Profile of Community Connections
Community Development Project.

Background

Community Connections is a Community Development Project (CDP) based in a rural location between Glenfarne and Blacklion near the Cavan Fermanagh border. The geographic area in which the Project works takes in West Cavan, North Leitrim and West Fermanagh, an area with a population of around 21,000.  The area experiences all the problems associated with peripheral rural locations including a dispersed rural population, emigration, over dependence on agriculture, inadequate infrastructure and a lack of services.  Problems associated with the extreme rural nature of the area have been compounded by a number of additional factors including its border location, poor quality transport infrastructure, and the administrative complexities of the area. 

Population decline has been a major factor in this region over the years with a high level of migration, especially in the 15-24 age group. As a result people became more isolated from their neighbours, services declined and dependency ratios increased.

However, the area has a significant level of community development activity that has partly been in response to the difficulties experienced historically and as a result has a significant level of voluntary commitment, experience and expertise in this field of community life.

Community Connections community development project

Community Connections was established in 1991 and joined the Community Development Programme in 1995.  Currently, its main core funding sources are The Deptarpment of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs under the Community Development Programme and the North Western Health Board.

Community Connections is a Company Limited by Guarantee and produces annual audited accounts.  It is managed by a locally based voluntary management committee with a number of sub-committees established for each area of work including members of the groups with whom the project works.

 Developmental model of work

Community Connections has adopted a developmental approach to addressing the issues facing the local community by initiating projects and programmes and then supporting their independent development in the community. The project has a strong focus on social development and on addressing the needs of people within the communities in the North Leitrim, West Cavan and West Fermanagh area who are less involved in community life.

The developmental model has enabled Community Connections to support groups to an extent where the projects have attained a degree of independence from the project and no longer require a high level of direct management input from the project.  This has allowed Community Connections, as an organisation to move on to other priority work or to allocate time to develop new and emerging areas of work. This approach has been particularly effective in the establishment of a number of major projects in the West Cavan, North Leitrim and West Fermanagh area including:

• Rural LIFT
   

• The Cross Border Women's Network
   

• Border counties History Collective
   

• The MacNean Women’s Group
   

• Rural Lift for South West Fermanagh

These five projects were established by or with key input from Community Connections and were supported through their initial stages of development by the project.  With further input and support from Community Connections these projects then moved on to become independent groups. The Rural LIFT transport project was developed by Community Connections from 1995-2002, subsequently becoming an independent project.  It now operates 25 routes in Leitrim and West Cavan and is responsible for some 15,000 passenger journeys each year.  The Cross Border Women's Network played a key role in addressing childcare issues in the region between 1995 and 2002 and the respective County Childcare Committees established under a national programme since that time in Cavan and Leitrim are now responsible for this area of work.

The Border Counties History Collective also developed into an independent group and was supported under the Peace 1 Programme.  The MacNean Women’s Group received facilitation support from Community Connections in the early stages of its development and have since gone on to renovate and run a resource centre in West Cavan that houses an after school club catering for 20 children and is managed by the group. 

Rural Lift for South West Fermanagh is a community transport project funded by the Dept. of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland that was administered by Community Connections during its first few years in existence.

Contribution to Rural Sustainability

Community Connections is working to tackle marginalisation and disadvantage in the West Cavan, North Leitrim and West Fermanagh area. It is motivating and facilitating people to work together to address issues and has made significant improvements to the quality of life of many people in this area. The work is impacting on many aspects of community life and is contributing to rural sustainability in a number of ways:

• It is supporting local community groups to address specific needs in their area and in particular is establishing and supporting groups to address issues affecting the whole area.
   

• It has facilitated a high level of community participation in the Project and in the programmes and projects established over the years.

This focus on voluntary involvement is a key aspect in the development of strong sustainable communities.  Sustaining a high level of voluntary involvement in a dispersed rural area is a challenge. However it is seen as a priority in the overall development of the community and therefore Community Connections has always invested resources in this work.

• Community Connections’ primary focus is on building the capacity of these groups and the volunteer members to address the issues of concern.  This has enabled Community Connections to change its focus and to address other priorities while still supporting the original work.
   

• Community Connections puts an emphasis on policy work and on changing how agencies deliver their services in rural areas. This is particularly significant as it has the potential to have a much longer impact and potentially a wider impact across the country.
   

• Community Connections has identified the priority issues in the area and has developed responses in partnership with the local community. A key emphasis is put on consultations and working with those who are affected by the issue
   

• Community Connections was one of the first rural transport initiatives in the country and played a key role in shaping policy with regard to rural transport initiatives. The government has since established the Rural Transport Initiative and is now supporting a total of 34 projects across rural Ireland. All of these transport initiatives are meeting the needs of isolated rural communities and are contributing to rural sustainability. Information would not otherwise be available.
   

• The information service plays a key role in providing relevant and accessible information and news to the local community and  community groups and keeps the community informed.  This is particularly relevant as much of this information would be not otherwise be readily available or in a format that is easy to understand. 
   

• Community Connections has formed partnerships with the key agencies in the region and ensures that their support and services are available to the local community. The area is peripheral in a number of ways and traditionally it would have been difficult for people at access from agencies who had a centralised approach to service delivery. The work of Community Connections is crucial in bringing the support and services of these agencies to the community.

The Aims of Community Connections as described in its Constitution are:

• To promote, support and facilitate community development though the participation and involvement of local people

• To develop strong, active and confident communities through enabling people to work together and participate in the development of their own communities

• To respond to key issues and identify needs, particularly in relation to marginalised groups and those experiencing poverty and isolation.

• To provide administrative resources, support, information and advice to individuals and groups on a wide range of social and community issues.

• To promote an integrated approach to rural development and facilitate co-operation between the voluntary and statutory sectors.

• To co-ordinate, manage and deliver education and training programmes.

• To promote cross-border co-operation and facilitate networking amongst community groups and agencies each side of the border.

• To undertake original and appropriate research into the development issues facing the areas.