The Partnership

The partnership plans to build on the links that have already been established between the two organisations and specific-issue groups from each area, to form a working partnership between Community Development Agency in urban Newtownabbey, County Antrim and Drogheda Community Forum, County Louth, with Community Development Agency as the lead body, with the ultimate goal of forming a single cohesive body “The Inter-Community Partnership”.

Using the good offices of both organisations, people will be recruited from groups, both north and south to form a management team. Within the Partnership, links will be established and strengthened between various groups associated with each organisation north and south and will include community development groups, youth and senior citizens’ groups, women’s groups and other issue-specific groups. The intention is that, once formed, the Partnership will become strong enough to continue to function well after EU funding ceases.

The aim is to bring Protestants and Catholics together from both sides of the border to solve problems, to explore each other’s communities and groups, linked by history, culture and social environments, working at ground and street level. The project will be an effective facilitation for change, with more hands on local people and communities, more networking and cooperation, more involvement of isolated communities and better communication and coordination, moving beyond borders, building trust, confidence and partnership, with a wide group of potential beneficiaries. The ultimate goal is to enable people, who would not normally engage in cross-border reconciliation, to do so with confidence, enthusiasm and commitment.

The Method

Capacity building Training and Educational programmes will be provided, designed to promote good community cooperation, reconciliation and understanding and building trust and mutual respect between all concerned. These will include personal development, community relations, conflict resolution, cultural exploration, local history and economic development, exchange visits, aimed at changing attitudes and perceptions, raising self-esteem and building confidence.