Community Development -

Older People

The work of the Community Development Unit with Older People focuses on drawing on the experience and strength of older people and thus facilitates them to develop themselves.
Community Development staff aim to promote the social inclusion of older people through pre-development work, capacity building and peer support. Cork Seniors Together is a network of older people's groups, which is facilitated by the Partnership and aims to create a central point whereby older people can share information, lobby for change and socialise.

Family Carers

"The freedom and choice that other families or couples take for granted are denied to you. Your patients needs seem to take over your life. Our lives are always restricted in one way or another. You feel so drained and tired because of the constant demands on you"
Staff of the Community Development Unit aim to increase awareness of the concerns of family carers in Cork City. They engage in pre-development work at local level. They support the Cork Family Carers Forum, which helps to build the capacity of Family Carers and lobbies for change.

Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Community

The Combat Poverty Agency report "Poverty: Lesbians and Gay Men - The Economic and Social Effects of Discrimination", demonstrates that many gay men and lesbians experience severe discrimination and prejudice in every aspect of their lives.
Community Development staff aim to acquire a greater insight into the L/G/B community needs in Cork City. They assist in the development of the L/G/B community in Cork City. They support linkages between L/G/B groups/organisations to broader community initiatives and agencies in the City. They help to develop and consolidate support services for the well-being of L/G/B people. They support structures to allow L/G/B groups/organisations to develop actions to meet their own needs through the L/G/B interagency steering group which is the only group of its kind in the country.

Disadvantaged Women

Severe discrimination continues to be experienced by specific groups of women, including lone parents, minority ethnic women, women with disabilities, lesbians and homeless women.
The Community Development Unit focuses on the development needs of the most disadvantaged women. They actively support self-directed women's groups operating in Cork. They expand the capacity of disadvantaged women as local community leaders, particularly in areas where women's participation is low. The recently FETAC accredited Influencing Decision-Making course offered by the Partnership offers women the opportunity to gain the skills needed to be participate more actively.

Traveller Development

Community Development Unit staff aim to resource the Traveller Community to facilitate their participation in their own development and promote social inclusion.
Staff of the Community Development Unit aim to increase awareness of the concerns of the Traveller Community in Cork city. Staff participate in the Cork City Traveller Inter - Agency Steering Group, the Cork City and County Traveller Cultural Awareness Training Steering Group and facilitates the Traveller Youth Needs Working Group. The Traveller Youth Needs Working Group is one of the sub groups of the Cork City Traveller Integrated Plan.

Immigrants

The work of the Community Development Unit with Immigrants focuses on supporting the participation of and integration of Immigrants in Cork City.
Pre-development and capacity building support is provided to new emerging immigrant led groups. Examples of this type of support include information on networking, training, accessing funding and group formation. Community Development Unit staff participates in and supports the work of The Cork Integration Forum. They also support the monitoring and implementation of 'Connecting Communities - The Cork City Integration Strategy (CCIS) 2008 - 2011.' Community Development Unit staff aim to increase the information available to immigrants and increase awareness of immigrant issues among the wider community in Cork City.

Cork City Integration Strategy - Connecting Communities