A Community Vision For Achievement in Education

A Co-ordinated Approach

Some assumptions We define community as the geographical area and the people who live there

Community based organisations are accountable to the local community

Community based organisations only have a right to exist if they are fulfilling a purpose

Community based organisations (in broad terms) want to improve the quality of life for the

community

Community based organisations seek to articulate the needs of the local community and to

reflect this in ways that either increase access to or directly deliver quality services which meet

those needs

Community based organisations should therefore adopt an approach which utilises whatever

resources are available and contribute in a fitting manner to both operational and strategic

initiatives which seek to achieve those goals

Community based organisations (staff and management) work to professional standards. -

Continuing professional development is a key issue

www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/

Some factsWARD LGD PC N.IRELAND

Falls Belfast Belfast West N.I

Census 2001

% degree level or higher qualifications

3.9 19.2 8.3 15.8

% unemployed 10.1 5.4 7.8 4.1

% of unemployed, who were long-term unemployed

44.4 42.6 46.6 40.4

Administrative Data

% school leavers gained 5 or more GCSEs at grade C and above (2002)

23.5 50.1 43.0 58.6

% school leavers continued on into further and higher education (2002)

22.2 47.5 38.3 61.7

% of the post primary school population entitled to free school meals (2006)

63.5 30.1 40.7 18.9

www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/

Some Other Facts Falls electoral

ward area pop.5046

North of Ireland 582 electoral wards

Multiple Deprivation Measure 2nd

Income Domain 1st

Employment Domain 4th

Health Deprivation and Disability Domain 2nd

Education, Skills and Training Domain 5th

Proximity to Services Domain 582nd

NB. Greater Falls Neighbourhood Renewal Area covers 3 whole (Falls, Clonard, Beechmount) and 2 part electoral wards (Falls Park and Whiterock). Approximate population of the NRA is around 17,000

Physical Resources (Falls ward) Maureen Sheehan Centre (Albert Street Health Centre) Frank Gillen Centre Immaculata Boxing Club St Peters Immaculata Youth Club Roden Street Community Development Group Greater West Belfast Resource Centre Divis Community Centre

St Mary’s Primary St Peters Primary & Nursery St Josephs Primary Cathedral Nursery Proposed development at former St Comgalls (Falls Community Council) Westcourt Centre

NB. doesn’t include key and potential services nearby including Springvale, St Mary’s College, Twin Spires (Belfast Trust & Ortus), Conway Education Centre or Workforce Training Services or daycare services

www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/

Some factsWARD LGD PC N.IRELAND

Falls Belfast Belfast West N.I

Census 2001

% degree level or higher qualifications

3.9 19.2 8.3 15.8

% unemployed 10.1 5.4 7.8 4.1

% of unemployed, who were long-term unemployed

44.4 42.6 46.6 40.4

Administrative Data

% school leavers gained 5 or more GCSEs at grade C and above (2002)

23.5 50.1 43.0 58.6

% school leavers continued on into further and higher education (2002)

22.2 47.5 38.3 61.7

% of the post primary school population entitled to free school meals (2006)

63.5 30.1 40.7 18.9

Our Vision for Achievement

Improve the life chances of children and young people through increased educational attainment

Improve life chances of all children and young people through additional opportunities through non-academic routes and pathways

Develop a support structure and initiatives to achieve these goals and overcome barriers to advancement

Influences on a child/ young person’s life (current & potential, negative & positive)

Schools

Family Peers

Health & Social CareSports/Cultural clubs

Youth projects & services

Community Organisations

Other people

Education projects & services

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Co-ordination Development of a common vision

Information sharing through and between all educationalists

Partnership approach and inter-agency co-operation

Sharing of resources

Sharing of skills and knowledge

Developing a common professional approach

No duplication of services

Some Ideas & Challenges Increased usage of community and school sites and exchange of staff for

specific purpose throughout the year

Joint training and programmes of work on specific issues and themes e.g.. Family support, drug/ alcohol abuse , suicide awareness……….

Information on environment facing ‘formal’ educational practitioners to community

Information on community environment to ‘formal’ education practitioners

Joint programming in and between school and community sites eg. Study support, essential skills support, counselling initiatives, health programmes, parent and family support initiatives

An ‘education’ group for the neighbourhood partnership area

Exploration of area wide ‘education’ bids for resources