North Ward a Community’s Needs Sligo Northside Community Partnership Limited by Neola Crean

Aim The main aim of this research is to ascertain the current needs of the community in the North Ward area of Sligo

Objectives To consult with the community and find out what changes had taken place (if any) in their areas since the initial research. To engage with local people in identifying new initiatives to meet these needs.

Background The Sligo Northside Community Partnership was founded in 1996 to utilize the building vacated by the ‘old’ St Edwards National School. This building is now known as Northside Resource Centre and offers a focal point for community activities in the North Ward.

Background The main aim of the Sligo Northside Community Partnership Limited is to address issues of poverty, inequality and solical isolation in the North Ward.

1996 Research Project Sligo Northside Community Partnership carried out a research project in the North Ward area in 1996) coordinated by Celia Keenaghan. This provided documented evidence of social deprivation, unemployment, education attainment, and community resource available.

1996 Research Project Resulting from this the Community Development Project was established and Sligo Northside were funded to set up programmes and activities to address the identified needs.

2006 Research Project Over time additional houses both social and private were built. This changed the demographic of the North Ward and in some areas added to the deprivation index. This is demonstrated in the Research Project “Community Needs of New Ballytivnan’ carried out in 2006 by Doireann O’Connor, Cothrom Community Consultancy

2006 Research Project This research was funded through the RAPID programme and a working group established to implement the proposed Action Plan. Before any great headway was made with the plan the downturn in the economy came. RAPID was abolished. The CDP (Community Development Project) was integrated with Local Develop Companies . Sligo Northside was left without core development workers and greatly diminished resources.

2015 Research Project The current research is being carried out on a voluntary basis by the Committee of Sligo Northside Community Partnership Ltd and a team of voluntary researchers.

Methodology Carrying Out an Area Profile An area profile was carried out using information from Central Statistics Office. The following is a sample of the issues that were examined.

Unemployment Rate Women Methodology Pop. Deprivation Score 2011 % Unemployment Rate Men Unemployment Rate Women County Sligo 65894 -0.17 22.30% 13.10% North Ward 5177 -20.8 % for deprived areas 54.10% 25%

Consultation with the Community Consultation is being carried out with the community using three different research methods. 1. Questionnaires. 2. Consultation with Local Organisations. 3. Focus Groups.

Questionnaires We are in the process of carrying out door to door consultation with residents within the North Ward using questionnaires. After careful consideration we decided to design the questionnaire for the public to cover a broad range of topics but also allow for individual responses to highlight their own particular concerns and needs.

Consultation with organisations active in the area This will provide us with information on services that are already being offered in the area that may meet some of the needs of the local community.

Consultation with organisations active in the area It will also help to identify any service gaps that they are aware of and to get their opinion on the development needs of the community.

Focus Groups When we have gathered the Data from the questionnaires and consulted with organisations active in the area we will hold focus groups with community members.

Focus Groups This will allow for further discussion on issues that arise from the questionnaires while also allowing us to gain further insight into the needs of the community and where there is a lack of utilizing of local organisations.

Challenges With the Research Volunteers It has been difficult recruiting volunteers as we have been unable to provide basic out of pocket expenses to those who are assisting with the project. The scale of the project and how time consuming it became taking away from other voluntary tasks needing attention.

Challenges With the Research Volunteers This is proving to be a slow process as we are completely reliant on volunteers who we have to train up to carrying out surveys. Also the volunteers have other commitments such as work and family as a result their time is limited.

Challenges With the Research Funding As we have no funding it makes it more difficult to get the research done as quickly as we would like. If we could even get sufficient funding to pay volunteers for their expenses it would entice them to dedicate a little more time to the survey and would allow the process to move a little faster.

Early Indication Results From analysing data we have collected to date we are beginning to get early indications that specific groups within the community feel they are not getting sufficient support to reach their full potential.

Early Indication Results The groups who feel they are lacking supports are Lone Parents Unemployed Youth Disability Elderly

Conclusion In todays business world decisions are based on business intelligence and data rather than a managers instinct. For example Eircom recently rebranded to eir at a cost of 16million euro of which a considerable amount went on initial research on customer attitudes towards the brand.

Conclusion Grass root organizations could better sustain themselves by providing data: quantitative and qualitative research on their stakeholder requirements and needs. This would not only help when it comes to lobbying and applying for funding supports but also in designing programmes that are best directed to meeting those needs.

Conclusion When we have completed the research into the needs of the North Ward community, we will then have enough up-dated documented evidence to present to Government and Service Providers. This should result in additional targeted resources to address these needs.