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Ulster-Scots Agency’s Community Workers Scheme
The Ulster-Scots Agency has recently issued letters of offer to ten community groups throughout Northern Ireland for £130,000 under the Community Workers Scheme. The Scheme, which commenced in 2010, provides funding to groups delivering a range of Ulster-Scots activities to enable them employ a part time community worker to provide administration support.
The groups are required to develop an annual action plan and organise a range of Ulster-Scots activities focusing upon the Ulster-Scots Agency’s core community activities of music and dance tuition, festivals and summer schools. These activities can also be supplemented by other events or projects focusing on Ulster-Scots culture, heritage and language.
Derek Reaney, Development Officer in the West will manage the programme on behalf of the Ulster-Scots Agency during 2012. The Community Worker Scheme has made a big impact upon the community groups who have received the funding over the last two years. The groups are required to provide a detailed action plan setting out clear targets for their project.
The community workers can play a vital role in improving the quality of applications, and in particular claims to the Ulster-Scots Agency for our various programmes. This Scheme is in response to the Ulster-Scots communities concern about increased bureaucracy. The Agency requires various information to verify the requirement for the investment of public money in projects and also to verify actual spend, these requirements are unavoidable. However the provision of community workers can provide an invaluable service to community groups, assisting them to address the Agency’s administrative requirements, whilst improving communications and outreach opportunities.
In 2012 the following ten groups have been awarded funding to employ a part-time administrative community worker under the Community Workers Scheme.
Ulster-Scots Development Trust is based at Massereene House, Bridge Street, Antrim. The group joined the scheme in 2010 and employ John McVeigh to provide support to groups in South Antrim Ulster-Scots Network. In 2012 the groups plan to provide support to a number of Burns nights, provide administrative support to a minimum of 7 music tuition projects, deliver a communications strategy including e-news, Facebook and develop a website. The Trust will also assist in the delivery of summer schools, festivals and Ulster-Scots community projects in the South Antrim area.
Schomberg Society in Kilkeel joined the Scheme in 2010 and employ Sandra Burns as their community worker. In 2012 the group has plans to support highland dancing tuition (including a dance competition), support the delivery of a number of community events, the annual Ulster-Scots Festival in Kilkeel and summer schools. Administrative support is also provided to the Thistle Club and the Schomberg Fife and Drum group in addition to assisting with the day to day management of Rievers House in Kilkeel.
Coleraine Ulster-Scots Regeneration Group joined the Scheme in 2011 and Joanne Honeyford is their community worker based in Coleraine Ulster-Scots Resource Centre. In 2012 the group plan to organise a number of exhibitions in the Resource Centre, organise the annual Coleraine Twelfth Festival, provide administrative support to 12 music and dance tuition projects, organise a summer school and a Saturday club for children in addition to managing the Ulster-Scots Resource Centre.
Bready and District Ulster-Scots Group joined the scheme in 2010 and Mandy Kee is their community worker based in the Sollus Centre in the village of Bready near Strabane. In 2012 the group has various plans including developing Highland Dance in Bready, Artigarvan and Newbuildings, promoting the work of West Ulster Total Dance group and organising an annual Dance Competition. In addition to this, Mandy will provide administrative support to local summer schools, offer a signposting service to local groups and organise a number of Ulster-Scots community events. The group also runs an Ulster-Scots social economy project which also operates from the Sollus Centre, Bready.
Derry and Raphoe Action Group is based in Newtownstewart and joined the scheme in 2010. Irene Spratt is the community worker providing support to Ulster-Scots groups in the West Tyrone Ulster-Scots Forum. In 2012 the group will offer administrative support to 12 music and dance projects, up to four summer schools and two festivals. The group will also organise a number of networking events and provide support to Ulster-Scots community projects.
Cairncastle L.O.L 692 Community and Cultural Group is based in Cairncastle Orange Hall and joined the scheme in 2010 with Adrian Rolston appointed as community worker. In 2012 he will provide administrative support to the annual Cairncastle Ulster-Scots Festival, organise a number of Ulster-Scots community events and offer administrative support to tuition projects.
Fermanagh Ulster-Scots Empowerment (FUSE) joined the scheme in 2011 and is based in Lisnaskea. The group has plans for an Ulster-Scots poetry competition in primary schools in County Fermanagh, two Ulster-Scots summer schools, exploring the Ulster-Scots built heritage of County Fermanagh. Administrative support will also be provided to music and dance tuition projects in the County, they will implement a communications strategy (including a newsletter, Facebook page and develop a website). The group also plan to organise a number of Ulster-Scots community events.
East Belfast Titanic Festival Groups joined the scheme in 2010 and its community worker is John Stevenson. In 2012 the group plan to organise a number of events around the centenary of the Titanic, a community festival, host a number of seminars and Ulster-Scots community events. The project will offer administrative support to the delivery of 2 summer schools in east Belfast and they plan to deliver an Ulster-Scots community radio station during summer 2012.
Ballycarry Community Association joined the scheme in 2010 and is based in the Ballycarry Community Centre. Kayrn Brown is the community worker for the group and during 2012 she will organise a number of Ulster-Scots community events, support the delivery of highland dancing tuition and support the delivery of their annual festival; The Broadisland Gathering. The group also plan a number of talks and exhibitions on the Weaver poets during the year.
Loughinsholin Cultural Music Group is based in the south Londonderry area and joined the scheme in 2011 with Emma Forde employed as its community worker. In 2012 the group plan to provide support for the delivery of up to 3 festivals in the south Londonderry area, a summer school, 16 music and dance tuition projects and a number of Ulster-Scots community events.
Derek Reaney said “I look forward to working with all these groups over the next 12 months. These projects will offer support to a wide range of Ulster-Scots activities within the community. The groups and their workers are required to implement a comprehensive action plan suited to their specific needs and to the level of support offered by the Ulster-Scots Agency. This Scheme can assist in taking some of the administrative pressure off voluntary committees and enable the respective groups to explore new and innovative ideas in promoting Ulster-Scots culture, heritage and language”.
For further information email reaneyd@ulsterscotsagency.org.uk.