Projects, Research & Useful Publications
Building on the success of previous years, the Unit aims to mainstream social inclusion principles within the policies, practices and procedures of the local authority. Some projects the social inclusion unit are coordinating include:
Projects
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| Enlisting Assistance regarding Census of Population 2011 |
General Information
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| Integration Fund 2011 | The Office of the Minister for Integration has allocated funding to the Social Inclusion Unit of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council under the Integration Fund. This funding will be made available, by way of small grants, to groups to carry out activities and projects designed primarily to promote the Integration Fund 2011 (pdf - 406kb)
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New Programme to Promote Civic Participation of Third Country Nationals |
28 Jan 2011 New Communities Partnership launches new programme to promote civic participation of third county nationals. Dublin has become increasingly diverse and multicultural as new immigrants arrive and contribute to its growth a in variety of ways. As key actors in supporting immigrants to integrate into new societies, the four Dublin local authorities have come together to facilitate the local integration of new communities. Led by New Communities Partnership & Dublin Employment Pact, the Dublin City Council, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council and South Dublin County Council will deliver a series of project actions and activities over the next three years aimed at supporting Third Country Nationals to become fully productive citizens of the society in which they live while charting the pathway towards upward progression for their families and future generations. Specifically, the project will achieve the following elements
For further information contact Project Co-ordinator Dominika Topolska E mail dominika@newcommunities.ie Tel 01 6713639
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2010: the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion
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The 2010 Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, aims to make ‘a decisive impact on the eradication of poverty’. The European Union is one of the richest areas in the world, but still 17% of EU citizens have such limited resources that they cannot afford the basics. Poverty is often associated with developing countries, where a lack of food and clean water can often be a daily challenge. Europe is also affected by poverty and social exclusion. It may not be as severe, but is nonetheless unacceptable. Poverty and exclusion of one individual amounts to the poverty of society as a whole. Europe can only be strong if each individual’s potential is realised. There is no miracle solution to put an end to poverty and social exclusion. However, it is now time to renew our commitment to solidarity, social justice and greater inclusion. |
DLR ethnic minority integration forum, 2010
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The dlr Social Inclusion Unit, in partnership with The New Communities Partnership (NCP) and supported by Southside Partnership established an integration forum in the County. NCP initiatives have primary focus of addressing inequalities and facilitating participation and integration of new communities living in the county. This project brings together New Communities’ leaders and local authorities and other agencies and can be used a platform for discussions on social inclusion and involvement of all stakeholders in integration. It was launched on 19th October 2010 by Minister Mary White, TD. |
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Design & dissemination of An Garda Síochána’s Getwise Manual, 2010
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In December 2009 the Office of the Minister for Integration gave approval for three projects to be undertaken by the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council’s Social Inclusion Unit. One of these projects was the development of An Garda Síochána’s Getwise Training Manual. The development of An Garda Síochána’s Getwise Training Manual is an action within the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Board’s Anti-Racism and Diversity Plan (2007-2010). The Social Inclusion Unit is named as a support partner for this action. The Getwise programme is a local outreach initiative that aims to improve relationships between An Garda Síochána and the local community. This project will be launched in January 2011 |
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Social Inclusion Week 2010 Discovery Gospel Choir at Social Inclusion Week 
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Social Inclusion Week 2010 took place between 16th - 23rd October 2010. Social Inclusion Week is a celebration of the County in which we live. It is an opportunity for groups and organisations to showcase the excellent work undertaken and how quality of life for all residents of the County is improved. Please visit www.dlrcdb.ie/siu_week_2010.htm - a dedicated page to the 2010 SI Week
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Multi-Cultural Young People Awards (MYPA) Closing Date: |
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AIM of MYPA AWARD: Supported by the dlr Social Inclusion Unit
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2010 Photograph Competition
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The Social Inclusion Unit and DLR Volunteer Centre ran a photo competition to celebrate the European Year of the Volunteer (2011). The photographs were displayed during Social Inclusion Week 2010 and the winning photos will appear in the 2011 Social Inclusion Calendar.. Visit: DLR Photograph Competition (PDF - 97.18kb) for more information.
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Website Translation Project 2010 Closing Date: August 2010
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In an innovative project aimed at helping newly arrived people from overseas settle in the County, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council Social Inclusion Unit, funded by the Minister for Integration, has launched an initiative where local service providers and small businesses can apply for a grant which will contribute 75% of the cost of translating their websites into the 5 most frequently used foreign languages in the County. The languages shall include French, Spanish and Polish, as well as Russian and Chinese. For the 18,000 foreign nationals living in the County, this project will make it easier for them to access a wide range of public services and products which are a feature of everyday life. The project is part of a wide-ranging anti-racism and diversity strategy (www.dlrard.ie), which is currently being implemented by the Council’s Social Inclusion Unit and its partners in an effort to promote integration. The translation service will be delivered and made available through the DLR County Enterprise Board and interested organizations’ and small businesses should contact them at info@dlrceb.ie or 4948400 for detailed information.
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Festival of World Cultures Expressions of Compassion at the Faith Space: 23-25 July 2010 |
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Over the weekend Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th July 2010, the dlr Festival of World Cultures hosted an open FAITH SPACE for people and groups to communicate and share their practices and creative expressions about the value of 'Compassion'. This project is part-funded by the dlr Social Inclusion Unit.
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World Refugee Day Barry Andrews, TD, with Logan Raju, Pierrot Ngadi and Jim Devine 
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World Refugee Day 2010 was celebrated on 21 June, The evening was filled with music, dancing and song by the DúnLaoghaire Refugee Project and the Congolese Anti-Poverty Network and also saw the launch of ‘Opened Doors: Transition to the Future’. This report, launched by Barry Andrews, TD, documents the challenges and difficulties faced by former separated children seeking asylum and those who turned 18 who have been granted refugee or leave to remain status in Ireland. This celebration was underpinned by an exhibition of both an informational and artistic nature including displays of indigenous crafts and artwork, and projects undertaken by young asylum seekers and local groups working to support them. See a copy of the report at:
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Moving Forward Together: An Anti-Racism and Diversity (ARD) Plan for the County of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown 2007 – 2010
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This action was included in the County Development Board’s “Strategic Action Implementation Plan 2006 – 2008”, with County Council’s Community & Enterprise Department being the lead agency. Following a service mapping exercise and consultation with minority ethnic groups the plan was launched in August 2007. The purpose of the local ARD Plan is to promote a more inclusive and inter-cultural society by improving access to services and developing and enhancing participation by ethnic minorities in the social, economic, cultural, and community life in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, and further afield. Visit: www.dlrard.ie for more information
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Social Inclusion Week 2009
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Social Inclusion Week 2009 was a tremendous success. There were over 60 different organisations and community groups highlighting the great work that they are doing to eliminate disadvantage and improve the quality of life for all residents of the county Please visit 2009 Social Inclusion Week brochure: Please see 2009 brochure
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Voter Workshop for People with Intellectual Disability, May 2009
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The Social Inclusion Unit, in partnership with Carmona Services, St John of God's, ran a Voter Participation Session on Friday 8th May. This workshop, held in County Hall, worked with people with intellectual disability encouraging them to participate in the Local Elections in June 2009. |
Voter Mobilisation Campaign, March 2009 Funded by Office of Minister for Integration
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The purpose of this campaign was to mobilise migrant voters to register and vote in the Local and European (where eligible) elections in June 2009. This campaign had three strands: Production of Educational Booklet; Advertising Campaign and Voter Participation Mock Sessions. This campaign was also an educational tool for the traditional residents of the County. Residents were informed through the wide distribution of information that non-Irish and non-English residents were entitled to participate in society through Local Elections and should be encouraged to do so.
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Show Racism the Red Card Funded by Office of Minister for Integration
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The purpose of this campaign was to promote the integration of ethnic minorities into the community by developing programmes and promoting anti-racism education. This was through education packs, outreach to schools and outreach to youth services. |
Information Fair for people with Disabilities, |
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An Information fair for people with disabilities, their families, guardians, carers and friends was organised by The Social Inclusion unit and Southside Partnership and supported by the Community & Voluntary Forum, RAPID, The Sports Partnership, DLRCC and the Community Platform. This event was organised as part of the County Development Board Action 'Promote training and support for communities, groups and agencies in disability awareness’.
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Aperture Photograph Competition
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The Social Inclusion Unit, with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown’s Library Service, coordinated the Aperture Photograph Competition. This competition asked people to take photographs in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, of anything that represent social inclusion and diversity. This could mean capturing people going about their daily business - images of the 'every day' which, demonstrates how social inclusion is alive and well within the local community. Or this could mean challenging the notion of inclusion, and using a photograph to question how inclusive a society we really are. As 2008 was the EU Year for Intercultural Dialogue, a special prize was on offer for the photograph which best captures a good example of 'intercultural dialogue'. http://www.flickr.com/photos/dlrlibraries/sets/72157609257690184/
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Profile of Vulnerable Groups |
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A profile of Vulnerable Groups was commissioned by the Social Inclusion Unit to improve the understanding of groups experiencing or at risk of social exclusion in the County. This was done using a hybrid of Census data; administrative data and spatial data. This profile was of significant value to the local authority, and other service providers, by enhancing their understanding of their customer base and helping them deliver a quality customer service to members of vulnerable groups. |
Research and Useful Publications
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Research on the needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Young people living in the County of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, On-going |
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Social Inclusion programme can be defined as a series of positive actions to achieve equality of access to goods and services, to assist all individuals participate in their community and society, to encourage the contribution of all persons to social and cultural life and to be aware of, and to challenge all forms of discrimination. To address this, DLR Social Inclusion Unit have commissioned a study to examine the needs of LGBT young people living in the County of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. This report will provide an understanding of the young LGBT community living in the County. It will examine the link between social exclusion and the young LGBT community and will guide the development of inclusive policies and practices for young LGBT people in local organisations and services.
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Disability Service Mapping |
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In 2007 Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Board was requested by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government to adopt disability as a key theme and to engage actively in promoting co-ordination between the relevant service providers in their area with regard to services for persons with a disability. In response to this the Board decided to conduct a Disability Service Mapping exercise in the County. The aim of this study is to attain the nature and degree of disability service provision provided by local organisations and service providers in the County. Report on Disability Services Research Project 2009 - 2010 (Pdf - 708kb)
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Evaluation of Anti-Racism and Diversity Plan Complete |
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With the current plan coming to an end, it is now timely to undertake an evaluation of the overall implementation and effectiveness of our ARD plan. This evaluation, taking place from December 2009 – January 2010, will examine the overall effectiveness of the ARD plan with particular regard to:
This report will be available during Social Inclusion Week.
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Steps towards the development of a Children’s Services Committee in the County of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown August 2010 |
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The National Children’s Strategy, Our Children — Their Lives, was published in November 2000 after extensive consultation with parents and groups working with children, as well as with children themselves. The strategy is a 10-year plan of action, which calls on the statutory agencies, the voluntary sector and local communities to work to improve the quality of all children’s lives. As part of the monitoring process of the implementation of the National Children’s Strategy, each County Development Board has been asked to establish a multi-agency Children’s Services Committee. In order to further the establishment of the local Children’s Services Committee and develop Terms of Reference and focused objectives, there was an urgent need to examine all literature and research pertinent to the needs of children in the County of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. Steps towards the development of a Children's Services Committee in the County of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown (PDF - 1.19MB)
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Opened Doors: Transition to the Future’,
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Opened Doors Report - June 2010 (PDF - 1.02MB) |
Conversation on Disability, March 2010
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A ‘conversation on disability’ was held on 25th March in the Stillorgan Park Hotel to support the mapping exercise above. Organised by the Social Inclusion Unit it aimed to help the Council’s thinking and planning in general, as well as gather useful views about the planned directory of services for people with disabilities. The organisers hoped that participants would contribute their experience, ideas and suggestions for improvements and practical actions. They also wished to provide an opportunity for people to meet and network with each other. Twenty-four people participated, including people with disabilities, advocates, service providers, and a number of County Council staff. Please see report attached - Stillorgan Park Hotel Conversation on Disability
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Anti-Racism and Diversity Plan, 2007 – 2010 |
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Please get your copy of the ARD plan at: http://www.dlrard.ie/userfiles/PDF/ARD-English.pdf
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How to make a submission - Better Services for Travellers |
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The ‘ Step by Step Guide to Making a Submission ’ (pdf - 769kb) and the ‘ Fridge Magnet ’ , both produced as SIM actions from the Better Services for Travellers plan took place during the Aontas Adult Learners Festival on 26th February 2010. The dvd, that supports the booklet on how to make a submission is available from: www.southsidetravellers.ie
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European Anti-Poverty Network: featuring the dlr Social Inclusion Unit |
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The publication includes a broad range of articles and submissions from a variety of local, national and European stakeholders on the 2010 Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. There is a feature on the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Social Inclusion Unit. http://www.eapn.ie/eapn/eapn-ireland-review-2010-its-time-to-end-poverty
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Voter Mobilisation Campaign 2009 |
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The purpose of this campaign was to mobilise migrant voters to register and vote in the Local and European (where eligible) elections in June 2009. Please see the booklet - Voter Mobilisation Campaign 2009 - (PDF - 1.77MB)
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