Multimillion Euro PEACEPLUS project launched to boost border communities
L-R: Pat McGurn (LCC), Barry Boyle & Frances Spence (FRCN), Paul Sheridan (SEUPB), Darina Lynch & Patrick Fryers (Teach Oscail), & Micheál Mowen (Erne East Partnership)
The Rebuilding Together-Building Healthy Communities Project, a project supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), has been officially launched.
This will result in a significant €5,722,677 investment in rural communities in East and West Fermanagh and neighbouring border communities in North Monaghan, Cavan and Leitrim.
This is a carefully co-designed project which brings together organisations with extensive experience, a strong track record of delivery in the thematic areas of the programme (Health and Inclusive Communities, Rural Regeneration and Social Inclusion) and importantly which have a strong reach and delivery record into local communities.
The project will contribute to significant regeneration in a new Community Health and Wellbeing Hub in Lisnaskea and in the delivery of key services to improve quality of life and wellbeing for rural people in a border region that still aligns behind in every social and economic indicator possible.
This is largely due to a legacy of conflict and partition, under investment, peripherality, out-migration and polarised communities.
The project acts as a key driver for enhanced services delivered on a cross-community basis and deliberately tackles a range of systematic issues, including social isolation, poor mental health, isolation for older people and a rapidly aging population, homelessness, poor access to health and social services and inadequate and or/affordable childcare.
The project brings together a unique and vital cross border partnership project delivered by Erne East Community Partnership Ltd (Lead Partner) (N.I.); Teach Oscail, Cavan Town; Lakeland Community Care; and Fermanagh Rural Community Network in collaboration with a wide range of social partners in the border area.
A comprehensive three-year programme will be delivered in response to evidenced social needs in the Fermanagh, Cavan, Monaghan and Leitrim border communities and focus on the following areas:
Regeneration Works/Social Enterprise: Redevelop a derelict supermarket as the location of a Community Health and Well-being Hub for South -East Fermanagh and incorporate an additional four new distinct Social Enterprises, generating employment and incorporating the following elements:
Homelessness-(Develop 5 new accommodation units and wraparound support for people in housing need)
Childcare/Early Years Provision (Develop an affordable cross-community childcare space)
Tourism (Develop 9 new tourism pods for holiday/business rental and a capacity building programme to promote economic regeneration)
Social Café (working to prevent social isolation and provide training opportunities)
Cross Border Mental Health Programme (Develop a bespoke mental health programme incorporating an 8 week RESET Programme engaging 588 people, and a 6-week Community Based Halls Programme engaging 660 people based in Cavan and Fermanagh. (Over 3 years),
Social and Community Hubs for Older and Vulnerable People’s Programme (Develop 6 New Community Hubs for vulnerable older people and those with health conditions). Creating connectedness, tackling loneliness and enhancing independent living across East and West Fermanagh, North Monaghan, West Cavan and North Leitrim engaging 540 people. (Over 3 Years).
Expansion of Existing Health and Wellbeing Services – Engage 492 people in an expanded programme of existing services focusing on reducing health inequalities amongst the rural population in South and East Fermanagh including addictions services; community first responders, social car scheme, and bereavement support. (over 3 years)
