V
Welcome poge
lntroduction
1
\i/hy Volunteering?
3
Northem lrelond os a host country
4
While you're here
6
Additionol Informotion
24
Hi! Welcome to the newest (ond in our opinion, most complete, honest ond lriend[y) guide to Nofthem lrelond, creoted specificoLiy for intemotionol volunteers, by intemotionol volunteers.
Whct rnokes this hondbook so speciol?
So, reod on ond sove this book os o reference for
sll of your volunteering doys jn
Northem lreiond. We beLieve you'll come to love the people ond iife of Ulster
just
Like eoch
of us hove!
Good iuck ond hope to see you soonl
The informotion wos reseqrched, compiled ond onolysed by intemotionol volunteers living in Northem lrelqnd. Much of this jnloimotion hos been possed
down verboLly through "generotions" of volunteers. Howeve4 becouse eoch of us usuolly only plon to mol<e Northem lrelond our home for o period of 3-12 months, tjme is impotont ond hoving oll the informotion BEFORE orriving con sove o lot of seorching, confusion ond even embcryqssmentl We reolise thot some people reoding this booklet probobly ore not completely sold on the ideo of volunteeúng in Northem lreLond yet, so we hope thot this helps to convince you thot this is the ploce to be. Consider us to be the "unofficioL" officiol informotion guide to help the future
volunteers coming to Northem lrelond. We oim to provide you with knowledge obout the country volunteering oppodunities, customs, people, doily tife cnd of course the "troubles" - which ore olwoys ossocioted with this ploce, but often sugor cooted by toulist orgonisotions.
We reolly hope thot this guide wi[[ help you, os on internotionol volunteeü to beter understond some issues you were unceftoin obout ond to occustom you with Northem lrelond before leqünq your own country This booklet is mode to help you - ond get you excited obout coming to Northem lrelond, o country which populotion is over 1.7 mi[[ion. Thot is why we
shore mony of our experiences deoling with culture, people, conflict, tronspoftotion, the pub scene qnd the thoughts of mcny different voLunteers on impoftont issues to them. There is so much thot we could possibly include in our limited spoce ond some infomotion moy chonge without notice. To heLp you hove the mosl updqted informotion, we hove included phone numbers whenever possible ond recommend thqt you use them, but if colling from your home country you will need to diol 00 44 28 before the number Beor olso jn mind the foct thqt olL the volunteers involved in preporing this informotion pock hcve been Belfost bqsed, therefore most of the informotion is on Belfost ond its surroundings.
"l
thfuk BelJast ís a very- specíuL plocc to come as o volunlccr bec(rlrse o.f the confli.ct of reLigion and lhe opportLtnit¡es created by ¡t. It is sfrange hov¡ I need tr:¡ ch(mge my r)a! of thitlk¡n.g in order to undersfand the wtq d thínking here. If tou don.1, ¡t ¡s impossibLe to understand the l.ives of the people wh.o dre |rcrc an(l th.e¡r ideas for the futtte. I ttas shocked at first becatLse of the differcnces of buildilgs and the land in Belfast and v;herc I t'ome fhnn, but alter livíng here.for tt. week, I begtut fo nofice morc üround ne, rctrlisirtg that this is a un tun.az.ing place,.just different.front home. There is so much life ín Northern lrelsnd, bLÍ we neetl. to look belr.¡v, the su¡fuce in order fo try- fo see ¿tn.¿ undersfttntl c¡tt, of it."
(Helin, Austlia)
WHY VOLUNTEERING? There ore hundreds of reqsons to become o volunteer in o foreign country: helping locol communities, getting to know onother trqdition snd cullure, goining procticol experiences, leoming o longuoge - they oll result in the most impoftont one: self-development!
will hove (unofficiol) rights which will include being given the knowledge, equipment ond suppoft to corD/ out your volunteering plocement, to be free from discriminotion of roce, gender, sexuoliqr, disobitity ond to goin self development. As o volunteer, you
Dont forget, howeve4 thqt you will olso hove (unofficiol) responsibilities cs o volunteer which will jnclude to be octively committed to your volunteering piocement, to be honest qnd to keep your project infomed, to otGnd troining ond suppoft sessions qnd to respect confidentiolity. The most importont responsibility of oll, however, is to enjoy yourself ond moke the most ol your experiences in ond out of work!
"l
t lr¡Í ol othet roluuf eers.fiour dll. o\'(r llrc \t'orld dltd úll ol lhc¡¡¡ urt r'¿/r', r'¿t'r' nit:e. \Ye ut" going ouf lo tlr¿ PLI), lo llte tittttttrt, n¡el
tu p(trtitt. I Iike lit,ing x,illt tlrctn bat:rtus¿: fhet help rne to intlt¡¡,¡'. n¡, Enulit't ull the lintt'lnd tltet ultrur:; ltalp tne t¡'itlt et.ct.¡'tlút¡g I nead. I ¡ht.utk íltem all, e.tptciullt t'br tln hel¡t rhet gure uie I t¡t\' trt iyal. in Belfinl, u,lten I.felt ullne otttl so.fhr avut .fhnt lnnte. I di¿ln'i knt¡tt anyottc, but tltet' were rery fricnd/\j lo rne.fitsrn fht bcgittrLittg nrcl tlrct rrtatle lhirtg.s etsier.for tne." lFouarl. Fl ance)
NORTHERN IRELAND AS A HOST COUNTR'Y Popers ond Permits lf you ore o citizen of the Europeon Union, you will not need o residency pemit or viso. lf you ore from outsjde the EU or Nofth Americo, you must opply for o üso or entry cleorqnce cetificote (lM2A form) issued for the purpose of trovel to the United ](ingdom. Contoct the British Embossy in your country of residence for the forms ond odvice. There is olso useful inlomotion under the UK poft of "volunteers' mobility" on waal¡r'.sosforevs.org lfyou ore o citizen of the Europeon Union, you should complete en "E111" form in your home country to ollow you to occess the medicol ser¡¿ices in Nothem lrelond.
Trovelling into Northern lrelond Northem lrelond is senr'ed by Belfsst lnlemotionol Airpoft, Belfost City Airpon cnd City of Derry Airport. ln oddition, Northem lrelond is just o shoit distonce from Dublin, Scotlond ond Englond. All three oiports in Northem lrelond ore smoll compored to most oirpoltt ore eosy to find your woy oround ond provide very friendly stoff As on intemotionoL volunteer orriving in Northem lreLcnd, your hosting orgqnisotion should co[ect you. lf this is not possible, oll three oirports hove buses thot go into the cjty centres. There is olso o bus which connects the City of
Derry Ailpolt to Belfost. Betlost City AirFoft olso hos o troin connectioÍl wiLh the City Centre.
Trovel Documents it is olso wjse to bdng o student cord with you if you hove one. US ond Concrdion visitors do not need o viso. lf you ore on EVS voluntee¡ you wi[[ be covered by the AXA insuronce poliry which your sending orgonisotion will hove oronged foryou. lfyou ore not on EVS volunteer, you ore odvised to toke out proper insuronce to cover heolth, mojor trovel costs ond possessions. Check thot ol[ your personoI belongings ore included.
You wi[[ need your posspolt, insuronce ond lD cord.
Electricol Equipment The voltoge in Northem lrelond is 240V, 50AC. qnd mostly three pin plugs ore used. 1f you ore trovelling from o country outside of lhe United Kingdom, you wjLL need q proper odoptor in order to operqte your electricol opplionces. You con buy odopters in Northem Jrelond, or buy o plug before you leove your
country to fit different socl<et configurotions.
The Weother
WHILE YOU'RE HERE Culture & Trodition
Northem lrelond's climote is mild ond temperote, with mild wintert very little snow qnd sometimes the summers con be quite wolm. lt tends to be breezy, with sudden chonges from cloud to sunny skies qnd vice verso. lt does rqin o lot, even in the summeÉime.
Lightweight wool ond cotton clothes ore suitsble in summer; with thicker wool sweoters orjockets For spring ond outumn doys. Pqck o rsincoot ond sweote$, whotever the seqson.
Spofts ond pubs moy often be seen os o Lorge ond exclting port of Northem lrelond culture. These venues proüde countless oppoÉunities for sociolising, os there is never o pub for too for owoy ond olwoys o footboll or rugby motch being ployed on the locol pitch or television. Vy'hite pubs ore obviously know.n os being o centre of drinking. they ore more commonly seen os o meetjng point ond source of music, enteltoinment ond socio[ising. ln oddition to pubs, Northem lrelond (especiolly Belfost) is full of clubs, discos ond cofes of every voriety to suit ony mood.
If l w'ould futve tt¡ choose a word.for dertning n1y sta! üs volllxteer in. Northem lrelcutd, it be experience. All is a uniEte, greet and ^)ould
exL:iting expcrience over here because you are Leanúng constantl)t. Mv rttlt,ice is tlnt yt¡u must fry to be positil,e, even at tl,Le beginning wlich it is ctlv,-ct¡,s cliJJicult, w-hen yolt caru1ot understo.nd very --ell tlta terrible accent.frotn Northern Ireland, when you miss your family
ttntl ctll thctt yor,t leJl at lutme. But in a.fetv days .tott will discover alL tlte.fantastic' fl'Lings what this cotntry has got: ntost of people Jronl here is exf remely polite utd friendly and very- soon yoLr --ill be having a drfuk fu a pub and l't.lvitl.g o. good conversation with them. To meet the rest of the intentational volunteers is one of the best things too. I ant sure that all whot I learnt.from tlrcm is more t).iuoble and useful than.for example, to llave ünproved my English. BLtt of cottrse, not everythü'Lg is good: tlrc rteatlrcr i.s terrible, it is always rctining!!!
(Diana, Spain)
Currency Nofthem lrelond's currenry is the British pound (€) sterllng divided into one hundred pence (100p). Notes o¡e issued to the vqlue of f5, f10, E2O, €50 ond f 1 00. Coins ore issued to the volue oF E2, E\, 50p, 20p, 1 0p, 5p, 2p ond'1p. 1n oddjtion to the Bonk of Englond notes, the locoi bonks in Nofthem lrelond print their own f,5, f,10, f20 notes, so be coreñ¡l to check the denominotion of the notes since oll the notes look different.
Sports Footboll (soccer & goelic) moy be consldered the moin sport of Northem lrelond, but mony others receive notoble qttention. 1ce hockey is one of the fostest growing os the Belfost Gionts, Nothem lrelondt professionol ice hocl<ey teom, ploy thei¡ home mc¡tches in the city! Odyssey Areno. lce skoting, ten-prn bowling, gott ond billiqrd holls con olso be found in ond oround Belfqst qt reqsonqble rotes. Fitness gyms ore becoming increosing\ populo¡ but con often be quite expensive. 1f you hove o student cord ond ore Bellost bosed, it is possible to get ocsess to the Queenl University Physicol Educotion Centre, which is not too expensive. For more informotion obout ony sports in Northem lrelond, contoct the House of Sport ot 9038 '1222.
Entertoinment ln Belfost there ore severol dnemos. including the Queenl Film Theatre ("the QFT", ot 20 University Squore), which often shows more culturol qnd controversiol films thon moinstreom cinemos. QFT olso hos greot rstes ond deols, mokinq it offordoble for volunteers. ALso in Belfost ore the Time Wqmer Cinemos ond Big Screen IMAX ot the Odyssey Areno. The Odyssey is not only
home to the Belfost Gionts ond cinemo, but olso restouronts. concetts ond the - o greot woy to experience modem science - but be womed, thot eoting or being entertoined ot the Odyssey con be more expensive thqn other cinemos ond restouronts in Belfost.
W5 honds-on interoctive museum
The Crescent Atts Centre provides closses in everythjng from yogo to breok donce. The Belfost Circus School is olso o populor hongout for volunteers ond o qreot woy to meet both loccls ond foreigners while trying out your luck ot
iuqqlinq, tropeze ond mony other unusuol tolents.
People \y'/hen meeting people for the first time, it is most polite to greet them with o hondshqke. Unlike other pofts of Europe, people from No¡them lrelond do not usuolly huq or kiss people on the cheek if they do not know them very weIL ]n doity life, it is expected thot conversotion will be exchonged ond people ocJ<nowledged. whether
it be co-worl<ers, shop workers, or strongers on the
telephone. lt is polite to speok to people formolly when first meeting them, olthough mony people - young ond old, will prefer to be colled by their first nome ond will tell you this. lt is best to osk first if you ore not sure. NoÉhem lrelond moy be considered to be o "reserved" culture. lt is not very typicol to pubticly show emotions or offection ond while hord work ond effott is qpprecioted ond recognised, it might not be done in the woy of o spoken thonk you. People ore extremely giving, especiolly to foreigners ond volunteers, tend to be very culturol ond enjoy good conversotion. Be coreful though, it is best to ovoid osl<ing or commenting obout topics such os politics cnd religion unless you know the people well. The lrish/British or Cotholic/Protestont relotionship js sti[[ o very difficult subject ond should be ovoided, especio\ in pubs or oreos
thot you do not know very well.
olso hos o monthly food co operotjve ot Girol Cofe. Severol vegetorion dishes con usuolly be found on ony menu ond restouronts ore usuolly hcppy to occommodote requests if it is not o busy time of doy Mi[k, butter ond cheese ore o big port of diet here ond moy be ingredients in mony dishes, so Vegons should osk specificolly obout o dish before they order. Locols like their coffee neorly os much os their tec ond, like teo, drink it ot oll hours of the doy, oll seosons of the yeor: Coffee ond teo con be ordered from pubs ot ony time. Smoking cigorettes or tobocco is still widely occepted ond most ploces offer smoking oreos. Howeve¡ smoking is usuolly bonned on tronsportotion ond in pubtic buildings. Driving while under the influence ot olcohol is not occepted. Seqtbelts must qlso be wom qt oll times ond is strictly enforced.
Events Closing times ol pubs, cofes ond djscos con vory but generolly mointoin set hours. Cofes ore open eorly momings weekdoys for coffee. Pubs ore open from 1 1om until 1om (some close 1 1pm eorly in the week) ond discos get going oround 1Opm. Only o few clubs stoy open until the eorly hours of the moming. Restouronts will usuolly close by 10 or 1 1pm. There is no shortoge of live music in Belfost, from troditionol sessions to modem rock, oltemotive, or blues - mony of them qre free! Most pubs will hove the lotest schedules posted. The Big List is published every two weeks - it highlights the lotest jn entertoinment news ond con eosily be picked up free from pubt groceD/ stores ond troin stotions. Posters on wolls, old buildings etc ore olso o good woy of finding out whot's on, os is the Belfost Glegroph on o Thursdoy (reviews) ond hidoy (tistings).You con find out obout goy ond lesbion life in Nothem lrelond on the following web site:
wlrrv.glyni.org.uk
.
"l think
Food The "Ulster F1" breqkfqst ond "fish ond chips" for lunch or dinner moy be considered the notionol meols ond cqn be found ot olmost ony pub or restquront.
A pub lunch will often provide o lorge selection of meols ond is very filling (while being offordoble). Mony restouronts hove very reosonoble lunchtime deqls compored to dinneí so ore q greqt wqy to eot out on o limited budget. There is o greot deol of ethnic food ovoiloble from restouronts ond shops. especiqlly oround Belfost. Ploces like St George's Morket (Thurs-ki-Sot ot Moy Street in Betfost) olso offer fresh vegetobles, meot ond fish. The Asion
Supemorkets (open seven doys o week
every culture imoginoble ond often ot reduced prices for lorge quontities. Belfost
I
Ormeou Rood, Belfost) sell food from
that Beffast cir!* is u really interesting pkice to live in. At the arrival it can be very dilficltlt, because at tlte beginning you miss your.family, country ond.friends. Soon enough though, you staft to enjoy being here. In my view, one of the best things in Nonhern lrelancl is the pubs, tvhere you can have o good pint of Guinness in a very .friendly atmospherc. I ctlso like the way the pubs are decoraÍed here, os they have that old look making youfeel like being in the past century. Everybotl¡t drinks beer here, so my advice to you, present or futttre volunteers, is to enjoy yourselJ! It is tt Ltnique experience!
.
(José, Spain)
Atthough the cities ore full of lively nighdife, excessive nojse is not occepted (especiolly in residentiol oreos) ond violotors moy olso foce expensive fines from police. The lows hove chonged recently on the clossificotjon of connobis, but the possession or use of dn'lgs remoins illego[. Volunteers should think corefulty before getting involved in ony questionoble behoviour; os this would be lool<ed qt poorly not only by police, but olso by the sending ond host orgonisotions. Locol lows moy be quite djfferent from other countries qnd o1l of us, regordless of notionolit¡4 ore subject to the lows of Noithem lrelond while he¡e.
ln coses of extreme emergency, telephone 999 to contoct the poLice, emergenry medicqL selvices or fire services. It is qlwoys best to be qwore of suftoundingl secure belongings, lock doors qnd ovoid trovelling olone lote ot night. \\¡tren visiting untsmjlior oreos, find out qbout bus ond troin schedules (90666630) oheod of time to ovoid being stronded, especio[y on weekends. Avoid Loyo[ist or Republicon neighbourhoods crI nigl-]t, os these qre often oreos where everyone knows eoch other ond sLrongers moy be seen os suspicious. These types of neighbourhoods ore most eosiiy identified by the lorge pointed mu¡ols ond Fiags. or the troditionol colours oI red/white/blue (British) or green/white/oronge (lrish)pointed on sidewolks ond lomp posts. Howeve¡ often ollegionces moy not be quite os obvious to o visitoÍ These qreos ccn (ond should!) be visited ond leomed obout from locol people ond proper guides ond jt is recommended thot volunteers moke on effort to do so in order lo leom more obout the lifestyle ond culture of Northem lrelondl people - butjust be sensitive in how you do thisl
Some Procticolities Medicol Services lf you ore on EU citizen, you witt hove the right to occess the heolth services for free in Northem lrelond. You should complete on "E111" lorn before you leove home.
Shortly ofter your orrivol in Northem lrelond, you should register with o doctor ifyou need to see the doctoL you will first hqve to moke on oppointment. ]f your GP is not ovoiloble to see you, the receptionist wi[[ try to orronge on urgent oppointment for you with onother GP ot the some surgely. Locol surgeries ore open Mondoy to fÍidoy, usuolly from 9.00 om to 6.00 pm. A few open on Soturdoy moming, but o1[ ore closed on Sundoys. (see beLow). A doctor is colled o GP (Generol Proctitioner) ond
"l thutli that tlte nteclir:ol sert'ic( itl BclfLtst is very' good, becau.se I re(:e¡ed Jiu irnnrc¿iale ússistutu:e u:lrcnet,er I got .sick ritld ha(l fo sl)ettl sotne tinte itt hospilIl- Dock¡rs und nur.se.s rterc greol, ver| polile ütld pt1)fessktttuL, llrc¡'tt'eoted nrc rer:\'w(ll, de spite tlrc.futt tltru I u'ostt't liot11 Norlhern Irelont]. I atn yerf groteJir! nt thanr.lor their lrclp nn(l ,tuppl rt. " (Milianr. Romania) it is possible to consult o Phoimocist. All Phomocies hcve a quolified Phomocist who con sometimes moke o diognosis qnd recommend treotment. lf they connot treot you, they wi[[ recommend you see your GP For mild medicol problems,
ln cose of on emergency, cosuolty or occident ond emergenry (A&E) depoftments in hospitols ore open 24 hours o doy. At the hospitol, you con be exomined ond treoted by GPs ond speciolists. No fees ore requested in hospitols (from Europeon citizen volunteers)for medicol exominotions, treotment/medicqtion or hospitolisotion. \iVhen possibLe, olwoys bring identificotion ond someone who is fluent in English to help you to receive the most efficient qnd proper treqtment. Medicol services within locol surgeries ore olso tree of chorge but you must poy for ony medicotion (prescription dn.igs) recommended by o doctor A doctor will give you o prescriplion note, which con be brought to ony phomory to collect
10
ond pqy for the medicotion. EVS volunteers ore entitled to cloim this money bock (o[so for dentol treotment) under the EVS Group lnsuronce Plon. Keep your receipts to moke the cisim ond reod your leoflets ond AXA lnsuronce "volunteer guide" corefully.
How to Register With the Doctor Fi[ in o CSA fom, in order to become entitled to receive o Medicol Cord. The form is ovoiloble from the Centrol Services Agenry for the HPSS, 25 Adeloide Street, Belfost BT2 8FH; Tel: 90 324 431 . Ask your co ordinotor to help you getting ond fi[ing in the form ond to help you ñnd o locol docto¡r
Express is foster thon the first. but moke sure it stops ot where you wont to go Both buses generolly cost the some. olthough certoin Express buses moy be more expensive. You con buy the tickets in speciol kiosks, certoin shops ond usuolly on the bus. The best woy to get off the bus is to moke o move towords
the doot even if the bus is proüded by o "Stop" button lfyou do notknow where to qet off or how to reoch o celtqin destinotjon, oll you hove to do is tell the bus driver where exoctty you wont to 90 ond he will tell you where you hove to get ofl The bus sewice usuolly stops before 1Opm eoch night
Foreign Consulor Offices in Northern lrelond We think thqt it would be in your ourn benefit, qs volunteers in o foreign country to know where the consulote from your home country is, (see ww1¡r'.tourismirelond.com) lor sofety ond security reosong for ony legoI motters, qs well os for finding out useful informotion obout your country of origin. We odvise you to olso contqct your consulote in the event of tocing locol difficulties, such qs serious illness or occident (when friends/reloüves ore unovoilob[e), for qdvice on procedure for tronsferring money from the UK or elsewhere, in order to contoct friends/relotives/bonks if other chonnels ore unovoiloble. in cose you lost your possport, you¡ lD cord or your plone ticket, in cose you need to be issued q new posspoft etc. The Consulqte could olso inform you or your fomily from home of ony impodont news, potentiol dongerous situotions in Northem lrelond for you, etc. They moy olso hold speciol events for people from your country thot you would probobly like to know obout ond they ore the ones oble to shore informotion to eose your tronsition to living in Northem lrelond.
Trqvel & Tronsport Driving in the UK cnd lrelond is different from most other countriet so remember thqt cqrs dúve on the left side of the rood. Otherwise the first sight of o cor possing by might knock you down! So qnother importont rule to lotlow would be this: Alwoys look right first - then look ogoinl Do not be ofroid to osk people in shops or buses if you ore worried obout ñnding your woy. They ore usuotly very friendly ond hetpful. Bus:
1n
generol, we hove found the Ulsterbus system to be quite relioble ond o
cheop wsy to trovel when trovelling oround Nothem lrelond (informotion ond schedules: 90666630). There qre two kinds of buses - Express ond Regulor.
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Troin: (lnfomqtion ond schedules Te[: 9066 6630)Troin tickets ore olso very cheop, olthough the ffoin sewice is not olwoys relioble ond the network is not very lorge. Buy tickets ot the stotion when possible, or on the troin if the stotion is closed. Atwoys keep your troin tickets with you on the troin ond in the stotion, os there ore big fines for onyone without o ticket ond tickets ore often collected when you aÍive qt your destinotion stotion. Troin schedules qre different on Soturdoy, Sundoy ond holidoys, so olwoys check oheod. Pick up free troin ond bus schedules trom ony stotion.
Toxis qre ovojloble in most oreos. ln Belfost there ore both minicobs (which often need to be booked in odvcnce - they ore ordinory cors with the nome ond telephone number of the cqb firm disployed on the top of the cor) qnd toxis (torge¡ usuclly block - there ore o few "tqxi ronks" in the city centre where you con get o toxi). ln North Belfost there is olso o "block tqxi" seryice which octsos o bus seryice.
Student Bus/Troin Trovel Cords With your lSlC cord, which you con olso buy in Notthem lrelond if you hove o student cord. you moy buy o Trovel Sove Stomp from ony mojor bus or troin ststion, or from USIT NOW student trovel ogencies in NoÉhem lrelond. Discounts ore ovqiloble for bus ond trqin tickets throuqhout N l , os we[[ os services to Dublin, but moy not be occepted on locol city buses. Alwoys show your lSlC cord ond stomp before buying tickets.
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Religion & Ethnic Minorities
osk people to repeot words, spe[[ them out, or even show you whot they meon. Corry o smo[[ pocket tronslotion dictionory People will generolly be impressed
ln Northem lrelond, the mojority of the populotion is Christion, either Cothotic or Protestont, os you might olreody know There sre olso numerous members of other fqiths in Northem lrelond including opproximotely 3000 Muslims, 800 Hindus, 500 Sikhs, 500 Jews. 350 Bóhq'is ond 50 Buddhists (the totol populotion of Northem ]relond is 1.7 million
with your English knowledge olreody ond be hoppy to help you to understcnd better toke English longuoge closses, we would recommend thot you first contoct the locol colleges in your oreo in order to find out more infomotion obout the closses ond the dotes to enrol. Ask your volunteer co-ordinotoí os the hosting orgonisotions ore supposed to guide you ond to give you odvice on whot coleges there ore in town ond whot your options ore. They clso moy help you to poy for your closses, olthough in the cose of EVS volunteers Ccmbridge closses or exom fees connot be poid for To 1l
peop[e). For more informotion for ond obout ethnic minorities tiving in Northem lrelond,
contoct or stop by The Multi-Culturql Resource CenÍe, 9 Lower Crescent, Belfost, BT7 '1NR; Tel: 90 244639, e-moil: mcrc@mcrc.co.ul< The MultiCulturol Resource Centre provides on oppoftunjty to meet people who speok Lhe some longuoge os you ond who qre from the some country os you.
Metric to Imperiol Conversion Within Northem lrelond, the oid imperiol system is used o [ot, though shops must show metric weights. 28 grqms (g) = 1 ounce (oz)ond 0.45 kilogroms (kg) = 1 pound (lb). Distonce on roodsigns in Northem lrelond ore shown in miles (1.6 kilometres(km) = 1 mite) ond the old imperiol system is often used for tengths ond heights: 2,54 centimetres (cm) = 1 inch (") ond 30.48 cm = 1 foot (ft). For weother temperotures, 0C = 32"F Fohrenheit (F) 15C = 60'E 30C = 85'F
Opening o Bonk Account Common Phroses
As o volunteei you con hove your own ñnonciol independence by opening o bonk occount with one of the bonks or building socjeties, such os the Notionwide
Northem lrelond & Common Equivolent
Building Society. To open cn occount, you
Vúhot! the croic? = How ore you? Pint = full gloss of beer (0,56 Litre)
will need to complete on occount opplicotion form ond
provide the following:
* * *
Good croic = good fun time
o volid pqssport or lD
Chips = (French)fries
o letter from your hosting orgonisotion stoting thot you ore o volunteer o letter thot you hove received with your nome ot your current oddress, os on ofñciol proof of where you ore liüng during your stoy in Northem lrelond.
Leorning the Longuoge
Crisps = pototo chips
Slore = closet 1I
To co[[ on someone = to visit them 1
people speok English in Nofthem lrelond ond no, jt is not similor to the qccent you moy hove gotten used to bock home while wotching Americon style television shows or ot English clqss in school. lt js octuotly quite different ond
Yes,
even voúes from oreo to oreo in Northem lrelond. Do not be emborrossed to 13
Ponts/Knickers = undelweor Troiners = sneokers, irnning shoes
Motes = friends Blokes = boys or men
14
mojor politicol developments in the lote 1990s led to o peoce process ond the colling of "ceosefires" by the moin poromilitory orgonisotions olthough lhe ceosefires were cqlled ond the "peoce process" estoblished, the conflict still continues in some oreos, mostly jn the "interfoce" oreos between cothoiic qnd protestont working closs communities mony of the poromiiitcry orgonisotions ore now involved in the drugs trode
:'*-.}i..
there qre two public holidoys specificolly for Northem lrelond - St Potrick's Doy (St Potrick is the soint of lrelond) ond 12th JuLy (when the Oronge Order (o protestont orgonisotion) celebrotes the defeqt of o Cotholic King by o Protestont)
J¡
there is often civil unrest cround July - often becouse of the "porodes" issue (usuo[[y protestqnt bonds wishing to morch through cothollc oreos)
Politics ond tlistory As you might oLreody know, politics in Northem lrelond ore very complex.
\Mi[e
you will cetoinly hove the oppoitunity to explore some of the issues ond to get o deeper understqnding of the situotjon, dont expect to understond it oll. There ore, however, some bcrsic concepts which you should be qwore of (but these ore very, verry over-simplified !).
) )
remember thot it is olmost impossible to get o completely objective opinion in Nonhern lrelond - there cre olwoys 2 sides to the story! there is o very, very long history leoding up to the "troub[es", which officiolly stofted in '1969 the conflict hos been between the unionists or loyolists (usuolly Protestont), who wont Noithem lrelond to remoin os polt of the United Kingdom ond the nqtionolists or republicons (usuo[[y Cotholic) who wont Notthem lrelqnd to unite with the Republic of lrelond these ore often refered to qs the two communities
- even though there ore other religions ond minority ethnic communities living in Northem lrelond. o lorge port of the populotion in Northem lrelond live in "single idendry communities" (i.e. either o[L cothoUc or oll protestont). lt con be eqsy to identify these oreos through flogs (the Union Jcck ond Ulster flog in loyolist oreqs ond the Tricolour in republicon oreos) ond murols (woll-pointings). People in these communities do not tend to mix with eoch other
flogs ond symbols ore very impoftqnt in Nofthem lrelond
both sjdes hove o number of poromilitory orgonisotions (i[egol ormies on the loyolist side the UDA, UVE LVf, etc ond on the republicon side the Provisionql lRA, the Reol lRA, the Continuity IRA, etc) ond some of the poromilitory orgonisotions developed politicol pofties to represent them in ([ocol) govemment 15
you might find thot people wjll try to find out whot religion you ore. You wi[[ olso find thot mony Northem lrelond people do not wish to discuss the politicol situotion there orc mqny good sources of informqtion on the situotion - the CAIN website (wavwcoin.uLst.oc.uk) ond the Linenhoil Librory in Belfost ore two of fhe best
"When I.first came to NortlTern lrelund I had different bits ancl pieces of information in mr- head. Books thcLt spoke of British futrntr coloniscttion ond then the pictures oJ the medíu - bunling útrs üt the streets of BeAast at the time of the yearly parodes. The Jirst sighr of Belfasr .fitted into the iclea of what I've hearcl before - yoLt ctlwo.y.t see what yoLr expect to see - cololrre¿ povement stones, militúnt murals, h)hat o desperate place! But tllen afte r a while the picture changes. There are many be( úiful sides to Belfast, people are friendly and helpful and the city centre looks just like anywhere else. The personal experiences of the people living here slowly changed nxy opinion oJ Belfast and made me realise tlte conflict is a difficult issue without clear history or guilt. There is the history side and terrible things lmppened in bt¡th communities but there is alsr¡ the people themselves with their hopes and fears ond their extremists. You can't find the guilty people you're looking for. I guess Northern lreland is similor to conflict in many otller parts of the ttorld. Besides political cutd idealistic n'tothes there is always 16
the big side of money and power stuggles. The flags and colours it even tlrc more absurd. It's good fo see all the efforts that are
make
being ntade
for better understandütg antl pecLce." (Rebecca, Gemany)
Ploces to See in Northern lrelond There ore indeed o lot of nice ploces to be seen in Northem lrelond, beoutiful sites, costles ond museums, cothedrqls, the coost ond the mountoins, the seo, the green grqss, botonic gordens ond they ore oll strong ingredients to tempt both tourists ond locol people to visit them. You, os intemotionoL volunteers in o completely new country, shouid toke full odvontoge of being here, explore them ond try to see os much os you con, becouse it is worth it! We ore now tolking from our own experiences ond if you wi[[ ever hove o chonce to tolk to previous volunteers, they will oll tell you thot they hqve visited Lots of ploces cnd thot tl]ey were not ot oll disoppointed! Tourist offices (including the Belfost Welcome Centre in Donegoll ploce, Belfost) will hove informotjon obout tours jn Northem lrelond. There is o lorge cmount ot Hostels in oL[ lrelqnd ond UK. lt is o quite cheop wc¡y to stoy. You con book in odvonce in www.usitnow.com The Republic of lrelond uses the Euro, so remember to convelt money when trovelling qcross the border Bus qnd roil seryices thot cross the border wjll often occept either cunency, but it is qlwoys best to be sure first.
And it you wont to trovel further by plone, you con find some cheop flights in wrvweosyjet.com or wmarryonoircom or ltrwr.fly-bmi.com lf you hove o student or lSlC cord ot home, bring it with you to give you some trovel ond shopping discounts.
"
I like Belfast
becctuse of the pe opLe
met here and by this
I
mean
not only m¡ lnttse nlafes (there ore 8 of us üt the house now!), bltt also fhe locúl people. The weother is horrible, but I got used to lire witlt it. I Love the nightlff? in Be(ast. There are plenry o.f goocl pubs with ercellent, diJfe rent tltpes of beer cmd a lot of .finny people. The Landscape is al.so beautiJul. Lots of green lcutds!" (Jordi, Spain)
Keeping in Touch Moiling letters Stomps for letters to Europe wi[[ cost obout 37p. Postcords require o 42p stomp for the US ond Conodo; oirmoiL letters under '109m need o 47p stomp. Stomps
for regulor letters sent within the Ul( wi[L cost 19p for 2nd closs delivery ond 27p for 1st closs delivery usuoliy oniving onyr,,,,here in the UK the next doy. Avoiloble from post offices (most ore open 9om-5.30pm Mon hi ond until 12.30pm Sot), some newsogents, goroges ond wherever you see the red sign 'We se[[ postoge stqmps'. Lorge pocl<oges wi[[ usuclly be delivered to your house. lf no one is home, o note wi[[ be left osking you to pick up the pockoge ot the locoi postol fociLity or contoct the postcl serrrice by telephone. U
sinq The Telephone
Pubs, hotels, restouronts ond lorge stores hqve public phones ond there ore
public phones on mony moin streets. Minimum chorge for o locol coll from o pcyphone is usuoLiy 2Op. ]n cose of difficulty, diol the intemotionol operotor on 155. Cheopest time to co[ home: 8pm to 8om (UK time) ond weekends.
A prepoid phone cord, (e.9. Swift), ovoiloble in f5, f10 qnd f20 qmounts, con be purchosed from newsogents, smoll food shops ond post omces, is convenient qnd often the cheopest woy to moke intemotionol colls. To ovoid lorge unexpected phone bills, we recommend olwoys using o pre-poid phone cord for colls. MobiLes (or poftoble ce[[ phones) ore extremely populor in the UK ond con eosily be bought (but cost oround f80 for the cheopest pre-poy phone). Bewore thot colling mobiles from o house or business phone is usuo[y extremely expensive.
17
I
18
lntemet Access & Librories
ARTS & CULTURE ACTIVITIES
There ore mony librories oround Belfcrst ond the rest of Nonhem lreLond. you do not hqve to poy onything to register tor o librory cord. To register you l]ove to bring o letter oddressed to you, cs o proof of your curent oddress jn Nofthem lrelond.
There is o very vibront ofts sector in Northem lrelond. There is o feeling thot becouse the funding for oús octivities is so low in Northem lrelond, the quality
lf you register either with o public librory or your locol college or universiry it possjble to get free lntemet occess. The Belfqst Centrol Librory is ot Royol Avenue, BT1 1EA (Tel: 90 5091 50). Coll or stop by for infomotion obout the librory closest to where you live or work.
is
of work produced hos to be reolly high to sur¡¡ive. As o result, it is possible to find very diverse ond interesting work. The free booklet "ort" (olso ot w1¡,/wort.je qnd wra,rarort.co.ni)which is printed eoch month gives listjngs of ons events ocross Notthem lrelqnd.
Poetry/Literoture Northem lrelond hos o number of weil-known contemporory poets, most fomously Seomus Heoney. There ore oLso mony locol outhors ond there is o good ronge of fiction set in NoÉhem lrelond (Colin Botemon, Brion Moore, Anne Dun[op).
borrow books from the Locol librory (it is usuolly possible to order books if they ore not ovoiloble) IREE
-
There ore o number of festivols ond reodinqs throuqhout the yeor The Crescent Arts Centre in BeLfost n:ns o "Between the Lines" testivoi eoch yeor with reodings ond workshops. Sometjmes the Locol librqries hqve reodings ond the Linenholl Librory ocross from the Belfost City Holl is worth checking out. ln Deny there is o Verbol Arts Centre.
Shopping Shops in Belfost city centre ore open 9om 5:30pm Mon-Sot ond until 9pm on Thursdoys. Most other towns close holt doy on one doy o week (different from
town to town) ond smoll shops tend to close qt lunchtime. Some lorge shopping centres on tl.le outsl<its of town stoy open until 9pm.
My time in Belfast not even síx mont|t -was defrniÍel,\) foo slTort. Once you immersed yourself in the local comrnunit t- there are hundreds rf possibilitie,s Ío creete Jour leisure tíme - ond gain erperiences which are conryLetely differen.t from the ones at yottr "fficial" project. Almost eve ry organísaf ion political, cr, tural, e¿lLrcot¡onol - i.s grate.fúl for volunteers tlld offers greot possibilities to get in touch witll di,fferent issues, dffirent people and differe t views on lfe. Most oJ tlle people are vetj kind and find ít ittferest¡ng to work with volunteers Jrcm anoth.er countr\(Inken, Gemany) 19
FREE librories ond festivsls will hqve free events.
Film The BeLlsst Film Festivol, the Foyte Film Festivol, Cinemogic (films oimed qt kids,
but not exclusively) ond Cineversity (films on humon rights ond world issues) ore festivols which n¡n ot different times of the yeor A number of films hsve been recorded in No¡them lrelond over the post few yeors ond the loccl film industry hos become more vibrqnt. FREE (or low cost) - the QFT in Belfost gives on excellent discount with o Europeon Youth Cord. Sometimes there ore free films os potts of festivols.
Visuol Art The golleries in Northem lrelond ore free. ln Belfost the notoble ones ore
Ormeou Baths GoLlery (contemporory oftists, photogrophs, instoilctions), O[d Museum orts cenhe (contemporory photogrophs, instollotions), Cotolyst Arts (contemporory usuo[[y locol), Ulster Museum (pointings, speciol exhibitions). FREE
-
they ore
I
20
Theotre Northem lrelond hos o couple of professionol theotre componies ond mqny omoteur qcting groups. There ore mony good theotres ocross Nofthem lrelond (Old Museum orts centre ond \ric in Belfost, Millennium Fon..¡m ond ployhouse in Derry, Riverside in Coleroine) cnd they put on o ronge of locol, UK ond intemotjonol peformonces. At festivol times (see below), ploys ond other performonces ore put on in unusuol locotions (in the post q disused bonk ond on otd
joil)
-
occosionolly there ore free peformonces, but not so often. Sometjmes the theotres look for voiunteers. The O[d Museum ofts centre rewords its volunteers with tree tjckets to some performonces. The festivols (see below) normo[y involve volunteers. FREE
Music
Donce - Nofthem lrelsnd hos o good club scene ond some of our locol Dfs ore doing well (Dovid Hoimes is now doing scores for mojor Holyrvood films). Shine (ot Queens University Students Union in Belfost) is probobly one of the best cLubs,
but there ore mqny others in Belfost ond Deiry.
- not reolly! Occosionolty open oir music events, but these ore usuolly on[y ot speciol events. FREE
World Music - Moving On Music orgonise concerts ond performonces by troditionol ond jszz musjcions from ocross the world. Most of these toke ploce jn the Crescent Arts Centre in Belfost. Salso music cnd doncing hos become very populor in Northem lrelond. FREE
-
someümes ot festivqls or open oir perfornonces.
Festivols Nothem lrelond hos mony festivols throughout the yeor. These cre some of
There is music to suit most tostes in Northem lrelond.
them:
Troditionol
Belfost Festivol ot Queens
- it is quite eosy to find troditionql lrish music in pubs. Sometimes will be pefo¡monces, but sometimes (cnd, ifyou con find o good one, these ore the best) it is possible to find o "seisiún", which is reolly o jomming these
! This usuolly tokes ploce ín the come¡ of o pub with ony number of peopte ploying trqditionol instruments. session where the music con toke on o life of its own
- sometimes you moy hove to psy to get into o pub if there is o bond ploying, but seisiún ore nomolly free. FREE
Clqssicol - The Ulster Orchestro perform regulorty ocross Nofthem lrelond. There ore olso other smo[er orchestros (Ulster Youth Orchestro, Horp Orchestr.o etc).
(wr,tr,^",.belfostfestivot.com) - for 2 weeks in October/Novembe4 Belfost is to1<en over by the most estobiished of the festivqls. Events include musig comedy, visuol oÉs. film, theotre, to $ ond speciot events. Events tol<e ploce ocross the city ond in some unusuol venues.
Cothedrol Quqrter Arts Festivol (wr,w,,.cqof com) - in Moy. Tokes ploce oround lhe qreo which is being developed os Belfost's "culturol quofter". Feile (wrvw.feilebelfost.com) - Community Festivol in West Beifost. August. There qre some politicol ospects to this festivol.
Bonks of the Foyle llolowe'en Cornivol (r.twwdernrvisitorcom)
- the "lnvitotion ConceÉs" in Beifost ore recorded for rodio broodcost ond free tickets ore ovoiioble for these concefts from the BBC, Ormeou Avenug
Young At Art (w1.\/1¡,/.youngotort.co.uk)
Belfost.
people. Belfost in Mo¡r
Live Gigs - Nothem lrelond likes its live music! There ore mony live music venues ocross Northem lrelqnd ond the best in Belfost ore the Empire ond the
November/December.
FREE
Limelight ond in Derry the Newe Centre (wrarrr.nen/e-centre.org.ul<). These ore the smoller venues (holding up to 500 people) ond hove locsl ond intemotionol bonds ploying. The ticket prices vory depending on how fomous the bonds or singers ore, but in these smoller venues ore usuolly f8-f15. There ore olso lorger venues which hold over 1000 people (Woterfront Ho[[, Odyssey in Belfosl). but these ore more e,.pensive.
FREE- not so often! Sometjmes during festivols (see below)
Cinemogic (wr.rr,,r.cinemogic.org)
-
-
o huge
octivities for kids, fomilies & young
Belfqst film festivoI for kids & young people.
Belfost Cornivol (wwla¿beifosicomivc¡L.org) - June Belfost Film Festivol Cineversity
-
Usuolly Morch.
(w1,\,1¡,/.ulst.oc.uk/cineversity)
venues jn Belfost ond
- vorious films throughout the yeor in
Derry Usuo\ hove politicol or devetopment theme.
Pride - the Northem lrelond versions of this goy & lesbion porode still tend to be quite smoll
Between the Lines (w.ww.crescentorts.org) 21
-
street-porty time for Derry City ot the end of October
22
-
literory festivol in Belfost. Morch.
Wolled City Festivol (r,u,r,rai.derrycit臓rgovuk) - Derry. June. St Potrick! Doy (1 7th Morch) ond Oronge Porodes (1 2th July).
Toke odvice
from locol colleogues obout ottending these - especiolly porodes in July The 12th July porode itself is colourful ond noisy (bonds from locol "Oronge Lodges" porode through Betfost), but sometimes ossocioted porodes ore linked to the sociol conflict. so be coreful. There ore mony, mony others throughout the yeor
-
community festivols, hillwolking festivols, seosonol & holidoy festivols. Just osk oround.
- most festivols depend on volunteer involvement ond this volunteering is highly recommended - you get involved with locol people & octi端ties ond get to see some greot octivities ond performonces. And most of them hove on end of festivol porty for stoff ond volunteers... FREE
ADDITI ONAL INFORMATI ON EVS (Europeon Voluntory Service) Europeon Voluntory Service (EVS)is o Europeon Commission project thqt ollows 18-25 yeor olds from Europeon Member Stotes, Pre-Accession Countries ond some "Third Countries" to cqrry out o 3 week to 12 months volunteering plocement in onother country There is olso the opportunity to opply for o "Future copitol" gront to colry out your own project when your EVS hos finished. More informqtion obout EVS con be found on www.sosforevs.org You con find exomples of potentiol host plocements on the SOS web site qbove
in the dotobose (public) sec端on snd more informotion on the Europeon Commission (Directorote-Generol for Educotion ond Culture) ot http://europo.eu.int/comm/educotion / youth / pr ogr om / oction 2.html
Orgonisotions involved in hosting EVS volunteers in Northem lrelond Bryson House bryson.stu@dnet.co.uk wwwbrysonhouse.co.uk
Brjaon House Voluntory Service; 97-UK 1345 Environmentol Project: '1 UK 458 Kerbside Rerycling Project: 1-UK 459 Community Arts Outreoch (Crescent Ars Centre): 1-UK-464
City of Belfost YMCA wr,trar.ym co-bfs. org
gory@belfost-ymco.org Intemo端onqI Volunteer Progromme: O-UK-1 33
Conservotion Volunteers Northern lrelond (CVNI) r.sheormon@btworg.uk Conservotion; 96-UK-728 Eccoseeds (Strongford)
Tet OO44 (O\2844 881227 Working with wjld flowers: 99 UK-1 35
23
24
Connect Youth is suppofted by o UK network of twelve Regionol Cornmittees. one of which is locoted in Northem lrelond. Eoch Committee hos o Regionol
Nl Woment Aid Tet: 0044 (0)2890
666049
Women's Aid Betfost: 97 UK-1960
Coordjnotor ond proüdes o locol odvisory, jnformotion, troining ond suppolt role, os well os moking decisions on most gront opplicotions.
Tools for Solidority
To
IeI
OO44 lO)289O 7 47 47 3 Tools qnd Development for the Third World: 98 UK-2122
find out more obout the Europeqn Youth Progromme ond other exchqnge progrommes offered vio Connect Youth, you first point of contoct should be the neorest Regionol Committee:
Clonobogon Comphill
Bemice Sweeney
(0\2882 2s6114 Eor\ Childhood Educotion Project: 98-UK-33
Connect Youth Regionol Coordinotor for Northem lrelond
TeL 0044
Youth CounciI for Northem ]relond
Forestview
British Red Cross
Purdy! Lone
Tel: 0044 (0\28 82251116
Betfost BT8 7AR
Derry Under 5's ond intemotionoI Volunteerinq Projecl O-UK-404
Tel: 02890 643882 Fox:
CONNECT YOUTH
Emoil: bsweeney@youthcouncil ni.org.uk
Connect Youth is o depoÉment of the British Council thot promotes youth projects ond exchonges of young people between the UK ond other countries with funds it receives trom the Foreign ond Commonweqlth Office, the
Deportment for Educotion ond Employment ond the Europeon Commission. is olso the officiol UK Notionol Agenry for the Europeon YOUTH Progromme, the progromme through which this Volunteer Guidebook hos been funded.
Website; r,rruryouthcouncil-ni.org.uk
Or
lt
The Europeon YOUTH Progromme is open to young people in the '15-25 oge
ronge ond those working with young people throughout 30 plus porticipoting countries. The progromme torgets disodvontoged young people ond there ore no entry quolificotions required in order to toke poft. The YOUTH progromme revolves qround the following moin themes:
&
Youth for Europe group exchonges
a
Europeon Voluntory Sewice (EVS)
&
Youth lnitiotives
-
02890 643874
Connect Youth The British Council 1O Spring Gordens
London SWIA 2BN
IeI: O2O7 3894030 Fox O2O7 3894033 Emoil: connectyouth.enquiries@britishcouncil.org Website: w¡¡vwconnectyouthintemotionol.com
-
short ond Long-term
locolly bosed projects deüsed, run ond monoged by young
people
*
Support meosures - providing tools to ossist oll those working in the youth field to develop projects reloted to the YOUTH progromme moin objectives ond oations
25
26
NOTES AND NUMBERS
Enjoy volunteering in Nofthem lrelond! 27
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