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Minister for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien, today (Tuesday 30 May) officially launched the Clare Traveller CDP Strategic Plan, 2023 - 2026.
Clare Traveller Community Development Programme (CDP) aims to improve living conditions, opportunities and achievement of human rights for Travellers in Clare. This will be pursued through establishing and strengthening local alliances and, most importantly, through building effective Traveller leadership and a strong Traveller voice.
The strategy highlights the very strong conviction that much needed and urgent change for Travellers in Clare will come about only if Travellers themselves are at the centre of that change. This strategy will guide the implementation of changes and improvements to the living conditions and life opportunities available to members of the Travelling community throughout County Clare over the next number of years.
Speaking at the launch Minister O’Brien said:
“I am delighted to visit Clare and to launch your Strategic Plan. Community development is all about supporting and empowering communities to face current and future challenges. This is evident in abundance in the plan.
“Having read the Strategic Plan, I welcome how clear the Plan is about the size of the challenge, and the very serious issues facing members of the Traveller community: in housing, living conditions, access to education and employment, the lived everyday experience of discrimination and unfortunately – the grave reality of the unacceptable levels of mental health issues affecting the Travelling community.
“I am confident that you will in time achieve the goals set out in this plan; that is; establishing and strengthening local alliances, building effective Traveller leadership and most importantly giving Traveller’s in Clare that voice; the voice to help make those important decisions that affect their lives and the lives of their community.”
Clare CDP was one of the projects selected for the Community Development Pilot Programme launched in June 2021. This programme has given Clare Traveller CDP flexibility to develop community development responses to a range of social and environmental concerns and facilitate an empowering collaborative approach to building relationships between marginalised groups and main stream services.
Minister O’Brien concluded:
“I’d like to commend Clare Traveller CDP, who are in their second year of the programme, for their hard work and commitment to date. True community development is trusting communities to develop their own solutions and pathways. The evidence is here, you are making a real difference to the lives of the Travelling communities you have supported since the start of this programme."
The Minister met with various groups in attendance at the launch; members of the Steering Group, members of the Travelling community and the Primary Healthcare Team before leaving the event.
The Community Development Pilot Programme (CDP) aims to trial community led interventions that address poverty, social exclusion and inequality and promote human rights.
The programme was launched on 4th March 2021 and seven projects were successful. To date, funding of €125,000 has been allocated to each of the 7 CDPs for Year 1 and Year 2.
An independent evaluator, Values Lab was chosen to evaluate the 3 year pilot programme. Value Lab’s first progress report was presented in February 2023 and shows that the projects are showing promise and developing. The second progress report is scheduled to be completed by the end of July 2023. The final Programme Evaluation Report will capture the experience, learning and impact of the Programme, with particular reference to the community work underpinning the programme.
Continuation of the Programme or expansion beyond the three years will be dependent on the evaluation of the Programme and on availability of funds.
Clare Traveller Community Development Project (CDP) was one of seven pilot projects supported under the Department of Rural and Community Development’s “Pilot Community Development Programme”. The application was made in 2021 on behalf of four organisations in Clare: Clare Local Development Company, Clare Women’s Network, Clare Public Participation Network and the HSE’s Mid-West Traveller Health Unit. It was endorsed by a number of other community and voluntary organisations around the county.
Clare Traveller CDP Vision Statement:
“Our aim is to improve living conditions, opportunities and achievement of human rights for Travellers in Clare. This will be pursued through establishing and strengthening local alliances and, most importantly, through building effective Traveller leadership and a strong Traveller voice“
All programmes and actions in the strategy were informed by the very strong conviction that much needed and urgent change for Travellers in Clare will come about only if Travellers themselves are at the centre of that change.
The plan will guide Clare Traveller CDP in working towards change and the improvement of living conditions and life opportunities for members of the Traveller community by:
1. Building and supporting self-determination within the Traveller community
2. Bringing forward solutions, and demonstrating how these solutions can benefit everyone
3. Making alliances and building understanding with relevant groups and initiatives in the settled community
4. Working continuously to build awareness and commitment around the causes of social problems and challenges we face in our community, while at the same time continuing with the work that is very necessary in dealing with the consequences on a day-to-day basis
Programmes and actions will be informed by the four key principles as outlined above.