Major grant for Londonderry group

A PROJECT that will give community groups in the North West the skills to lobby and influence more effectively on the issues affecting them has been awarded a major grant from the Big Lottery Fund.

North West Community Network has been awarded a grant of 301,195 to run the Participation, Engagement & Skills Project (PESP) which will provide training, resources, direct support and networking opportunities to develop the skills of community groups in the North West.

The project will improve the confidence and knowledge of people who work or volunteer in communities across the North West. They will also get the chance to develop skills in engaging effectively with their target groups, as well as learning how to influence government on a range of issues including education, health and general service provision.

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Coordinator Colin Devine explained that the support given to groups in the North West will increase their opportunities to influence public policy and have their say in decision making processes at every level from local to regional.

“The PESP project will deliver a range of events and training support for community groups in the North West such as workshops, online resources, targeted events, and three annual conferences,” said Colin.

“It will provide support for many community groups, including isolated and hard to reach groups that don’t traditionally get the opportunity to put their point across. Many people in community groups and indeed individuals feel that aspects of public policy which affect their lives are decided without them getting the chance to have their say.

“This project will increase their knowledge of the way government works, giving them the skills to express their opinions and have their voices heard about the issues that affect them, and offering them the chance to network with other groups and learn from each other.

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He continued: “For instance, a group from the rural community might want to engage with an urban-based group providing similar services so that they can present a better case to fund-holders, or a group supporting people from an ethnic minority community might want to run advocacy training, or learn how to reach out to, support and involve others in their ongoing work”.

“Many community groups and their users want to play a role and have input into how decisions on e.g. education or health are arrived at, but they don’t currently have a firm idea on how to go about becoming involved.

“This project will give them a robust knowledge of the workings of public sector bodies and how decisions are made. It will also help them develop a network of contacts and support with other groups across the North West so they can come together to lobby on key issues.

“This means that those groups working on the ground with people in the North West’s diverse communities can play a positive role in improving the lives of people most in need.“

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