Cross-Border Circle of Learning Project Managed by Co-Operation Ireland
The Confederation of Community Groups have been working and delivering on the cross-border Circle of Learning project for the past number of years and were delighted to continue this work into the 2023 to 2024 period. This innovative project is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Reconciliation Fund, and project managed by Co-Operation Ireland. The Confederation of Community Groups are one of four Hubs involved with the project, the other Hubs being County Armagh Community Development, Dundalk Youth Partnership and the Clones Family Resource Centre.
The overarching aims of the project are rooted in the thematic pillars of ‘repairing and building’ within the Reconciliation Fund. That is, to ‘repair’ those issues which lead to division, conflict, and barriers to a deeply reconciled and peaceful society; and to work towards ‘building’ a strong and civil society that encompasses all communities, through the continued implementation of the Agreements and promoting a rights-based society, political stability and respect for all. These aims dovetail into the community development aims of the Confederation and compliment other work we are involved with.
To achieve progress towards these goals, each of the Hubs were asked to recruit four new groups to mentor and provide community development support, with the aim of building capacity and skills whilst facilitating opportunities to network with both groups in their own area and with groups in the other three geographical localities, providing excellent opportunities for cross-border and cross-community engagement. The local groups working with the CCG during this period were Swagath Indian Families Association, the Crisis Café, Hilltown Community Association and Ballinacraig Community Association.
Each group received bespoke community development support tailored to their individual needs, this flexibility is one of the key strengths of the project, and it helped complete Baseline Skills Audits and Action Plans for the groups. CCG then assisted with the design of individual Social Action Plans to address key development issues in each locality. These Social Action Plans were financially supported by the project funding and needed to compliment the thematic pillars of the Reconciliation Fund, enabling groups to address issues of peacebuilding, networking and growing connections.
Each Hub also hosted a Networking and Study Visit to provide the opportunities for everyone involved in the project to come together, share experiences and learn from each other. This year we were delighted to host this event in Hilltown, with thanks to Hilltown Community Association for the warm welcome. The groups involved with CCG also benefited from other Hub visits to the Museum of Orange Heritage, Sloan’s House in Loughgall, Dundalk Youth Centre and the newly refurbished Outcomers Centre in Roden Place, Dundalk, and a visit to the Family Resource Centre in Clones followed by a walking tour of historic Clones. Co-operation Ireland also hosted a Study Visit in Creggan for all the Hubs and groups involved.
