Plan to tackle Protestant alienation

An information session for groups, organisations and individuals interested in participating in the Gateway to Protestant Participation (GPP) programme will take place between 7-9pm at the The Royal British Legion, Iona Terrace, on Thursday, January 14, 2010.

GPP is a strategic programme designed to encourage the participation of the Protestant community by promoting a shared sense of belonging and addressing issues of marginalisation and tackling attitudes to racism and sectarianism, at a local level within the North West Peace III Cluster area.

Julia Kee will act as project outreach worker for the Londonderry area and said GPP will tackle the problem of alienation, strongly felt by the Protestant community in the city.

She said the project is designed to targets those Protestant groups and organisations who - as shown by research such as a 2005 report by St Columb's Park House - did not benefit fully from the previous Peace programmes.

She explained: "The GPP has six key programmes, three of which are aimed at identifying and delivering training for the groups and organisations to increase their confidence and capacity.

"The other programmes will provide the groups with the skills to effectively network with other groups including those in the statutory sector. Central to this will be good relations programme which underpins the GPP project.

"The aim of this information session is to give further information and advice to groups and organisations interested in participating in the GPP programmes, but more importantly to give the local Protestant population a sense of ownership in the project.

"I would encourage anyone with an interest or those who would like to find out more about what we are doing to come along to the information session."

Brian Dougherty Director of St Columb's Park House said he was delighted the organisation was involved in the project.

"As an organisation who has been involved in addressing the needs of the marginalised PUL community through the 'Negotiating Change' Programme we are happy to lend our experience, support and expertise in any way we can," he said.

"This unique Partnership initiated by the North-West Peace 3 Cluster programme offers the greatest opportunity the region has had to collectively address the needs of Protestant urban and rural communities in the North-West and Donegal.

"It will have a hugely positive impact in establishing community infrastructure for those groups who have fallen through the 'net' in recent years.

"We are confident that the innovative range of programmes that will be delivered will leave a lasting legacy to peace-building as well as provide a bench-mark and template for community development for the future," he added.