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FORUM A Rural Development Partnership in North West Connemara. North West Connemara is a region of mountain and blanket bog, located on the Western seaboard, sixty miles North West of Galway city and covers an area of approximately 800 square kilometres.
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FORUM A Rural Development Partnership in North West Connemara
North West Connemara is a region of mountain and blanket bog, located on the Western seaboard, sixty miles North West of Galway city and covers an area of approximately 800 square kilometres.
The population of the area is currently 8,895 persons and the population density is one of the lowest in Europe at nine persons per square kilometre compared to a national average of 51 and an EU figure of 143.
FORUM • Company Limited By Guarantee • Community Development Programme
FORUM’S History • Began as a Poverty Three Programme 1989-1994 • Core funder became the Department of Social, Community & Family Affairs 1994-2002
Now funded under the Department of Rural, Community & Gaeltacht Affairs • Additional funding is received from a variety of State Bodies and Agencies.
FORUM aims to: • Tackle the problem of rural decline and peripherality • Develop locally based initiatives • Improve the lives of people • Target the disadvantaged and socially marginalised
Through • Developing existing and piloting new partnership arrangements between statutory, voluntary and community bodies
Essential elements are • The empowerment of local people through capacity building • Development of sustainable action programmes • Integration of experience gained into mainstream public policy and practice.
FORUM Target Groups • Community Groups • Family Support • Elderly • Under and Unemployed • Youth
Community Groups Aim: • Assist communities in North West Connemara to tackle poverty and isolation by empowering groups and individuals. Target Group: • Community and Voluntary organisations that are engaged in Community Development
FORUM’S Involvement in Community Development Assisted by • Department of Rural, Community & Gaeltacht Affairs • FAS • Galway County Council • GRD • Comhairle • Other Agencies Community groups (19) Newletters/ publications Information Community Development Training Connemara Community Radio Funding Activities Citizen’s Information Centre
Aim to develop 12 acres of land for • Social Housing • Community Services • Sports and recreation • Small craft enterprises Tuam Archdiocese Connemara West Foscadh Community Development Ltd. Tullycross Credit Union FORUM
Supporting Families Aim: • Tackle exclusion experienced by families in NWC by ensuring that skills, facilities and educational/training opportunities are made available to encourage participation in economic, social and political activities Target: • Families, Women’s Groups, Lone Parents and Young Parents
FORUM’s Involvement Assisted by • FAS • HSE • Failte Ireland • Teagasc • Galway City & Co. Childcare Committee • Government Departments • Other Agencies
Elderly AIM: Tackle problems of loneliness and isolation by providing opportunities for social contacts, networking and a flexible range of services to meet the special needs of the target group through volunteer and professional expertise in the context of partnership between voluntary and statutory bodies
TARGET: • Older people living alone • Carers • Disabled people • Active Retired • Housebound and dependant older people
FORUM’S Role Meals on Wheels Lunch Clubs and Coffee Mornings Assisted by • Local community volunteers • FAS - CE schemes • HSE • GRD • NUIG Training Staff Carers Carer Companion Resource groups Security Clifden Day Hospital Elderly People Respite Breaks Laundry Essential Housing Repairs Carers Support Minor maintenance to Health Centres Intergenerational
FORUM’S Role Disability Support Elderly and Disabled people Disability Awareness Radio Series Disability Mentoring and Training Programme
Under and Unemployed AIM • Support the under and unemployed through a range of activities TARGET • Marginalised and low income households in North West Connemara
FORUM’S Role Shellfish Co-operatives REPS Planning Assisted by • GRD • BIM • Teagasc • Farm Organisations • Galway City & Co. Enterprise Board • Government Departments
Disadvantaged Young People AIM • To improve the lives of young people in North West Connemara, particularly those experiencing adversity, marginalisation and potential early school leavers.
FORUM’S Role Assisted by • Parents • Teachers • HSE • FOROIGE • VEC Adolescent Support Young People Children Parents Family Support Youth in Action
FORUM’S Role Family Support Youth in Action Families Parenting Programme Individual work Calendar/ Fun Runs Parents group Adolescent Support Schools Programme Summer camps Six Foroige Clubs Youth Representative group Developing Mentoring Programme Road Safety Programme Schools Programme Individual Case Work Schools Sports/Arts Programme Two Secondary Schools 14 National Schools Youthreach