform local residents and community organisation of the issues that they may face when undergoing large regeneration development of their community. The guide is aimed at empowering local residents to make informed choices in relation to their community’s future development options.

Tenants First is a voluntary organisation of local authority tenants and community organisations that have come together to share information, experiences and support each other on issues of common concern.

AkiDWa Event

The DICP invested €1,250 in AkiDWa to support the launch of their publication ‘herstorey’; Migrant Stories of African Women Living in Ireland: - The book was launched in the Ripley Hotel in Dublin on Wednesday 25th January 2006. The launch offered AkiDWa the opportunity to highlight their work to statutory organisations in their attempt to secure recognition and funding for the vital services they provide to ethnic women from minority communities living in Ireland. The Launch was also attended by over 120 women form the various ethnic and minority communities living in Ireland and offered AkiDWa the opportunity to get their message to these communities that there are supports for migrant women living in Ireland who are experiencing isolation, alienation, loneliness or trauma such as sexual and domestic violence, family break-down or labour exploitation.

Henrietta Adult and Community Education service of St. Vincent’s Trust. €1,200

Henrietta Adult and Community Education (HACE) Service of St Vincent’s Trust has over 30 volunteers under three heading.

• Literacy Volunteer Tutors
• Front of House and Canteen
• Board of Management.

The core staff in 2005 consisted of a Coordinator and a 2 JI workers. Without the huge contribution made by volunteers the service, which meets the education needs of many Early School Leavers in the north west inner city, could not operate. The majority of the volunteers are local people and many of them are current or former users of the service. DICP Volunteering Funding was used to fund a volunteer strategy for the organisation. This consisted of:

• Training courses around the management of volunteers. The coordinator has attended three training courses on the management of volunteers, including one by the American author on volunteering, Rick Lynch.
• Evaluation of existing experience of both volunteers and staff This evaluation took the form of two questionnaires. One for staff asking them about their experience of volunteers and another for volunteers asking them about their experience within the organisation. From this research the strengths and weaknesses of the current volunteer system were identified.
• Development of an Induction for Volunteers. A process was devised for the induction of volunteers, to replace the current ad hoc system. The process involved introductory inputs and visits with SVT/ HACE staff and provision of material re HACE ethos, policies and procedures
• Development of a Manual for Volunteers A manual was devised to be presented to all volunteers. It covers such issues as volunteer recruitment, training and development needs, codes of practice, etc. The manual is currently in the process of being distributed to volunteers. It will be used for volunteer training and induction to be carried out by the Coordinator. It is envisaged that when new volunteers come on board part of the induction and training will be carried out by old volunteers.

An Síol Volunteer Tutor Induction €1,100

An Síol CDP carried out an induction course for tutors in its tuition programme for Junior and Leaving Certificate students. The aims of the programme were:

• To explain to tutors the wider context of community development in tackling educational inequality
• To outline the ethos of the service
• To provide an overview of the Junior and Leaving Certificate curricula
• To equip people who have a good working knowledge of a subject with skills to impart that information
• To produce a resource pack of volunteers covering the above.

16 tutors benefited from the induction.

Four training sessions were held to cover the above objectives and two social events were held to ensure that new volunteers met with old volunteers and staff. An outside expert provided direction on designing lesson plans, managing expectations and communicating effectively with the students. Other areas covered were planning timetables, revision and note taking. Packs were distributed to students consisting of exam papers, study notes, stationary, copies of An Síol volunteer policy and An Síol child safety policy.

Disability Equality Training €700

Members of the Disability Working Group of the North West Inner City Area Network undertook disability equality training and participated in a facilitated planning day to support the development of a work plan for the group. The group now has a better understanding of disability issues and is clear about its role.

Some of the participants in the group are members of voluntary management committees of disability and community organisations in the North West Inner City area.

Funding for attendance at Howard Gardner Seminar €1,200

DICP provided funding to cover the cost of attendance by 12 primary and post-primary principals at a seminar in National College of Ireland on the different intelligences by Howard Gardner, the academic who devised the theory of multiple intelligences. 12 principals attended the seminar. A further 3 attended a short meeting the day before.

Dublin Inner City Partnership Discretionary Fund Allocations 2005

• Folklore Project NEIC Calendars 150.00
• St Endas National School One World Event 450.00
• National College of Ireland Attendance at Conference by 12 Teachers 1,200.00
• The Workhouse Disability Training 850.00
• NYP 2 Exchange Visit 500.00
• NWICAN Feasibility Study 1,000.00
• ICON Tenant Training 1,200.00
• SWICN Tenant Information Sessions 500.00
• An Síol English Language Classes 260.00
• An Síol Tutor Training Programme 1,100.00
• AkiDWa Planning Day 350.00
• St Vincents Trust Pack for Volunteers 1,200.00
• Tenants First Regeneration Publication 1,250.00
• Total €10,010.00

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