Study Visit to Brussels
22nd–24th November 2006 /
Aim
To train members of 19 community groups representing or working with disadvantaged communities to understand how EU social policy is made and its relevance to their communities and to support them to engage with it as an element of their work.
Participants
Representatives from 19 local and national community organisations working to address poverty and social exclusion (Details inside).
Programme
The Advanced Training involves two days training in Ireland on 7th November and 12th December and a study visit to Brussels from 22nd to 24th November.
The content of the training will focus on developing participants understanding of how policy is made in the EU, its relevance to community organisations and opportunities for influencing it. It will also highlight important policy areas. Participants will be expected to introduce a greater focus on engagement with EU policy and its implementation in Ireland into their work and that of their organisations.
Details of the Study Visit to Brussels:
22nd November: Meeting with member of Irish Permanent Representation to EU
23rd November: Meeting with representative from European Commission Social Inclusion Unit
Meeting in European Parliament with Irish MEPs
24th November: Meeting with European NGO networks.
EAPN Ireland
EAPN Ireland is a network of community and voluntary groups working against poverty. It is the Irish national network of the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN Europe). EAPN Ireland currently has approximately 150 paid up members, both national and local anti-poverty organisations, and a mailing list of almost 1000 who receive fortnightly information on developments on EU social policy. The Network’s main work is to empower members to understand and influence EU and Irish policy, through training, information, advocacy and promoting networking. EAPN Ireland’s website information, news and resources to help anti-poverty groups in Ireland to follow and engage with Irish and EU policy.
European Anti-Poverty Network Ireland, 5 Gardiner Row, Dublin 1, Ireland
Tel 00353-1-874 5737, fax: 00353-1-878 1289, e-mail:
mobiles: Robin Hanan 00353-87-2587713 and Paul Ginnell 00353-87-6402200,
Who are we?: Participants and Organisations
Ann Brophy: Community and Family Training Agency (CAFTA)CAFTA is a local community development project which has been running community development courses for 20 years. Currently their main area of work currently is in training all members of the community through the transition programme to build sustainable communities in the regeneration of Ballymun. The aim is to empower individuals and communities.
AxisBuilding, Main Street, Ballymun, Dublin 9; Tel: 00353-1-8832135; Email: ; Web:
Robert Carey: North Kerry Together Local Development:
The aim of this local organisation is to promote social inclusion through local development in the North Kerry Area. The key areas of activity are in relation to transport, education, employment, childcare, elderly, smallholders and lone parents.
58 Church Street, Listowel, Co. Kerry; Tel: 00353-68-23429; Email: ; Web:
Phyllida Clarke: Athy Community Development Programme (CDP)
Athy CDP is a localorganisation which was established in 1994 and provides a range of supports, development opportunities and services including full time child care to community groups within the target areas in Athy, Co Kildare. The supports and services include: direct one to one contact, community mediation, training and research into community needs and aspirations, and facilitating various initiatives identified and prioritised through this research. The Programme and facilitates a local service provider’s network.
Woodstock St, Athy, Co. Kildare; Tel: 00353-59-8632277; Email:
Joan Courtney: One Parent Exchange and Network (OPEN)
OPEN, the national network of local lone parent self-help groups, represents the diversity of interests of lone parents (particularly those living in/or at risk of living in poverty) and promotes their inclusion and progression within wider society. OPEN’s key objectives are to strengthen the capacity of member groups and to campaign for policy change.
.7 red Cow Lane, Smithfield,; Dublin 7; Tel: 8148869; Email: ; Web:
Linda Desmond: Age Action Ireland
Age Action Ireland is the national independent organisation on ageing and older people. It acts as a network of organisations and individuals including older people and carers of older people. It is a development agency promoting better policies and services for older people in an ageing society.
30/31 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2; Tel: 01-4756989; Email: ; Web:
Seamus Devine: Mind the Gap
Mind The Gap is a regional collaborative cross border Anti Poverty project. The aim is to set up regional cross border anti poverty platforms where groups from both sides of the border come together and lobby the relevant structures in regard to the issues that are affecting them. There are two cross border platforms presently operating in the North West and Central Border regions. It is hoped to establish an Eastern Border platform by early 2007.18 Celtic Apartments; Pearse Road; Letterkenny; Co. Donegal; Tel: 00353-74-9164750; Email:
Elaine Dunne: People with Disabilities in Ireland (PwDi)- Waterford
PwDI is the umbrella organisation which brings people together locally and nationally to work on common issues that affect all people with disabilities. The main objective is to support these people to take part in and influence the decision making processes that impact upon their lives.
Windamere, Mullinabro, Ferrybank, Waterford; Tel: 00353-51-857147; Email: ; Web:
Salome Henry: African Women's Network Ireland (AkiDwA)
AkiDwA is a national networkof migrant women in Ireland which was established in 2001 with the aim of responding to existing and changing needs of migrant women in Ireland irrespective of their nationality or ethical background, cultural or religious belief, socio-economic or legal status.
9C Lower Abbey Street , Dublin Central Mission, Dublin 1; Tel: 01-8148582; Email:
Malcolm O.Eremionnkhale: African Community Development Project
The aim of this local and national project is to support both the African Community residing in Waterford and also at national level through the identification of their needs, as individuals and as a community, and to provide assistance in addressing those needs.
The target group is African asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants. This Community Development Project aims to help those who are in a vulnerable position.
8 College Green, Ballytruckle, Waterford; Tel: 00353-87-2618184; Email:
Christine O’Kelly: Older Women’s Network (OWN)
OWN is a national organisation which aims to identify common interests amongst older women and to challenge stereotypical perceptions of older women. It works to encourage talent and help older women to be more assertive. It acts as a forum for discussion and action on issues of concern and interest to older women, such as health and housing. OWN is a voice for older women in Ireland which hopes to influence decision making and policy formulation on matters concerning older women. Most of all, OWN is about women getting together talking and sharing interests and ideas.
Senior House, All Hallow's College, Gracepark Rd., Dromcondra, Dublin 9; Tel: 00353-1-8844536; Email: ; Web:
Mary Jackson: Ballinrobe Family Resource Centre (TACU)
TACU Resource Centre is a local Centre which aims to provide an integrated response to the identified needs of the Ballinrobe community in a caring manner that is egalitarian, non judgmental and has an anti-poverty, anti-exclusion focus.
Tacu Family Resource Centre, Glebe St., Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo; Tel: 00353-94-9542908; Email:
Peter Kearns: Forum of People with Disabilities
The Forum of People with Disabilities is a national rights based organisation, which is run by disabled people. The Forum’s main focus involves the development of strategies to ensure the inclusion of disabled people’s rights and identity within all areas of Irish life. The Forum acts in a consultative capacity at governmental level and plays an active role in national policy development. They also facilitate Disability Equality Awareness Training, promote awareness on advocacy issues, disabled parents and provide information on disability issues.
Bun Na Spéire, Tully, Dromahaire, Co. Leitrim; Tel: 00353-71-9134735; Email:
Toni McCaul: Community Partnership Network (CPN)
CPN is the national representative body of the 31 Community Partnerships, which implement the Local Development Social Inclusion Programme (LDSIP) under the National Development Plan 2000-2006. CPN coordinates all regional and national networking as well as organising national conferences, planning and training workshops for its members. CPN seeks to support its members to impact on policy and practice in relation to social inclusion issues experienced by the target groups of the partnerships.
Midleton Community Enterprise Centre, Owenacurra Business Park, Knockgriffin, Midleton, Co. Cork ; Tel: 00353-21-4613432; Email: ; Web:
Siobhan Madden: Longford Women’s Link
Longford Women’s Link is a locally based women’s organisation in Longford town. Our aim is to challenge the current perception that women have achieved equality, and to maximize the social, economic and cultural benefits of an emerging multicultural community. We believe that greater community integration and equity can best be achieved by welcoming all women to participate in our activities. The organisation support services include childcare, domestic violence support service, counselling service and community education.
Willow House, Ard Na Cassa Avenue, Longford; Tel: 00353-43-41511; Email: ; Web:
Candy Murphy: One Family
One Family is a leading national organisation for one-parent families in Ireland. Progressing the work of Cherish, One Family works with all types and all members of one-parent families, respecting the realities of family life in Ireland, to affect positive change and achieve equality and social inclusion for all one-parent families in Ireland. One Family aims to provide high-quality, much-needed services to the many different one-parent familiesin Ireland and the professionals working with them. We also work hard to ensure that one-parent families have a clearvoice that is heard by policy and decision-makers.
Cherish House, 2 Lower Baggott St., Dublin 2; Tel: 00353-1-6629212; Email: ; Web:
Alan Petrie: Dublin South Supported Employment Ltd.
Dublin South Supported Employment Ltd. aims to place people with disability into the employment of their choice, based on the persons strengths, interests and capabilities, and to provide support as required.
16 Mountdown Road, Dublin 12; Tel: 00353-1-4603760; Email: ; Web:
Edward Walsh: Irish Rural Link
Irish Rural Link (IRL) is a national network of organisations and individuals lobbying for rural development in Ireland.The network provides a structure through which rural groups and individuals, representing disadvantaged rural communities, can articulate their common needs and priorities, share their experiences and present their case to policy-makers at local, national and European Level. It is the only organisation at the social partnership talks that solely represents rural issues.
Moate Business Park, Clara Road, Co. Westmeath; Tel: 00353-90-6482744; Email: ; Web:
Rose Walsh: Iorras le Cheile -Erris CDP:
Erris Community Development Programme was set up in 2003 in response to needs identified by local people The focus of the work in the Project is with individuals, families and groups in the community who feel they are in some way disadvantaged or marginalised in order to ensure their inclusion and participation in society. The work is based on equality, inclusion and the promotion of human rights. The work of the project includes a ‘drop in’ service and homework clubs and is seeking to create a community response to domestic violence, mental health & suicide.
American St., Belmullet, Co. Mayo; Tel: 00353-97-20828; Email:
Marian White: Mountwood Fitzgerald Park CDP
The Community Development Project in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin aims to address poverty and social exclusion through community development and economic regeneration. It aims to: combat poverty and marginalization; ensure that locally identified needs are met; integrate development in key areas of need; assist groups to work more effectively and develop, promote and implement strategies that promote equality of outcome.
71-73 Maple House, Mountwood, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin; Tel: 00353-1-2842332; Email:
N.B. Community Development Projects/Programmes (CDPs) are core-funded by the Irish Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs under the Social Inclusion Programme of National Development Plan 2000-2006.
Where are we from?
Funding for the Training:
The training is co-funded through the Communicating Europe Initiative of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Nationals Lottery (through the National Anti Poverty Networks Programme of the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs) and contributions from participants’ organisations