‘Skeoge United’ PeacePlus-funded project launched by Derry community group

PICTURED ABOVE: 'SKEOGE UNITED' PEACE PLUS LAUNCH . . . . Greater Shantallow Area Partnership's 'Skeoge United' - a PeacepPlus funded project, will deliver a range of peace building and reconciliation programmes across the Skeoge area, building community cohesion locally and connecting with other communities across the city as well as on a cross-border basis. From left are Charles McDaid, chair, GSAP, Nicola Mullan, Co-Ordinator, Skeoge Hub, Sean Carlin, Community Development Manager, GSAP, Fiona Lafferty, Project Officer, Derry City and Strabane District Council, Rory McParland, Manager, GSAP, Mollie McMonagle, Programme Officer, GSAP and Darren Kirby, Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy Manager, GSAP. (Photos: Jim McCafferty Photography)

On Monday morning, the Greater Shantallow Area Partnership (GSAP) launched ‘Skeoge United’, a PeacePlus-funded project that will deliver a range of peace building and reconciliation programmes across the Skeoge area, building community cohesion locally but also connecting with other communities across the city and on a cross-border basis.

Skeoge United will be delivered over two years and will incorporate a range of cultural awareness programmes (dance, music, language), creative mindfulness programmes, good relations programmes, health and wellbeing programmes and family support initiatives, the employment of a full-time Programming Officer and capital investment to enable the purchase of a new 17-seater minibus and pop-up marquees.  

The project is funded through Derry City and Strabane District Council’s PEACEPLUS Local Co-Designed Action Plan, under the ‘Community Regeneration and Transformation’ theme.

The PEACEPLUS Programme is an EU funded programme designed to support peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the border region.  It is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). Match-funding for this element of the PEACEPLUS Programme has been provided by the Executive Office in Northern Ireland and the Department of Housing, Planning, Community & Local Government in Ireland.  

Speaking at Monday’s launch, Charlie McDaid, GSAP Chairperson said: "Skeoge is a new, fast developing neighbourhood in the north of the city with a very youthful demographic and we are delighted that Council, through the PeacePlus Partnership, are investing resources in peace-building programmes that will involve all age groups, but will focus mainly on young people, the Travelling Community and Ethnic Minority families within Skeoge and the Waterside.

"The programmes will also have a cross border dimension, recognising the potential of the project to impact across wider catchment areas, aided by the project’s geographical proximity to the border, which is ideally placed to promote cooperation and share learning from both sides of the border in areas including culture & arts, health and well-being, peacebuilding and community cohesion." 

It’s understood a dedicated Programming Officer will lead the recruitment of participants early in the new-year, engaging with local partners / communities to identify and secure in the region of 250 participants who will complete roughly 5,000 contact hours over the course of the next two years.

The Officer will recruit Ballyarnett DEA / Skeoge participants primarily through the Skeoge Community Hub (based in Clon Dara) and well-established community networks within the Ballyarnett DEA – this will include an extensive network of C&V organisations plus statutory providers such as the local EA Youth Clubs and local schools.

Pictured sorting out final plans for Monday's launch of the Greater Shantallow Area Partnership's 'Skeoge United' - a PeacepPlus funded project, are Nicola Mullan, Co-Ordinator, Skeoge Hut, Mollie McMonagle, GSAP and Fiona Lafferty, Project Officer, Derry City and Strabane District Council. (Photos: Jim McCafferty Photography)

To ensure cross-community recruitment GSAP will work closely with Waterside Neighbourhood Partnership and Irish Street Community Association to promote the planned programmes / events and to identify potential participants from the PUL community. 

GSAP will also work closely with the Moville & District Family Resource Centre to promote the planned programmes / events and to identify potential cross-border participants.

Nicola Mullan, GSAP’s Coordinator at the Skeoge Hub added: "The key challenge for us is in delivering activities that will help participants, particularly our young people, to make new friends from other community backgrounds, connect to different places, increase understanding of other traditions and to develop positive thinking about other cultures.

"We’re also hoping the project will help fully integrate local minority and travelling community residents into the life of the Skeoge neighbourhood, and to encourage them to be part of and play an active and positive role within the local community in Skeoge and wider afield."

It’s anticipated that the majority of the programme delivery will take place in venues within the Skeoge area - notably Skeoge Community Hub, Studio 2 Arts Centre, Lenamore Youth Club and within marquee structures purchased to host events / programmes, and to provide alternative venue options for shared space programming - to accommodate small groups, accommodate workshops, and for small community-based events.  

Some of the staff at the Skeoge Community Hub take time out for a coffee on Monday morning.

Programme delivery will also take place within the Waterside area and Moville / Inishowen - the purchase and use of a minibus as part of this project will open up access to these other venues. 

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Also speaking at Monday’s event, GSAP Manager, Rory McParland, said: "The project will foster better community relations through more opportunities for dialogue, shared history and partnership… gradually breaking down barriers so that a more cohesive society emerges built on better understanding of each other’s history, tradition and cultures."

He added: "The programme activities will focus on peacebuilding and community wellbeing and provide the opportunity to build genuine cross-community relationships whilst encouraging attitudinal and behavioural change among participants.

SERVICE WITH A SMILE . . . . Sean Carlin, Community Development Manager, GSAP pictured getting a coffee during Monday's 'Skeoge United' launch at the Skeoge Community Hub's cafe.

"Using topical themes Skeoge United will build on the City’s role in peace building, and its long tradition in arts & culture, health & wellbeing and in making real and tangible differences to people’s lives."