Rathcoole Transformation Group
Activities
Community Safety
Development of Mobile Phone Interface Network working within both communities to address conflict and build relation across the divide.
1st April 2005 – 31st March 2006:-
- Team was called out 62 times to intervene in incidents
- One stabbing and 6 other injuries
- 243 man hours spend on intervention work
Involvement of young people as volunteers with the “Good Morning Ballysillan” project working with senior citizens.
Involvement of disaffected young people with the North Belfast Alternatives programme to help address issues around socially harmful activity.
Members of the Transformation Group have participated in Restorative Justice and Mediation Training with Northern Ireland Alternatives.
Culture and Identity
Formation of local Friends of the Somme Association to facilitate educational workshops and field trips about the 36th (Ulster) Division.
Young people have visited both the Somme Heritage Centre and the Peoples Museum at Fernhill House, and several members of the Association will travel to the Somme later this year for the 90th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.
Cultural Group has been formed to plan, oversee and monitor celebrations during the summer marching season.
Young People
The Transformation Group is working to develop a Young Citizens Forum as a means of empowering young people to engage as active citizens within their community.
Two youth soccer teams have been formed and funding has been raised to purchase strips bearing the logo “Rathcoole Transformation Group”.
Temporary premises have been secured for boxing and fitness training.
26 young people ahave particuipated in an outdoor pursuits programme with the PSNI and Army as a means of building bridges with the authorities.
Active Citizenship
Rathcoole Community Transformation group in conjunction with the East Antrim Forum and the LINC Resource centre have developed an Active Citizenship Programme which will be delivered to a Post 16 Youth group attached to the Transformation group. LINC CR staff was asked to put this programme together for the Rathcoole Community Empowerment Partnerships bid to the North Belfast Community Action Units diversionary monies Programme. The bid was successful and the programme will start in August.
Addressing Divisions
The Transformation Group in partnership with the Rathcoole CEP have planned to hold a meeting of all groups within Rathcoole to discuss the issues of division within the estate in early September. The aim of the meeting is to identify and develop on areas were collaborative work can be done together by all groups for the betterment of the whole community.