Mid Ulster community groups urged to make their voices heard at STEP event

It's now more important than ever for community and voluntary organisations, as well as individuals, to make their voice heard about what is proposed in the Executive's Programme for Government, according to STEP in Dungannon.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Jun 2016, 12:59 BST
Updated 24th Jun 2016, 17:33 BST
The new STEP community building, The Junction, DungannonThe new STEP community building, The Junction, Dungannon
The new STEP community building, The Junction, Dungannon

With the EU Referendum favouring a British exit from the European Union, the community development organisation says it hopes as many people and groups as possible come along to their consultation event at The Junction, 12 Beechvalley Way, this Tuesday 28 June, from 2pm to 4pm.

A STEP spokesperson explained the importance of the event: “The NI Executive Office (TEO, formerly OFMDFM) has published its Programme for Government for the next five years. The TEO is holding four sub-regional events, none of which are in the Mid-Ulster area. Following STEP representation, TEO agreed that if STEP organise a meeting TEO will send representation to explain the document and take feedback. This will ensure that the voices of Mid-Ulster people and community organisations are included in the consultation process.”

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The Executive is changing the way it plans and sets out what it intends to do and how it makes sure things happen.

This programme is outcome-based which means that the activities are planned to bring about change, and it is the change that matters and is measured rather than how much was done that perhaps changed nothing.

The STEP spokeswoman continued: “It is important therefore that people and communities whose lives are in many ways dictated by wider change or lack of it have a chance to say what changes they need or want, and how they would know if the changes made improved their lives. “At this event Joe Reynolds (N.I Executive Office) will explain what is proposed in the Programme for Government and Celine McStravick (NCB) will explain how Outcome Based Planning works.

“Those attending will then have an opportunity to put the two together and look at the outcomes of greatest interest to them, and discuss whether they are the right outcomes for them; if the measures proposed to assure they are achieved are the right measures; what actions are needed to ensure the outcomes are secured, and how the actions are to be properly resourced. We hope you can attend this important consultation and contribute to your ideas, concerns and experience to the consultation.”

Anyone interested in attending this event should contact Paula at STEP on 028 87750211.

Related topics:Government