Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs New Local and Community Development Programme from design to implementation Clodagh McDonnell 25 November 2009

Need for a new National Programme Background Previous evaluations and reviews LDSIP VFM Policy Review Review Findings

Work to-date Two key recommendations from the VFM review: Future funding contingent on a refinement and re-articulation of Programme goals, objective and strategic focus Objectives to be revised substantively for the period up to 2013 to reflect new national policy objectives and organisational context/need for greater clarity.

2008: CES Engaged to redesign the Department’s two main Social Inclusion Programmes Background to the Centre Evidence based approach to Programme design and delivery International (including Ireland) evidence based research Bench marking exercise Other Inputs- VFM review, Work of Katherine Baxter etc;

Programme name The name of a programme should reflect its distinctive contribution and the LDSIP’s and CDP’s commitment to working in and across localities, and to ‘bottom-up’, participative and empowering processes: Local and Community Development Programme Local refers to the area based nature of the programme Community reflects reach into neighbourhoods, work with particular social groupings, and communities of interest Development signals gains in knowledge and skills and broader abilities for individuals and groups, and progressive social change

Programme aim Concepts and language consistent with public policy (National Development Plan 2007 – 2013) The Local and Community Development Programme aims to tackle poverty and social exclusion through partnership and constructive engagement between Government and people in disadvantaged communities.

Four goals 1.Promote awareness, knowledge and uptake of a wide range of statutory, voluntary and community services. 2.Increase access to formal and informal educational, recreational and cultural development activities and resources. 3.Increase peoples’ work readiness and employment prospects. 4.Promote engagement with policy, practice and decision making processes on matters affecting local communities.

Objectives The new programme should have clearly specified objectives that: a)Are realistic in terms of resources b)Are achievable in a given planning period c)Express the distinctive contribution of the programme d)Provide a clear focus for activities.

Goal 1 objectives Promote awareness, knowledge and uptake of a wide range of statutory, voluntary and community services. 1.Raise awareness and knowledge of services in the local community. 2.Develop and sustain strategies and mechanisms for improved access to local services. 3.Develop and sustain strategies and mechanisms for better coordination of local services.

Goal 1 Promote awareness, knowledge and uptake of a wide range of statutory, voluntary and community services. Objectives 1.Raise awareness and knowledge of services in the local community. 2.Develop and sustain strategies and mechanisms for improved access to local services. 3.Develop and sustain strategies and mechanisms for better coordination of local services. Outcomes 1.Increased awareness, knowledge and willingness to use services. 2.Increased uptake of a wide range of services in local communities. 3.Increased and improved joint planning and delivery between local service providers.

Goal 1 Promote awareness, knowledge and uptake of a wide range of statutory, voluntary and community services. Objectives 1.Raise awareness and knowledge of services in the local community. 2.Develop and sustain strategies and mechanisms for improved access to local services. 3.Develop and sustain strategies and mechanisms for better coordination of local services. Outcomes 1.Increased awareness, knowledge and willingness to use services. 2.Increased uptake of a wide range of services in local communities. 3.Increased and improved joint planning and delivery between local service providers. Example Indicators 1.Increase in awareness of services in a local area. Q 2.Increase in understanding of what local services do or provide. Q and q 3.Improvement in quality of joint planning. q 4.Increased incidence of joint delivery. Q 5.Increase in use of local services. Q Q = quantitative, q = qualitative

Goal 1 Promote awareness, knowledge and uptake of a wide range of statutory, voluntary and community services. Objectives 1.Raise awareness and knowledge of services in the local community. 2.Develop and sustain strategies and mechanisms for improved access to local services. 3.Develop and sustain strategies and mechanisms for better coordination of local services. Outcomes 1.Increased awareness, knowledge and willingness to use services. 2.Increased uptake of a wide range of services in local communities. 3.Increased and improved joint planning and delivery between local service providers. Example Indicators 1.Increase in awareness of services in a local area. Q 2.Increase in understanding of what local services do or provide. Q and q 3.Improvement in quality of joint planning. q 4.Increased incidence of joint delivery. Q 5.Increase in use of local services. Q Q = quantitative, q = qualitative Example Activities Joint strategy to tackle identified local issue, e.g. Joyriding Older peoples’ health initiative One stop information shops Statutory, voluntary and community services network

Goal 2 objectives Increase access to formal and informal educational, recreational and cultural development activities and resources. 1.Work with providers to improve access to a wide range of opportunities. 2.Increase awareness and support access to opportunities for learning and development.

Goal 2 Increase access to formal and informal educational, recreational and cultural development activities and resources. Objectives 1.Work with providers to improve access to a wide range of opportunities. 2.Increase awareness and support access to opportunities for learning and development. Outcomes 1.Increased accessibility of educational, recreational and cultural activities. 2.Increased uptake of a wide range of educational, recreational and cultural opportunities.

Goal 2 Increase access to formal and informal educational, recreational and cultural development activities and resources. Objectives 1.Work with providers to improve access to a wide range of opportunities. 2.Increase awareness and support access to opportunities for learning and development. Outcomes 1.Increased accessibility of educational, recreational and cultural activities. 2.Increased uptake of a wide range of educational, recreational and cultural opportunities. Example Indicators 1.Increase in number of accessible educational, recreational and cultural activities available to local people. Q 2.Increase in number of residents participating in local educational, recreational and cultural activities. Q and q 3.Increase in number of new participants in local educational, recreational and cultural activities. Q and q Q=quantitative, q=qualitative

Goal 2 Increase access to formal and informal educational, recreational and cultural development activities and resources. Objectives 1.Work with providers to improve access to a wide range of opportunities. 2.Increase awareness and support access to opportunities for learning and development. Outcomes 1.Increased accessibility of educational, recreational and cultural activities. 2.Increased uptake of a wide range of educational, recreational and cultural opportunities. Example Indicators 1.Increase in number of accessible educational, recreational and cultural activities available to local people. Q 2.Increase in number of residents participating in local educational, recreational and cultural activities. Q and q 3.Increase in number of new participants in local educational, recreational and cultural activities. Q and q Q=quantitative, q=qualitative Example Activities Breakfast clubs and after school projects Intercultural groups Community arts and recreational activities Education Fairs

Goal 3 objectives Increase peoples’ work readiness and employment prospects. 1.Develop and sustain a range of services to support, prepare and assist people to enter the labour market. 2.Develop and sustain strategies with local enterprises to enhance employment prospects.

Goal 3 Increase peoples’ work readiness and employment prospects. Objectives 1.Develop and sustain a range of services to support, prepare and assist people to enter the labour market. 2.Develop and sustain strategies with local enterprises to enhance employment prospects. Outcomes 1.People are better prepared for the labour market. 2.Local strategy in place to develop local employment prospects.

Goal 3 Increase peoples’ work-readiness and employment prospects. Objectives 1.Develop and sustain a range of services to support, prepare and assist those seeking work. 2.Develop and sustain strategies with local enterprises to enhance employment prospects. Outcomes 1.People are better prepared for the labour market. 2.Local strategy in place to develop local employment prospects. Example Indicators 1.Increase in numbers of local residents attending and participating in activities designed to improve preparation for work. Q 2.Increase in numbers of new participants in activities designed to improve preparation for work. Q 3.Increase in numbers of local residents feeling prepared for work. Q and q 4.Improved employer perceptions of the employability of local people. Q 5.Increase in strategies and initiatives by local employers to enhance employment prospects. Q Q=quantitative, q=qualitative

Goal 3 Increase peoples’ work-readiness and employment prospects. Objectives 1.Develop and sustain a range of services to support, prepare and assist those seeking work. 2.Develop and sustain strategies with local enterprises to enhance employment prospects. Outcomes 1.People are better prepared for the labour market. 2.Local strategy in place to develop local employment prospects. Example Indicators 1.Increase in numbers of local residents attending and participating in activities designed to improve preparation for work. Q 2.Increase in numbers of new participants in activities designed to improve preparation for work. Q 3.Increase in numbers of local residents feeling prepared for work. Q and q 4.Improved employer perceptions of the employability of local people. Q 5.Increase in strategies and initiatives by local employers to enhance employment prospects. Q Q=quantitative, q=qualitative Example Activities One-to-one support Job clubs and enterprise centres Work experience and placements Upskilling, training, mentoring Local jobs fair

Goal 4 objectives Promote engagement with policy, practice and decision making processes on matters affecting local communities. 1.Promote dialogue between funders, providers and local communities. 2.Develop and sustain opportunities for communities of place and interest to identify issues and voice concerns.

Goal 4 Promote engagement with policy, practice and decision making processes on matters affecting local communities. Objectives 1.Promote dialogue between funders, providers and local communities. 2.Develop and sustain opportunities for communities of place and interest to identify issues and voice concerns. Outcomes 1.Effective structures and processes in place for dialogue between policy makers, providers and local communities. 2.Greater engagement in policy and decision making processes by the community. 3.Improved understanding of local community concerns and priorities by policy makers and service providers.

Goal 4 Promote engagement with policy, practice and decision making processes on matters affecting local communities. Objectives 1.Promote dialogue between funders, providers and local communities. 2.Develop and sustain opportunities for communities of place and interest to identify issues and voice concerns. Outcomes 1.Effective structures and processes in place for dialogue between policy makers, providers and local communities. 2.Greater engagement in policy and decision making processes by the community. 3.Improved understanding of local community concerns and priorities by policy makers and service providers. Example Indicators 1.Increase in mechanisms promoting information- sharing and dialogue effectively. Q 2.Increase in number and diversity of local people participating effectively in local committees and in other decision-making forums. Q and q 3.Increase in local peoples’ understanding of policy, practice and decision-making processes. Q 4.Increase in perceptions of local groups and residents of greater engagement. Q 5.Increase in number and range of local service providers participating in local community fora. Q 6.Increase in understanding of local issues by policy makers and service providers. Q Q=quantitative, q=qualitative

Goal 4 Promote engagement with policy, practice and decision making processes on matters affecting local communities. Objectives 1.Promote dialogue between funders, providers and local communities. 2.Develop and sustain opportunities for communities of place and interest to identify issues and voice concerns. Outcomes 1.Effective structures and processes in place for dialogue between policy makers, providers and local communities. 2.Greater engagement in policy and decision making processes by the community. 3.Improved understanding of local community concerns and priorities by policy makers and service providers. Example Indicators 1.Increase in mechanisms promoting information-sharing and dialogue effectively. Q 2.Increase in number and diversity of local people participating effectively in local committees and in other decision-making forums. Q and q 3.Increase in local peoples’ understanding of policy, practice and decision-making processes. Q 4.Increase in perceptions of local groups and residents of greater engagement. Q 5.Increase in number and range of local service providers participating in local community fora. Q 6.Increase in understanding of local issues by policy makers and service providers. Q Q=quantitative, q=qualitative Example activities Support for community forums Establishing new groups around issues Community leadership programme Youth participation project Debates, visiting speakers Political literacy programmes Volunteer training

Monitoring Things to be considered for accounting and monitoring purposes: How to concentrate only on those things that are important How information about performance can help in achieving objectives The need for processes to be a proportionate part of work And remember if you cant measure it you cant manage it!!

Next steps Department will establish an Advisory Group which will advise it on issues relating to implementing the new Programme Separately Pobal will commence its work on provision of technical assistance. Indicative funding allocations will be notified asap after the Budget.

Thank you for your attention