Current Projects

DAERA Rural Community Development Support Service Contract

Cookstown and Western Shores Area Network (CWSAN) working in conjunction with Community Organisations of South Tyrone & Areas (COSTA) are now in the THIRD year of delivering a ‘Rural Community Development Support Service for Mid Ulster area.

The key elements of this current contract with the Department of
Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs (DAERA) supported through their Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation Framework are:

• Supporting Access to the NI Rural Development Programme
• Assisting Development of the Rural Economy
• Supporting Access to the DARD Tackling Rural Poverty & Social Isolation Programme
• Developing Capacity & Leadership

For further information on the Rural Community Development Support Service please contact  Conor Corr, Development Manager            T: 028 8773 8845                            E: info@cwsan.org

RURAL MICRO CAPITAL GRANTS PROGRAMME 2021/22

 The Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme (RMCGS) 2022 opened in October 2021 for local community applications. This was the 8^th iteration/phase of the programme. Applications to this year’s scheme 2022/23 were submitted by 14 Oct 2022 and groups will be notified of their success in due course.

This Scheme is funded under the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation Programme and is managed by CWSAN/COSTA in Mid Ulster.

Micro Capital grants of between £200 and £1,500 were available to rural community-led, voluntary organisations for projects tackling issues of local poverty and / or social isolation.

The total project cost must not exceed £3,000. Projects must clearly address an issue of rural poverty and / or social isolation and applicants must provide a minimum of 15% match funding. The Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme 2022 was designed to tackle the following themes:

• Modernisation (of existing premises/assets) (e.g. new doors, chairs)
• Information and Communication Technology (e.g. computers, laptops)
• Health and Well Being (e.g. exercise equipment, judo mats, footballs)

144 local applications were successful and were delivered with final capital items procured and payments made by June 2022.

The 2021/22 successful groups were as follows:

CWSAN Marginalised Minority Communities in Rural Border Areas.       

As part of the Rural Community Development Support Service delivered by CWSAN on behalf of DAERA , We are delivering the MMC Support from 2021 to 2024.This strand of CWSAN work contains a number of objectives including:

• Review and update data from original Scoping Study to identify needs presented from the MMC community in the local area.
• Identify further groups to take part in programme of support.
• Undertake Training Needs Analysis and support needs analysis for each new group on a one-to-one basis.
• Work to enhance and build trust with groups and where required provide access to training such as: financial management; event management; re-opening your community facility; safely restarting activities.
• Provide support with governance where required: e.g. AGM, CCNI reporting, policies and procedures.
• Provide assistance in applying to, and securing funding.
• Make groups aware of, and/or assist groups to engage with, statutory agencies: e.g. DAERA, local Council, local Community Plan and other Vol/Com sector groups.
• Offer free membership (ongoing and new) and access to ongoing programmes of training, good practice, information and support.

In the period October 21 – October 22 there has been a steady flow of support and development work carried out with MMC groups this has included an audit survey, building relationships, carrying out competency reviews and planning reviews with over 30 groups along the Mid Ulster border corridor. Groups have been supported to review their own plans in the short, mid and long term with regard to training needs, succession planning, capital needs and programmes of activity. Groups have been supported in making applications for Covid recovery, Community Festivals, Capital Grants for Covid recovery, Digital Inclusion Projects, Environmental Projects, Big Lottery and the CWSAN Rural Micro Grants. We have explored developing a programme that will help develop capacity of groups across this area over the course of the coming year. The issues that have been important to the groups over the past year have included recovery from Covid, restoring individual & group confidences, networking and succession planning that is how groups can open up to their communities to reduce social isolation. The “Cost Of Living” crisis is having an impact on groups and the people to whom they serve, there is growing concern around these pressures and what solutions can be developed. Groups are keen to link to one and other, also being informed of the various opportunities that the CWSAN/COSTA newsletters provide. There is a real value placed on this support by the groups.

In terms of other Rural Support work 29 groups have been supported with their Charity Commission Registration across the Mid Ulster council area. A number of groups have been engaged to review the village plan that covers their area. This process has been in terms of raising awareness of what had been planned in the past, considering present needs and establishing a short, mid & long term plan for going forward.

The PHA Covid Vaccination program was also supported in early 22, this involved liaising with other community development organisations to disseminate information on the vaccine rollout across Mid Ulster, targeting at need communities. This concluded with contributing to a PHA case study toolkit should a programme like this ever be needed again.

Throughout the reporting period there has been engagement with a number of other organisations to further CWSAN support for Rural Communities including Mid Ulster District Council on Village Planning, Mid Ulster Anti Poverty Group, Community Ownership Fund and People & Practice. Workspace have helped support groups with establishing CIC type businesses. Omagh Forum in terms of Carbon Literacy training for Community Groups and also Rural Community Network, STEP and Rural action have all connected in with various opportunities & supports,

Suicide Prevention and Development (SPD) Project  

Since 2010 CWSAN has worked with the Public Health Agency to employ a community based Suicide Prevention Development Worker for the Mid Ulster Area. This Project is linked to the Northern Ireland wide Suicide Prevention Strategy Action Plan: Protect Life and its aim is to raise suicide awareness, reduce stigma, signpost local communities and increase community involvement in suicide prevention, bereavement support and self harm initiatives.

Through this project CWSAN are part of the Northern Protect Life Implementation Group (NPLIG) Partnership which is multi agency raising awareness of the support which is available locally to improve the mental health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

A key part of this role is capacity building local communities to become more engaged in Suicide Prevention initiatives. Click on the link below to see the current SPDO training calendar.

SPDO Training Schedule 2024-25

SPDO Infographic 2023/2024

Capacity Building Safer Communities

Through funding from the PHA we administer a small grants scheme to build Suicide safer communities.
In 2022/23 The following groups were provided support

• Annaghmore LOl
• Bellaghy Hub
• Ballinderry Hub
• Cairdeas Eoghain
• Coagh Crossroads Community Group
• Coagh & Drumullan Network Group
• Cookstown Community Group
• Granaghan Womens Group
• Kilcronaghan
• Kildress Youth
• Kinturk Cultural Association
• Lissan Leisure Club
• Loughshore Ramblers
• Mindwise
• Mid Ulster Stroke Group
• Mid Ulster Victims Empowerment Group
• MUVE
• Open Doors Club, Swatragh
• St Colmand Parish Group
• STEP
• Sunflowers Support NI Group
• Superstars
• TABBDA
• Termoneeny Young At Heart
• TheHub Bt80

If you wish to avail of any of the aforementioned free suicide prevention training for your community, please contact Denise.

SPD Project Officer                                      Denise Doherty

T: 075 4096 9623                                           E: denise@cwsan.org

https://healthallianceni.com/spdo/

Networks Involving Communities in Health Improvement (NICHI) Project

The NICHI project, started in 2009, aims to strengthen links between Public Health Agency (PHA) and local communities in order to support local communities, through a community development approach, to address health and social wellbeing issues and reduce health inequalities through signposting, building capacity and strengthening local accountability to develop healthy, sustainable communities.

The NICHI project operates across the Northern Trust Locality area and is managed by the Community Support Networks. It is funded by the Public Health Agency and works in partnership with community, voluntary and statutory organisations.

‘Making Life Better’ 2013-2023, launched in 2014, provides direction for policies and actions to improve the health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities. The NICHI project uses this framework and ‘Health and Wellbeing 2026 – Delivering Together’ to focus on the wider factors which impact on the health and well being of individuals and the community, through supporting groups locally to identify and promote social inclusion and tackle health inequalities and the underlying contributory factors including poverty, housing, education and crime. ‘In all communities, every child and young person should have the best start in life, people should have a decent standard of living, and everyone should be supported to make healthier and better informed life choices.’

The current ‘Communities in Health’ Model Groups that we are working with, co producing and co designing actions, building on their strengths and assets are are Sunflower Support, Ardboe; Kilcronaghan Community Association; Bellaghy Open Door Complex; Castlerock Community Association and REACH Portrush.

As well as promoting health and well being training in the community, the NICHI project officer has continued to deliver health and wellbeing information and support. The project has continued to support communities to become involved in discussions and decision making around health improvement. The local community across Cookstown, Magherafelt and Coleraine had the opportunity to meet with Dr Michael McBride to discuss the “Fit and Well – Changing Lives” health and well being framework a few years ago.