Southside Partnership

Having managed up to 14 Tús schemes annually since 2011 and provided valuable work experience opportunities to numerous participants we are keen to ensure that the structures currently in place nationally around this programme are used to best effect and that as many jobseekers as possible continue to benefit from this engagement opportunity. As such we have identified a number of areas which would help facilitate increased access to the programme for those most in need. This increased access will not only support additional individuals along their personal progression paths but will also ensure improved staff support to valuable community and voluntary organisations at a local level.

We are now looking for avenues to get these recommendations to those in decision -making roles and would appreciate any support available. Please feel free to forward these recommendations through whatever avenues you have available to you, in an effort to get them to the appropriate decision- makers for consideration.

A summary of the recommendations can be found below but for more detail please click here.

We thank you for your support.

Recommendations Summary:

1.      Reduce the Inter-Tús Placement qualification period from 3 years to 1 year.
2.      Extend employment contracts for participants identified as needing increased support to ensure their eventual progression.
3.      Increase access to the Tús programme for more jobseekers.
4.      Extend employment contracts for Tús participants aged 62 or over.
5.      Provide a basic training budget to facilitate suitable targeted training.

For further information please contact:

Finn McGuirk
Enterprise & Employment Programme Manager
Southside Partnership DLR clg
Phone: 01-706 0100
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14 women from 12 different countries participated in a Community Café style conversation with migrant women today, in the Samuel Becket Centre, Ballyogan. The purpose of the conversation was to explore migrant women’s experience of living in DLR. It was facilitated by CAN and hosted by Southside Partnership. It was a positive day; we had good conversations around the table about culture, language, employment and accommodation. The women were very interested in learning more about Irish culture, making new friends and finding employment. The conversation explored some of the difficulties and challenges faced by the women in integrating into Irish society; they include social exclusion, language barriers and cultural differences. They spoke about identity and belonging and shared that while some members of their families (husband/children) have settled into Irish life, many of the women themselves feel lonely and isolated. They shared their concerns about the future, their dreams about working and having secure accommodation, and were hopeful about the opportunities living in Ireland affords them. Towards the end of the conversation women spoke about wanting to meet more Irish people, to speak with them, to learn from them and share with them something of their own culture. For more information on our Women’s Integration Programme contact Marese Hegarty in Southside Partnership on 01-4421004

The awarding of certificates to participants on the Integrated Collaborative Practice Programme (ICPP) took place in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Hall on 8th September. The twelve participants on the programme each received a NUI Certificate in Community Education and Equality Studies Level 8 Certificate, which is the equivalent of 20 credit transfers to a BA in Community Studies.

Some of the outcomes achieved included: 
 - Building strategies for more effective integration of services;
 - An enhanced awareness of collaborative practice in community services and settings;
 - An understanding of the role of personal leadership, the values underpinning it and the contribution it makes to integrative services; and
 - Promoting a model of integrated practice that can be replicated elsewhere.

The invited speaker for the graduation ceremony was the Dun Laoghaire County Council Chief Executive, Philomena Poole. The programme was developed and sponsored jointly by the Drug & Alcohol Task Force and Southside Partnership DLR and delivered by Community Action Network (CAN) and Maynooth University. An evaluation report on the ICPP by Patricia Prendiville was launched at the ceremony. View the report here ICPP Report