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What We Do

The work of the unit is grouped into 3 categories / objectives.  The following are a few examples of the work of the Social Inclusion Unit:

1.  Internally Focused Objectives

2.  Interagency Objectives

3.  Donegal County Development Board Peace and Reconciliation Partnership

4.  Donegal Youth Council

 

1. Internally Focused Objectives

Social Inclusion Week

The Social Inclusion Unit holds an annual week of events to showcase and celebrate the work being undertaken throughout the county in tackling social exclusion and poverty.

This year, Social Inclusion Week will take place from the 19th – 24th of September 2011 and an Social Inclusion Week Brochure 2011 has been prepared to highlight the events taking place.   To get involved, please contact the Social Inclusion Unit directly.

Additional Social Inclusion Week Events 2011

A number of additional events will take place which are not included in the brochure.  These include: 

1.  Coffee Morning hosted by DeafHear.ie

This event will take place on Tuesday, 20th of September from 10am - 1pm.   Everyone is welcome, free admission.

Venue                  DeafHear.ie, Sensory Resource Centre, Justice Walsh Road, Letterkenny 

Contact Person   Mary Mc Connell-Byron (074) 91 88252

 

Social Inclusion Training 2011

This training will target staff, management and Elected Members of Donegal County Council to increase their understanding and awareness of social inclusion.  The training was piloted in Lifford Headquarters in April 2011 and it is hoped to extend the training to the other public services centres in 2011 / 2012.  The training consists of 3 modules: 

      Staff who participated in the Social Inclusion Training receiving their certificates, May 2011

 

 

 

Plain and Simple Style Writing Guide

The Social Inclusion Unit has devised and developed a Plain and Simple Style Writing Guide aimed at improving the ways in which we communicate with our customers.   This toolkit provides practical tips and guidance on how to provide information in a clear and unambiguous way so that the customer is clear about the message being given. 

Unemployment Research

Research has recently been completed into the level, extent and impact of unemployment in the county.  This research was completed by the Research and Policy Unit on behalf of the Social Inclusion Unit and was presented at the keynote event of Social Inclusion Week 2010 entitled “Making the Future Happen…. Addressing the Unemployment Challenge in Donegal”.  The research has recently been published and contains both the research report and the seminar report.  These can be accessed by clicking on the links below: 

 

County Development Plan Review 

In 2010, the Social Inclusion Unit began to examine how we could improve our consultation processes and methods to ensure that the review process included the voices of the seldom heard.  We worked with the Central Planning Unit and the County Community Forum to devise a simple-to-use Submissions Template  to encourage individuals and groups to get involved in this important process.  This template is also available in a as gaeilge version.

As part of this process, a seminar entitled ‘Review of the County Development , Have Your Voice Heard’ was held in June 2010.  A copy of the seminar report can be downloaded by clicking here.        

   

Electoral Area Reports

The Social Inclusion Unit provides detailed activity reports to each sitting of the Electoral Area Meetings.  These reports are also submitted to the Senior Management Team meetings and are available for the following periods:

Social Inclusion Forum (SIF)

The Social Inclusion Forum (SIF) works within the Council to improve Council services to people from disadvantaged communities and to ensure that social inclusion is embedded in the policies and work practices of the Council.  This Forum is made up of at least one representative from each Council Directorate and a representative from the Citizens Information Service.  The Forum meets regularly and reports to the Senior Management Team.

Social Inclusion Posters

These posters contain simple information explaining what poverty and social exclusion are and colourful photographs of some of our target groups.  Contact the Social Inclusion Unit  to receive your poster which is available in both English and Irish versions.

Social Inclusion Handbook

The Social Inclusion Unit has devised a staff handbook to convey the importance of social inclusion, its relevance in the day-to-day workings of the Council and how our services impact on the lives of the people in our community.  Contact the Social Inclusion Unit  to receive your copy or click on the links below to download:

Planning for Inclusion, A Statistical & Mapping Toolkit 2009

This research, conducted by the Research & Policy Unit, determines the causes of Donegal’s high level of deprivation; the groups affected by poverty and deprivation; and the factors, which hinder the reduction of poverty in the county.

The research has been divided into two parts: The Statistical Report and The Mapping Toolkit.

Grapevine Articles

We use the internal staff magazine as a means of raising awareness of social inclusion and this is published 3-4 times every year.

Keeping Warm Initiative

Since 2008, the Social Inclusion Unit has worked in conjunction with the community and voluntary sector delivering a fuel-poverty campaign aimed at vulnerable households in Donegal.  This initiative took the form of an information pack containing tips and advice on keeping your home warm, room thermometer cards, CFL light bulbs and useful contact details for relevant agencies throughout the county.  In 2008 & 2009, this initiative was sponsored by the ESB.  Over 1,500 homes have benefitted from this initiative to date. 

In 2009, the initiative won an excellence in Local Government Award at Chambers Ireland’s 6th Annual Excellence in Local Government Awards.   

     

Cllr. Brendan Byrne accepts the Excellence in Local Government Awards

at the 6th Annual Chambers Ireland Awards

   

 

 

 

 

 2. Interagency Objectives

Coordinate and support the Donegal County Development Boards Social Inclusion Measures Group

The Social Inclusion Measures group (SIM) is a sub-structure of the County Development Board and aims to:  

The Social Inclusion Unit coordinates and supports this group by convening meetings, including minute taking and facilitating a workshop to agree an annual interagency work programme with priority actions for each participating agency.  These minutes take place 4-5 times each year and the minutes can be downloaded by clicking on the links below:

The Social Inclusion Unit also coordinates the submission of an update report to each meeting of the County Development Board using the agreed Access to Services Template. Copies on these reports are available by clicking on the following links. 

SIM Update to CDB March 2011

SIM Update to CDB June 2011

Coordinate and support the Donegal County Development Boards Interagency Group on Traveller Issues

The Social Inclusion Unit coordinates and supports the CDB Interagency Group on Traveller issues.  In 2010, the Social Inclusion Unit facilitated the review of the Donegal CDB Interagency Group on Traveller Issues Strategic Plan 2009-2011 which sets out proposals for co-ordinated delivery of services and supports to the Traveller community in Co. Donegal.   This review involved all participating agencies and refocused priorities actions taking into consideration the changing economic climate.  The Donegal CDB Interagency Group on Traveller Issues Strategic Plan 2010-2012 is reviewed on a continual basis at each meeting of this group.  Minutes of the 2011 meetings of this group are available below:

The group is currently working in key priority work areas:

The Social Inclusion Unit facilitates 4-5 meetings of this group annually and the minutes of these meetings can be downloaded here (insert link to 2011 minutes here). 

3.   Donegal County Development Board Peace and Reconciliation Partnership

Donegal County Council is the lead partner in the County Development Boards Peace and Reconciliation Partnership and has responsibility for the implementation of the Donegal Peace III Action Plan.  Phase I of this Plan ran for the period 2008 to 2011 and saw investment of €4.7 million to the county.  Phase II of the Plan will run from the 1st of July 2011 to the 31st of December 2013 and has successfully been awarded a further €4.5 million which will be delivered through a variety of mechanisms including a small grants scheme, public procurement and partner delivery.  

The Peace III Secretariat Team was set up under the remit of the Social Inclusion Unit in September 2008 to provide executive support to the Partnership.  In addition, Donegal County Council delivers four projects on behalf of the Partnership through the Social Inclusion Unit as follows:

4.  Donegal Youth Council