Journeys

Today key threats continue to impact the life chances of many young people in N Ireland & Border Counties. The fragility of the peace process has increased, as paramilitarism remains a threat & tensions continue (Nolan, 2014). Increasingly triggers such as, flags, emblems, parades, protests, heighten community tension & anti-social behaviour (CC&G GR Strategy 2014/17) & there are ongoing legacy issues in border counties (Cavan P&R Action Plan, 2011/13). Coupled with high unemployment of 18-24 year olds 15% (DfE, 2016) and 17% in border region (CSO QNHS data, 2016); this creates a lethal cocktail for young people in highly deprived target areas. Through uniting diverse organisations & young people across communities, key partners Springboard, Roe Valley Residents Association & Cavan Monaghan ETB with locally rooted associate partners from Belfast, Limavady & Cavan/Monaghan, aim to deliver Journeys, an innovative cross-community/cross-border initiative. Between 2017-2021 the programme will work with 1016 young people aged 14-24 years, who are disadvantaged, excluded or marginalised, have deep social and emotional needs, & are at risk of becoming involved in anti-social behaviour, violence or dissident activity. Partners will ensure programme interventions are responsive to need & contribute to defined outputs of 1016 completing approved programmes that develop soft skills & respect for diversity: Ignite & DEFINE: working up to 7 months with 424 14-17 year olds, targets a younger age group ‘in transition’ to adulthood & open to generational/contextual influences & at-risk of anti-social behaviour. Gamechanger & DEFINE: working up to 7 months with 184 young people, including looked after children, have high emotional/social needs, vulnerable to manipulation & negative influences. Gener8: a 7-month youth-led programme & Options a 6-month programme, working with 200 young people at risk of isolation due to social & emotional issues & at risk/actively involved in legacy issues, including those impacted by trans-generational trauma. Fusion: a 7-month prog, with 104 young people from marching community & Xceler8: a 6-month programme working with 104 young people with potential leadership capacity. Journeys will also contribute to outputs of 1016 young people completing baseline assessments/individual development plans, 70% of 664 attaining an OCN Level II qualification & 80% completing Journeys. Focusing on outcome areas of personal development, good relations & citizenship each programme will offer responsive ‘tools for change’, leading to 70% increase in personal & social capabilities & increased wellbeing, increased engagement & appreciation of people of diverse backgrounds/circumstance & greater understanding of citizenship and ability to engage positively with family, community & society. Critically the programme will contribute to specific results of the programme, as Journeys aims to a 10% increase of 16 year olds who; socialise/play sport with people from a different religious community; who think relations between Protestants & Catholics are better than they were in five years ago; think relations between Protestants and Catholics will be better in five years’ time. Embedded is programme principles, a person-centred ethos, participants experiences/needs/interest and culture of co-design; Journeys will offer responsive, varied tools for change including issue based workshops on outcome areas; themed workshops eg music/symbolism reflected in Easter Rising/Somme, speakers & masterclasses, adventure learning to establish/reinforce group dynamic, Pay it Forward showcase to share learning, accredited qualifications & service activity to provide bonding opportunities. Activities will bring about positive change across outcome areas, with programmes over 6-7 months & between 3-4 days/week; venue choices will also accelerate pace of change as participants expand their comfort zone. Programmes will be led by experienced & qualified staff & accomplished organisations eg average retention rate of 82%. Journeys will also have a meaningful, ongoing & change focused contact between young people cross border, with shared activities eg Journeys Camp; marching bands workshops, peer-led good relations sessions, all underpinned by a proven pedagogical good relations approach. Aligned to the prevailing strategic policy & context, Journeys’ additionally is reflected in the entirety of its approach. The collective assets of the partnership, design of tailored responses & delivery of cross-cutting activities to reinforce learning & underpin a sense of belonging & interdependence, bring opportunities for significant impacts that can be synergised into communities. Journeys also has high complementarity as need/demand exceeds current provision. This is echoed by local associate partners, who see the initiative as needed & complementary to existing provision. Selected through a robust options analysis, Journeys also maximises partner experience of previous projects. The partnership led by Springboard, have a demonstrable record of leading large-scale programmes, are supported by sound management arrangements with a sharp focus on youthwork’ & emphasis on design/delivery across the partnership to successfully achieve co-designed, outcome-focused & change- driven programmes. Governance processes are key, led by the Project Board, supported by Stakeholder Forum (associate partners) & Youth Advisory Group, representing the interests of young people. Provision will be monitored to improve, assess and evaluate provision as well as to review implementation processes; and is committed to achieving horizontal principles. Durability and long term impacts will be reinforced through for eg sustaining trusting relationships with participants, active dissemination & communication strategy and through accrual of personal, social & cultural benefits leaving a legacy in communities.

The four year cross-border Journey’s project was designed to give its young beneficiaries life-changing experiences by meeting new people from a range of different backgrounds and exploring diversity in a safe and supportive environment. Throughout the challenges of COVID-19, the programme used creative and innovative ways to engage young people online. For many young people this helped to structure their day, gave them access to much needed support and helped to combat the loneliness and isolation they were experiencing. By the end of the project: ▸ 94% were happy with their confidence, ▸ 96% found it easy to respect someone from a difficult background, ▸ 91% were happy to work as part of a team, solve problems with friends/family/community, ▸ 81% progressed on to further education, employment or training, ▸ 96% said that it made a major positive impact on their life. The project was delivered by Springboard Opportunities Limited alongside Roe Valley Residents Association and Cavan/Monaghan Education & Training Board.