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Linking Generations NI Intergenerational Safer Communities Project Oct 2013- March 2015 Generations Working Together Stirling, 19 th March 2014. Lynn Johnston Ken Irvine Regional Development Workers: ‘ Intergenerational Safer Communities Project ’ Other LGNI staff:
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Linking Generations NIIntergenerational Safer Communities Project Oct 2013- March 2015 Generations Working Together Stirling, 19th March 2014
Lynn Johnston • Ken Irvine Regional Development Workers: ‘Intergenerational Safer Communities Project’ Other LGNI staff: Vicki Titterington (Manager) Lynne Bennett (Regional Development Worker) Emily Park (Project Assistant)
Purpose of Presentation • To tell you about our work and specifically our ‘Intergenerational Safer Communities’ Project • Background and context (how it came about) • How we are going about delivering it • Our progress and learning so far Some time for questions
LGNI is a the only organisation solely advocating the development and promotion of intergenerational practice as a catalyst for social change in Northern Ireland.
A Review of Intergenerational Approaches to Community Safety – October 2012 This research found that intergenerational approaches are: • ‘building trust and positive perceptions of both young and old’ • A ‘cornerstone of building confident communities’ • ‘An effective way at neighbourhood level to tackle the most pressing community safety concerns in Northern Ireland: fear of crime and ‘anti-social’ behaviour.’ (David Ford MLA, Minister of Justice)
‘This research shows how bringing together older and younger people to share experiences, share knowledge and develop mutual respect can make a real difference to how safe we all feel in the communities in which we live and socialise.’ (Joint statement: 2012)
Community Safety in NI The political context: 1998 The Belfast/ Good Friday Agreement 1999 The independent Commission on Policing The Patten Report 2003 Community Safety Partnerships District Policing Partnerships • Sinn Fein engaged with policing 2010 Policing and Justice powers devolved 2012 Policing and Community Safety Partnerships
Policing and Community Safety Partnerships • 8, 9 or 10 political members (councillors) nominated by the district council • 7, 8 or 9 independent members appointed by the Northern Ireland Policing Board (NIPB) • Each PCSP can also locally designate bodies which they feel can make a contribution to their work • Representatives of 7 designated organisations as follows: • Police Service of Northern Ireland; • Northern Ireland Housing Executive; • Probation Board for Northern Ireland; • Youth Justice Agency of Northern Ireland; • Health and Social Care Trusts; • Education and Library Boards; and • Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service.
Intergenerational Safer Communities Oct 13- Mar 15: Work programme • Initiate and develop collaborative partnerships to build, support and deliver IG approaches to community safety • Emphasis on working alongside PCSPs The approach… • Get out and get talking – and find friends! • Development work ( total of 36 hours pw) time to April 2015 • Communicating/sharing/understanding others’ agenda • Training sessions/workshops if appropriate • Hand-holding through project development and delivery • Conference in 2014/15 & publication of evaluation
Aims of the 3 workshops delivered to date • Providing information about LGNI’s ‘Intergenerational Safer Communities’ project • Giving those present an opportunity to reflect on the potential of all-age approaches to contribute to building safer, shared and confident communities • Learning about the support that LGNI can provide organisations in developing your intergenerational practice • Developing ideas to support/initiate intergenerational approaches in your PCSP area
Follow up • Continued communications with those who attended workshops to develop ideas. On the ground initiatives to date include: • Ballybogey project – craft group linking with primary school (initiated by PCSP member who attended workshop) • Fintona – quilting/stitching group in local community house (inittiated by neighbourhood officer) • Future possibilities: • Youth Justice Agency referrals to gardening project which helps those who have difficulty keeping their garden. • Neighbourhood officer in Craigavon wants to start project
Learning so far • Participative approach is very important, at all levels • Time to develop relationships and build trust is required • Working at others’ pace • Focus of PCSPs has been on IG projects rather than approaches - much work to be done
Please like and follow us! Linking Generations Northern Ireland @LinkGenNI Thank you lynn.johnston@bjf.org.uk : ken.irvine@bjf.org.uk Tel 028 9181 3022