Support for community development continued to be a significant element of PAUL Partnership’s work in 2007.
Financial support, advice, information and staff support was provided to the community-based Action Centres located in each of the 5 communities traditionally targeted by PAUL Partnership (Moyross, St. Munchins, St. Marys, Southill, and Our Lady of Lourdes), to support them to engage in community development and capacity-building work at a local level. In total, over 12,000 queries were dealt with by the staff of the 5 Actions Centres.
Advice and support was also provided to up to 19 individual community groups, while funding was provided to 12 community groups to develop and implement a range of capacity building projects, such as:
- Production of newsletters to increase participation and awareness of community members
- Provision of weekly youth clubs for young men
- Information events
- Facilitated strategic planning sessions
- Information forums
- Literacy projects
- Training projects
Community Fairs were held in Moyross and Southill to raise awareness of community services and facilities. Funding was also provided to support the development of the new Southill Area Centre which is due to open in 2008.
Funding was allocated to six estate management groups to support their work with communities. The estate management groups aim to enhance the participation of residents of target communities in the management of their local estates. Support was also provided to the estate management workers through PAUL’s membership of the Estate Management Forum. PAUL Partnership also facilitated the Estate Management Network which brings together Estate Management Workers, Limerick City Council, and An Gardai Siochana to share information about issues arising in relation to estate management in the city.
Following the completion of research in 2006 into the needs of communities not previously targeted by PAUL Partnership, three geographic communities were identified as areas that would benefit from community development support by PAUL Partnership. The three communities identified were Our Lady Queen of Peace, Garryowen, and St. Saviours Parish. PAUL Partnership therefore began to provide community development support to these communities in 2007.
In 2007, PAUL Partnership supported Our Lady Queen of Peace through its participation in the Voluntary Management Committee of the Queen of Peace Community Development Group, and through supporting the work of the group’s Community Development Worker (who is funded by RAPID under Dormant Accounts funding). The Community Development Group is also represented on the PAUL Partnership Community Development Sub-Group. Funding was provided to the group by PAUL to produce a Community Directory which provides information about the services and facilities in the area. Funding and support was also provided by PAUL to enable the group to undertake a Community Needs Analysis. The findings from the Needs Analysis will now inform the group’s 3 year Action Plan.
A Community Development Worker, funded by RAPID under Dormant Accounts funding, was employed by PAUL to commence pre-development work in St. Saviour’s parish. A Steering Group was formed consisting of voluntary, statutory and residents groups including representatives from Limerick City Council Housing Department, Limerick City Sports Partnership, Roxboro Garda station, Limerick Youth Services, RAPID, Home School Liaison Officers from CBS and Presentation Secondary Schools, City of Limerick VEC, Dominican Church, PAUL Partnership, local residents and voluntary organisations operating in the area. The group met monthly to discuss issues of concern to the community. Over the course of the year, the number of people participating in the group increased from 20 to 45, most of whom were local residents. In the latter part of the year, research sessions were organised with community groups and local national and primary schools. The findings from the research sessions were incorporated into the action plan for 2008 which will now focus on setting up a youth group. Finally, towards the end of 2007, the recruitment process for a dedicated Community Development Worker for the Garryowen area commenced.
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