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  Core funder became the Department of Social, Community & Family Affairs

 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.

Management Structure People Of North West Connemara Working Groups Community Development Family Support Elderly Board Of Directors Personnel Committee Structures Committee Management Committee Adolescent Support Youth In Action Employment Mediation

Staffing Structure

 Community Groups  Family Support  Elderly  Under and Unemployed  Youth FORUM Target Groups

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 Community & Gaeltacht Affairs Affairs  FAS  Galway County Council  GRD  Comhairle  Other Agencies Community Development Newletters/ publications Community groups (19) Information Connemara Community Radio Citizen’s Information Centre Funding Activities Training

Foscadh Community Development Ltd. Tullycross Credit Union Tuam Archdiocese Connemara West FORUM Aim to develop 12 acres of land for  Social Housing  Community Services  Sports and recreation  Small craft enterprises

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 Family WomenChildcare Health Promotion Education & Training Depression Support Counselling

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 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 Assisted by  Local community volunteers  FAS - CE schemes  HSE  GRD  NUIG TrainingStaffCarers Elderly People Carer Companion Meals on Wheels Lunch Clubs and Coffee Mornings Resource groups Clifden Day Hospital Laundry Carers Support Intergenerational Respite Breaks Essential Housing Repairs Security Minor maintenance to Health Centres

FORUM’S Role Elderly and Disabled people Disability Support 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 Assisted by  GRD  BIM  Teagasc  Farm Organisations  Galway City & Co. Enterprise Board  Government Departments Under & Unemployed Employment Mediation/ Advocacy Information & Assistance With Entitlements Training Programme Farm Families Environmental Issues RSS REPS Planning Shellfish Co- operatives

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 Young People Children Parents Adolescent Support Family Support Youth in Action

FORUM’S Role Adolescent Support Family Support Individual Case Work Developing Mentoring Programme Parenting Programme Schools Programme Youthreach 14 National Schools Two Secondary Schools Six Foroige Clubs Youth Representative group Individual work Families Parents group Youth in Action Summer camps Calendar/ Fun Runs Road Safety Programme Schools Sports/Arts Programme