Drumboe Woods

The DergFinn Project is a Cross Border & Cross Community Initiative which seeks to improve the quality of life of People in need, their carers and the broader community through partnership, community development, training, mutual co-operation and the exchange of skills and ideas.

Welcome to our third Newsletter. As in the past this issue contains an overview of DergFinn Partnership's contribution to the community's life in the Ballybofey & Castlederg border area. This previous year has been a testing year for our organisation due to the continuing funding uncertainty around Peace 11.

This made it very difficult to effectively plan ahead for the benefit of Carers, People with Disabilities, Older People and the Wider Community. However we have held some very successful projects such as the Carers Residential in Galway, Sensory Arts Project, Carers Survey of Needs. These projects have benefited people in Tyrone & Donegal, people often excluded from general socialisation and activities many of us take for granted.

These projects also gave people from both communities cross border an opportunity to meet together on shared interests and activities. From our previous successes we have researched what has worked? What the needs & gaps are? And built them into an effective programme to be funded through Peace 11. All projects are detailed below.

From our active research DergFinn Partnership has devised unique cross border holistic programmes which will benefit Carers, People with Disabilities and the Unemployed in the DergFinn area. This programme funded under Priority 5 Measure 4 of Peace 11 with the support of both the North Western Health Board & Sperrin Lakeland Health trust. These programmes will contain accredited modules made up of various workshops on a wide range of topics to benefit the participants involved. Covering most aspects of caring including caring for yourself, information technology, information on entitlements & services, reconciliation plus creative & alternative therapies.

The aim of this programme is for participants to learn and obtain practical methods on how they can improve their own lives whether through practising, through learning, further training or future employment. It will also incorporate workshops relating to cultural diversity & reconciliation. This programme apart from being unique will be both cross border and cross community in its participation; making a positive contribution to reconciliation in the area. We also hope to hold courses in Yoga, Reiki & Tai Chi for Carers in future.

The Past Year

DergFinn Partnership delivered many projects over the last year. Below is a snapshot of some of these accomplishments:

Cross Border Sensory Arts	This unique project involved over70 people (school children, older people & people with disabilities) from Castlederg, Convoy, Ballybofey & Letterkenny being creative with varying art forms. Their creations were well received by all who viewed & experienced them when exhibited in the Castlederg Visitors Centre & Finn Harps clubhouse. This event included carnival artpieces, ceramics, mosaics, musical sculptures and included the revolutionary 'Soundbeam' system & 'Sensory suitcase'. This project was supported by Co-operation Ireland and all the groups involved.
Cross Border Survey of Carer's Needs	This comprehensive survey was designed and undertaken in partnership with Derg Valley Care, Alzheimer's Society of Ireland, MS Society Donegal Branch, Buddy Bears & the Irish Wheelchair Association. 96 voluntary carers from Tyrone & Donegal participated. This evidence of carers needs was published and reported on to all relevant statutory & voluntary organisations. The basis for our forthcoming cross border programmes were devised to satisfy some of these needs. This project was funded and supported by Combat Poverty Agency, Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust & Donegal Local Development Company.
Cross Border Carers Programme	This innovative programme funded and supported under the special EU programme for Peace & Reconciliation (administered by NIVT) came to an end in June 2001. Successful projects undertaken included a myriad of courses, workshops and conferences for carers & people with disabilities with an Information & Social evening for carers. Conal Gallen, a carer himself, provided his side splitting act in Ballybofey for nearly 70 carers. In May 2001, DergFinn Partnership held a residential for carers in Galway. This mixture of workshops, activities and relaxation was extremely welcomed by all the carers who attended, some of whom had not received a well deserved long term respite or break from their caring role for many years.
Other Projects	Recently a set of very successful workshops covering relaxation, reflexology, aromotherapy called TimeOut for Carers was enjoyed by 15 carers in Stranorlar. This project was funded by Donegal VEC. Under the Community Education Programme. During the year DergFinn Partnership ran various courses and workshops covering Information Technology, Stress Reduction & Practical Caring Techniques.

Developments

Over the past year DergFinn Partnership has introduced a number of services which contribute to the local community. These are:

Citizen's Information Service	This outreach service is available on Monday mornings where an expert in welfare entitlements, housing etc. gives a free and confidential drop in service for the community.
Donegal Local Development Company	Outreach service is aimed to help people and advise on setting up their own small business. Services provided include business plans, funding etc.
The Regional Employment Service	Is an Outreach clinic for the long term unemployed. This valuable project advises people on all aspects of their entitlements, rights if considering future employment, CV design, Interview techniques etc. To book appointment ring DergFinn Centre.

DergFinn Partnership also facilitates a number of support groups involved in the community and provides the use of its meeting room (free to non funded groups). These are:

Finn Valley Carers Support Group	Is a group of voluntary carers who meet monthly to support each other, socialise together and receive information etc.
Forever Fathers	A support group of Divorced, Separated or Unmarried Fathers who wish to have a larger and more effective role in the lives of their children. This group also meets monthly.
Inter Agency Group	This group of councillors, statutory, community & funding organisations meet regularly in parallel to the Twintowns Community Platform. Their aim is to work with the Platform to improve the quality of community life in Stranorlar and Ballybofey.

"I get out very little! Always in a hurry!" and "It has been willed by my husband!" are just some comments regarding Carer's situation from Survey.

At the recent Annual General Meeting on 30th April the following officers were elected:

Much Thanks go to the following organisations and people who supported us during the previous year. The many participants who we helped without whom we would not exist. People who are Caring, with Disabilities, Older People, the Unwaged & the local communities. The two Health Boards and their staff - the North Western Health Board & Sperrin Lakeland Trust & Social Services Trust who supported us on many occasions. Strabane District Council Community Relations & Recreation Departments for advice and support. The various Community & Voluntary Groups who assisted us:

Donegal Community Worker's Co-op, Family Enrichment Centre, Balor DCA, Donegal Women's Network, Twintowns Social Services, St. Joseph's Community Hospital, Sean O'Hare Unit, Worklink, Donegal Carers, Donegal MS Branch, Irish Wheelchair Association, Buddy Bears, Alzheimer's Society of Ireland, Citizen's Information Service, Regional Employment Service, DLDC, Convoy Joint National School.

Castlederg Learning Disabilities, Saturday Club, St. Eugenes High School, Derg Valley Care, Churchtown, Mournederg, Strabane & District Network, Castlederg MS & Foyle MS Societies, MENCAP, Age Concern, NI Carers Association, NIVCA, Friendly Carers, Sperrin Carers, Waterside Development.

Without the support of the Special EU Programme for Peace & Reconciliation we would not exist! Funders who have supported us:

Northern Ireland Voluntary trust is an independent charitable grant making organisation, whose aim is to create a more just and caring society by enabling people in positive action

Co-operation Ireland intend to advance mutual understanding and respect by promoting practical co-operation between the people of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Combat Poverty Agency aim is to promote a just and inclusive society by working for the prevention and elimination of poverty and exclusion

Area Development Management's main role is to support integrated economic & social development. Countering disadvantage and exclusion and promoting disadvantage and equality.

Reconciliation Fund is provided by the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs to assist organisations involved in reconciliation work and efforts to create better understanding between people in both parts of Ireland and between Ireland and Britain.

Sperrin Lakelands NHS Trust - The North Western Health Board - Strabane District Council - Donegal Local Development Company & Donegal Vocational Education Council.

Many thanks for the support, paper space & air time given to DergFinn Partnership by Highland Radio, Inishowen Radio, Valley News, Finn Valley Voice, Donegal Democrat, Donegal Peoples Press & Donegal News. Thanks go especially to Margaret O'Brien (Twintown notes) & Celine McGlynn (the Finn Valley Voice)

Some results from Cross Border Carer's survey about their role. 17% of Carer's felt very positive, 50% felt mildly positive, 20% felt mildly negative, 13% felt very negative!

DergFinn Partnership have won an award from NICCI in recognition of their Cross Border community relations work at Belfast's Waterfront Hall on Friday 28th June 2002. Trophy is on display at the DergFinn Centre.

DergFinn Partnership Staff
· Provides cross border project advice
· Help you to network
· Undertake Advocacy
· Deliver Project design & development
· Carry out Research

Cross Border Holistic Programme For Carers will include Caring Workshops:
· Caring - What is it? Carer's & Caree Rights
· Safe Caring - First Aid, Resuscitation, Health & Safety, Hygiene, Medication
· Physical Caring - Equipment, Nutrition, Continence, Oral Hygiene, Lifting & Moving, Terminal Care & Pressure Area Care
· Information - Welfare, Health Services, Voluntary & Community services etc.
· Caring Relation - Stress Reduction, Challenging Behaviour, Listening, Self Esteem, Personal Development & Self Help
· Creative Caring - Art, Ceramics, Crafts etc.
· Basic Computers, Internet & ECDL
· Therapies - Reflexology, Massage, Yoga etc.
· Reconciliation - Recognition of diversity etc. These workshops will be held soon at appropriate venues in Tyrone & Donegal Programmes are to be developed for unemployed and people with disabilities in the future.