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Rural Enabler Programme

Rural Enabler Programme. Ali McAllister Neville Armstrong. Background. RCN’s vision of vibrant, articulate, inclusive and sustainable rural communities across Northern Ireland contributing to a prosperous, equitable, peaceful and stable society

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Rural Enabler Programme

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  1. Rural Enabler Programme Ali McAllister Neville Armstrong

  2. Background • RCN’s vision of vibrant, articulate, inclusive and sustainable rural communities across Northern Ireland contributing to a prosperous, equitable, peaceful and stable society • RCN’s commitment to tackling sectarianism, racism & polarisation • RCN’s belief in the need to build relationships to improve space sharing and sustainability of rural communities

  3. Key Characteristics • Partnership – RCN, DARD, IRL,DCELG • Sub-regional Advisory Groups • Flexible approach to working with groups and individuals • Rural definition <4,500 • Facilitatory Development Grants

  4. Relevance to Spatial Planning • Conflict in border regions has shaped how communities view each other • Planning of physical space & services can no longer accommodate ‘two sides’ • Planning can contribute to addressing or contributing to the impacts of conflict and racism

  5. Enablers • Helping communities and institutions work through issues at local level to improve space sharing • 12 County specific in NI & BCI responding to local specific needs • 1 Institutions Enabler focusing on supporting institutions to be responsive to others in rural communities

  6. Approaches • Unlimited time to progress actions to meet the needs of the area • Working in partnership with statutory, voluntary & community agencies • Bespoke actions and projects to meet local specific needs • Small financial support if required

  7. What will we leave behind? • Improvements in how we live, work & socialise will contribute to better planning • Rural tourism initiatives will be increased through safer, cohesive communities • Institutional awareness of their role in sustaining cohesive rural communities • Confident and capable responses to dealing with legacy of the past and challenges of the present

  8. Local Perspectives • Value of taking a community development approach • Recognising how relationships and trust matter • “Relationships are the heart and bloodline of peace-building “ J P Lederach 1997 • Fermanagh – a border county (143 miles of it!) • Recognising intrinsic link between a peaceful society and economic prosperity – mutual interdependence • “In Northern Ireland the need to locate community relations issues at the centre of such a planning dialogue is crucial “ Murtagh The Politics of Territory London Palgrave 2004

  9. What we can learn from local initiatives • Nothing is ever as simple as it seems ~ North/South Teemore – Leitrim Connects Project ~ • Good practice comes from mutually useful and successful projects - NISE Kesh/Pettigo • Focusing on what unites and not divides – young people, sport and sectional interests – Vintage vehicles, social economy and shared history • Local initiatives and how they feed into policy development – Clones-Erne East Youth – Youth Action CAWT Older People and LAGs + Rural Men

  10. Lessons learned from Enabler experience • Often community and voluntary sector are very much part of the problem – and the solution. • Cross-community trust is hard won, easily under-mined and often restricted to a few. • Thematic approach works – Tourism, Young People, Rural Development, Sport and Institutions. • Value of shared outcomes not understood by all. • Urban – rural divide real and tangible • Programme development is slow and positive results take time ~ outcomes

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