View 16 issuu

Social Affairs magazine for community/voluntary sector Website: viewdigital.org

Issue 16, 2013

VIEW

TO INDIA WITH LOVE Sixty young people from Northern Ireland are preparing for a ‘life-changing’ trip to India with a local charity – pages four and five

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VIEW, issue 16, 2013

Fab Labs

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The Voice

CONTENTS

Page 6 If you want to see eight-year-olds working with circuit boards – check out the new Fab Labs

Page 2

Page 10 VIEW sends its congratulations to singer Andrea Begley (left) after she won the final of The Voice on the BBC

Quire notes

Welcome back

Page 8 A LGBT choir that has won the backing of actor Simon Callow is due to perform its first standalone concert shortly

Pages 12-13 More than 60 leaders from across the community and voluntary sector have taken part in CO3’s first members’ day

Charity law

Speaking out

Page 9 People from the community/voluntary sector recently got guidance on the implications of the upcoming charity law

Pages 16-17 VIEW hears comments from the IF campaign and Trocaire following the recent G8 summit in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh

PHoToLinE Photographer Kevin cooper has more than 25 years experience in Press and Pr photography. Kevin works to a wide range of clients in community and voluntary sector organisations as well as the trade union movement.

For quoTaTions conTacT Kevin cooper E: photoline@supanet.com T: 028 90777299 M: 07712044751

Editorial

VIEW, the online publication for the community/voluntary sector in Northern Ireland.

T

he G8 Summit was impossible to avoid this month, especially for the residents of Fermanagh who were besieged by the world leaders, their entourages and 8,000 police officers from across the UK. Despite a security operation costing £50m, there were far fewer protesters than expected.

That was no doubt partially due to the Lough Erne resort’s relative inaccessibility, presumably a factor in Prime Minister David Cameron’s decision to host the summit there in the first place.

It is also likely the dire warnings about the authorities’ capability to deal with dissent had a chilling effect on protests. The BBC reported that the police, prisons and courts in Northern Ireland had plans in place to deal with up to 260 arrests a day – including the setting aside of an entire prison block at Maghaberry.

The protesters – who ranged from anti-fracking campaigners to

VIEW editor Lucy Gollogly the IF Campaign, which wants action to tackle global hunger – made their points peacefully, but it remains to be seen how much will be achieved by the summit.

In this issue, we hear from the IF Campaign’s NI chair, David Thomas, who says the protests have stimulated a debate about world hunger and social justice

that otherwise wouldn’t be on the agenda. Meanwhile Trócaire’s director in Northern Ireland, Eithne McNulty, says the Lough Erne Declaration – which vows to tackle issues including tax evasion – has the potential to act as a turning point in the struggle against poverty. But she warns that it could also turn out to be a meaningless publicity stunt.

We also speak to the director of Groundwork NI, Sylvia Gordon, whose work President Obama praised in his speech in the Waterfront Hall.

And we report on the inspirational Northern Ireland charity that is working in partnership with Indian NGOs to educate disadvantaged young people in the foothills of the Himalayas. Saphara was set up by former teacher Christine Burnett five years ago and is this year funding two young people to attend university – virtually unheard of in their community.

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VIEW, issue 16, 2013

Profile

Page 3

We talk to Sylvia Gordon, the Director of Groundwork NI, about the issues facing her organisation

‘

I was standing at the back of the Waterfront Hall in Belfast and my name was mentioned by the most powerful man in the world. I was completely shocked

1. Describe the nature of your role in Groundwork?

The nature of the role is to look at the overall vision and mission of the organisation and taking it forward and making sure we are doing something that is effective and relevant to local issues. We work in partnership, especially in north Belfast, with a number of organisations in both communities; Intercomm, North Belfast Community Development and Transition group, North Belfast Interface Network, Tiger’s Bay Concerned Residents and Newington Residents Association.

2. What are the main challenges?

The hard work is building on what we have already achieved at the moment, maintaining and sustaining the relationships and the trust and respect of the people on the ground. The bigger picture is the fragile nature of the peace in Northern Ireland – we still have a lot to do and it could go back fairly quickly. So there is still a lot of change, transformation and work to be done.

3. How does your organisation's work impact on local communities?

It’s about changing spaces, as in the physical space and working in partnership with local people to empower and support them to make change and also facilitating change. People look at their environment in a different way and connect to their environment in a more positive way and this has health and well-being benefits as well. We have worked on small projects to multi-sports facilities and the regeneration of some derelict sites on the interface. One of my first projects, around 2005, was in Tiger’s Bay. It was a particular project around a old bonfire site

’

which was made into a sports facility. Seeing children playing football there is a fabulous sight.

I pass it every day and it is particularly close to my heart.

there is some way to go yet.

4. Tell VIEW readers about some of the particular difficulties your organisation faces in Northern Ireland.

It is Europe’s only divided park. It was the work of the Alexandra Park steering group who took this forward. Groundwork did the technical works, the landscaping and the vision for the park; what this park could look like if it wasn’t a divided park. We need to go forward with the steering group and our public sector partners; we need investment for the park and for the green space. We know the First Minister and deputy First Minister have recently launched ‘Building a United Community’ and they have a goal for bringing down the interface walls in 10 years time.

It is what everybody else finds difficult; it is a fractured and divided society and that makes the work more complex and you need be aware of sensitivities. It’s not straight forward when we’re talking about shared communities.

5. You were singled out by President Barack Obama for praise during his recent visit to Belfast – how did that feel?

I must say I was completely dumb struck by it all and I couldn’t believe it; it was quite surreal. I was standing at the back of the Waterfront Hall in Belfast and my name was mentioned by the most powerful man in the world. I was completely shocked. But you have to be gracious about it and share some of that good fortune. It is not just about myself but about Groundwork NI and our partners who work with us.

6. What impact will the US President’s comments have on Groundwork?

I hope it has a positive impact, I hope it is not negative. I hope it’s positive in terms of the work being recognised and people coming to visit Alexandra Park (the project which was mentioned by President Obama). People should recognise the Alexandra Park project for its symbolic work at the time but also realise that

7. Tell VIEW readers about Alexandra Park in Belfast?

8. Will you ever recover from the shock of the Presidential name check?

I have to or it will render me incapable of doing anything else.

9. What are the most rewarding aspects of your work?

Seeing kids play at The Mount sports facility at Tiger’s Bay, North Queen Street; seeing people get on with each other and look for the best in the each other and people being proud of who they are and where they come from.

10. How do you relax outside of work?

I watch nonsense on TV. I’m not a gardener but I spend quite a lot of time with my two grandchildren in the garden; one likes to ignore me, the other says my job is to feed her toast – I make time for them, I want to be a good granny.

VIEW, issue 16, 2013

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Page 4

Alice Coogan, from St Mary's School, Magherafelt, with pupils at a school in Dehradun, north India

Saphara delivers hope to children who live in slums

By Lucy Gollogly

S

ixty young people from across Northern Ireland are preparing for a “life-changing” trip to India with a local charity that helps educationally disadvantaged children.

Saphara works in partnership with Indian charities to educate and support children in two schools in the north of the country.

The students from 11 schools in Belfast, Co Down and the north west will travel to India from July 4. The Year 13 students will spend two weeks teaching in the schools, a primary and a secondary, in the town of Mussoorie and Dehradun city.

Saphara has its roots in a trip director Christine Burnett, a former teacher at Methodist College, took to see a Tearfund project in the slums of Delhi in 1998.

“We asked these 10 and 11 year old children about what they would like, and a little boy said, ‘Mam, we want somewhere to do our homework.’ Because basically they were living in one room shanty huts, with no electricity and it gets dark by six o ‘clock – so when do you do your homework,” the former teacher said.

Dr Burnett established the cross-commu-

nity charity five years ago, setting up the educational centres in partnership with the Indian non-government organisations SNEHA and MGVS. She says the students from Northern Ireland – who undergo training before they go to India – make a real difference to the children they work with by leading classes in spoken English.

“There’s a huge divide in India between the wealthy people who are all fluent in English and the poor kids whose parents are illiterate and who speak very poor English. If you don’t speak decent English, you can’t get a decent job.”

It’s also about raising the Indian students’ aspirations, which Dr Burnett says have grown immeasurably since the project started.

“The flipside of that is that our kids are so inspired by these young people who have so little and are yet so determined to make the most of their lives.

“All the young people would say this was a life changing experience.”

Saphara also offers scholarships for Indian students. Three girls and two boys will go to the equivalent of sixth form this year thanks to the scheme, and a boy and girl will be able to take

up university places. Dr Burnett said: “These kids never, ever dreamt that they would have a chance of doing this.”

Lucy Pollock, 20, from Helen’s Bay is a law student at Queen’s University, Belfast. The former Sullivan Upper pupil was part of the Saphara team who visited India in 2010.

“When you go to India you realise how much of an impact they make on the children,” she said.

“We went to see the new science classrooms that they built with our money and we saw the new school uniforms.

“It’s so wonderful because the children who won the scholarships obviously have so much talent and so many aspirations and yet they would get nowhere without the help of Saphara. I think one of the really important things it does is enable people to reach their full potential.”

Dr Burnett says the project also has positive repercussions back in Northern Ireland.

“Exposing them to another culture also helps with building good relationships among the Northern Irish kids,” she said.

“Those are the things that for me are part of long term peace in Northern Ireland.”

VIEW, issue 16, 2013

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A life-changing experience for our young people

Scavenging in rubbish dumps like the one above is the main source of income for some children in India

Page 5

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VIEW, issue 16, 2013

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Page 6

A Fab day out in the Lab

Star of the Sea pupils Ciara Benson (left) and Aoife Major at Ashton Centre, Belfast

By Una Murphy

I

f you want to see eight year olds working with circuit boards – check out the new Fab Labs in Belfast and Derry.

The MIT backed project is at the heart of two city communities in Northern Ireland. They are part of a network of 200 Fab Labs around the world from Tokyo, Barcelona to Afghanistan.

The Fab Labs started life at as an outreach project at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) – one of the world’s leading universities – and have now spread from inner city Boston to Belfast and Derry.

A £1 million grant from the Peace Programme got the Fab Labs up and running at the Ashton Centre in Belfast and the Nerve Centre in Derry and there was cash from the British and Irish governments as well as MIT. At the recent launch, Liam Neelis who is

on the board of the Ashton Centre in Belfast and on the Fab Labs steering group said: “This facility is grounded in the local community and will be open to schools as well as cross-community organisations – everyone from seven to 70.”

Pat Colgan, chief executive of the Special EU Programmes Body said: “It’s a safe environment for all communities to get involved with something that is interesting and of benefit to their community.”

Stormont Minister Jennifer McCann said that the Fab Labs deliver practical skills and will be part of building a united community in areas affected by conflict as well as social and economic disadvantage.

Her ministerial colleague Jonathan Bell said the Fab Labs’ facility for 3D printing technology could help Northern Ireland lead the world again in manufacturing.

Image Brian Morrison Chris Wilkinson from the Global FAB Foundation said Fab Labs provided communities with an opportunity to take part in transformational technical change and digital convergence and could particularly empower young people who were not in mainstream education.

Professor Neil Gershenfeld, director of the MIT Centre for Bits and Atoms said that Fab Labs were a place “where anyone can make anything, anywhere and share the data”. The labs in Derry and Belfast were a “node in the global network providing the tools for digital fabrication”.

Paul Ashton, the director of the Ashton Centre, welcomed the Fab Labs as an opportunity to close “the digital divide” and overcome social and economic barriers which mean “some communities do not have opportunities”.

Practical advice and a sensitive personal approach. We pride ourselves on our unrivalled commitment to clients’ needs.

Edwards & Co. solicitors advises charities and the voluntary sector in Northern Ireland on a wide range of legal issues including charity creation, charitable status and constitutional matters, trading and commercial arrangements, employment law, finance, fundraising and property law, as well as dealing with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.

Our team offers a full range of legal services including mediation, criminal law, clinical negligence and personal injury claims, as well as family/matrimonial work.

Contact Jenny and Teresa: Edwards & Co. Solicitors, 28 Hill Street, Belfast, BT1 2LA. Tel: (028) 9032 1863 Email: info@edwardsandcompany.co.uk Web: edwardsandcompany.co.uk

VIEW, issue 16, 2013

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Page 8

Quire singers after they performed at the civil partnership of Lizzie (centre left) and Katie (centre right) earlier this year

Quire to raise the roof after actor Callow gives his seal of approval

By Lucy Gollogly

A

LGBT choir that has won the backing of actor Simon Callow is due to perform its first standalone concert this weekend.

The Songs With Love and Pride concert in the MAC on Saturday, June 29 will feature songs by artists including Gotye, Nina Simone and Emmylou Harris.

The concert is the first major event of this year’s Belfast Pride Festival, which has the theme Bright and Bold.

Quire’s chair, Ken Moffett, says they are looking forward to the concert, even if there are some last-minute nerves to overcome.

“We’re both incredibly excited and the britches scared off us – because it’s a big undertaking,” he said.

“It gives us the opportunity to reach out to the LGBT community specifically, but to reach beyond that as well and let people who are into music and the arts hear a bit of what we do.

“And hopefully, dare I say it, it normalises things – lifts the barriers and separations that are sometimes there that probably shouldn’t be,” he added.

World-renowned actor Simon Callow, who recently finished a run of one-man play The Man Jesus in Belfast’s Lyric Theatre, lent his support to Quire.

“It is wonderful to find the Belfast I have returned to moving with the times and celebrating the gay community with this joyous concert,” the Queen’s University alumnus said.

“I wish Quire every success for its work in

engaging the LGBT community in Northern Ireland which hasn’t always been so visible.”

Mr Moffett said Quire’s 32 members were delighted by Mr Callow’s comments.

“It boosts the choir’s morale greatly to have that sort of support and it’s very welcome,” he said.

Quire was formed in 2005, initially as a Rainbow Project initiative for that year’s Pride Festival. Since then it has grown in numbers and reputation, performing in the National Concert Hall in Dublin and Belfast’s Waterfront Hall.

• Songs With Love and Pride is at the MAC, on Saturday, June 29, at 7.45pm. Tickets (£13.50) are availablefrom themaclive.com/whatson/quire/

VIEW, issue 16, 2013

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Page 9

Edwards and Co hosts seminar on Public Benefit

Jenny Ebbage, Partner, Edwards & Co Solicitors, left, with Francesca Quint, charity law barrister

M

ore than 60 people from the community and voluntary sector got expert guidance on the implications of the upcoming charity law reforms at an event in Stormont this month.

Jenny Ebbage, partner in Edwards & Co Solicitors, and London charity law barrister Francesca Quint explained the new public

benefit requirement, part of the forthcoming Charities Act. The event in Parliament Buildings, which also included a question and answer session, was provided by Edwards & Co and hosted by Mark H Durkan MLA. Jenny Ebbage said: “It’s vitally important that those with trustee duties remain on top of

the latest legislation to ensure that their charities are delivering benefits for their service users.

“The upcoming changes need not pose difficulties for charities – good planning and rigorous assessment of a charity’s current status can make it much easier to cope with any changes in regulation.”

VIEW, issue 16, 2013

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Page 10

Congratulations to Andrea from VIEW

In the second issue of VIEW, I interviewed Andrea Begley (story below) about the issues she faced as a visually impaired person when travelling through airports. I noticed then that she was a remarkable woman with ready wit and charm. She is more famous now after winning the final of the BBC’s The Voice. Her success shows that having a disability is no barrier to what you can do.

Brian Pelan – co-founder, VIEW

‘I told Heathrow staff I don’t need to use a wheelchair, it is not appropriate for me’

M

y main problem, when I travel through airports, is getting to the ticket desk, through security and then onto my

flight.

“The main airports that I would have the most problems with are Heathrow, where I had one of my worst experiences, and Manchester.

“Heathrow told me from the outset that it couldn’t provide me with someone to guide me through the airport. It could only provide me with a wheelchair, which isn't appropriate for someone with a visual impairment.

“As a visually impaired person there is no difficulty for us to walk somewhere. We just need to be directed or for someone to give us some assistance.

“I voiced my objections to the person who was assisting me. I tried to reason with them and argue that I didn’t need a wheelchair. She didn’t take my views on board at all.

In the end, because I was rushing to a meeting, Front cover of issue two, 2012 I had to leave it at that. But on my way back health and safety issues.” through Heathrow, I made it clear to the staff Her experience at Heathrow is in stark at the desk that I didn’t need a wheelchair, it contrast to that experienced by Andrea at was not appropriate for me.

Belfast City Airport. “The staff there are very “The other difficulty I have is that there helpful and they don’t put me in a wheelchair. are people travelling through airports who They seem to be more up to date on what is may need a wheelchair because they have limappropriate for visually impaired people and ited mobility. Possibly, because the airport inmay have received training from the Royal Nasists that I use a wheechair, it might mean that tional Institute for the Blind (RNIB). I think a person who actually needs one can’t get it staff at airports who are unsure of the correct because I’m in it. I just need someone to guide policy for visually impaired people would benme through the airport. efit from visual awareness training.

“I was travelling to a meeting in early “The course shows behaviour that is January of this year when it happened. I know appropriate or not appropriate – for example, from speaking to friends of mine, who also some people feel they need to shout at a have a visually impaired person because they think visual impairment, that they have also we can’t hear them. Or if you are travelling experienced the same issues. They also voiced with someone else, they insist on talking to their objections to the staff.

“A lot of people who provide the service that person and not to you. Things are not as seem to be following regulations or something bad as they once were.

“One of the reasons is that the RNIB’s they have been told by management about

visual awareness training courses are being taken by more businesses and airlines.

“There is still quite a gap, though. I had another bad experience at Manchester Airport. I had just flown back from Brussels and was waiting on a connecting flight to Belfast. I had a couple of hours to wait. The special assistance woman brought me to a cafe. She left me there and said she would return before my flight. A couple of hours passed and there was still no sign of her coming back.

“Then there was an announcement on the airport system for passengers to board the Belfast flight. I began to panic. In desperation, I asked a customer in the cafe if they could assist me to the boarding gate. They kindly did. It was a very stressful experience.”

Andrea does not use a guide dog. “Unfortunately I got bitten by a dog when I was quite young. Dogs and I are just not going to happen. I use a cane to get around. I still have a small amount of residual vision. I can make out large shapes, but I don’t have enough vision to make my way around places, like airports.”

Andrea's visual impairment problems began when she was three years of age. “I developed a condition called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. I developed glaucoma from that. I gradually lost my sight from about the age of six.

“I got my eyes opened slightly – if that’s the right word – when I went to Brussels recently, which is the heart of Europe, the heart of all these special pieces of legislation about rights and entitlements for people with disabilities.

“I couldn't believe how difficult it was to get around as a visually impaired person.

“There were so many holes and cracks in the pavements. “It just made me appreciate how far we have come in Belfast.

“I was so glad to get back to normal pavements, good signage and the general public, who, for the most part, are very helpful.”

VIEW, issue 16, 2013

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Thumbs up for Kidnap Wednesdays Social isolation is a big problem for people with learning disabilities – but it is impossible to feel excluded at Kidnap Wednesdays, a social project run by the charity NOW. The weekly event in Belfast’s Black Box got its name because NOW’s Jayne McStay wanted to ‘kidnap’ just a couple of hours for activities including outings and workshops.

It was a hive of activity when View visited, with the Beat Initiative running a crafting workshop.

Ms McStay, manager of Kidnap Wednesday and volunteer coordinator at NOW, said people with learning disabilities often feel excluded from mainstream society, especially if they aren’t in work or training.

“That is where this group comes in because there are so many social skills that are learned in this forum,” she said.

Ms McStay and the volunteers – who range from students to an accountant who takes annual leave in order to take part – are always on hand. But she said it’s really about empowering the members to help themselves and each other.

“A lot of the time I would stand back and just listen to the barriers they’re facing, because a lot of people can sort it out themselves,” she said.

One major success has been the launch of the JAM cards. The cards are a discreet way for people with learning disabilities to let staff in shops, public services and on public transport know that they need ‘just a minute’ of patience.

Ms McStay said: “We had a small pot of funding for a staff member to go round and inform businesses and services in Belfast about the JAM cards. But the guys came forward and said, ‘this is our card so we want to do this’.

“They took to the streets and contacted over 400 businesses. So there’s an ownership of this card.”

One of the Kidnap Wednesday members,

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Research to look at payday loans Research being carried out on behalf of OFMDFM aims to examine issues including high cost lending, such payday loans, unlicensed lenders, catalogues and store cards. The research is being carried out in association with NICVA and Advice NI. To access the survey visit www.highcostlending.com.

Derry plays host to social awards

Angela O’Neill from north Belfast, last month spoke about the JAM cards at the Assembly Community Connect event at Stormont.

She said: “I had never done a speech before, but I wasn’t even nervous. I got up on the stage in front of everybody.

“I wouldn’t mind doing a speech again if I was asked.”

In August, 14 Kidnap Wednesday members are taking part in the World Police and Fire Games – a sign of the progress they have made since the project started.

Ms McStay said: “Two years ago some of our members thought that they couldn’t engage in their community and now they have the confidence, opportunity and pride to be part of these events that are coming to Northern Ireland.”

The annual Social Enterprise awards in Northern Ireland take place in Derry in October with the winners going to the UK finals in London the following month. There are ten main award categories open to social enterprises including Best New Start-Up and Social Enterprise of the Year, as well as categories open to supporters and investors. To register your interest email awards@socialenterpriseni.org.

Charities and Social Enterprises in Northern Ireland can also bid to win a Childcare Works Awards which recognise organisations that promote family friendly working practices.

Email marketing@employersforchildcare.org for further details.

Saving local media VIEWdigital will be taking part in a Co-operatives UK and Carnegie UK Trust event at NICVA, Belfast on June 27 to take action to save your local media. This is your opportunity to make local media work as a sustainable business and help to protect our democracy through local accountability. www.uk.coop/makethenews/event/make-yourlocal-news-work-belfast

VIEW, issue 16, 2013

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CO3 raises a glass to its first members’ day at MAC

By Lucy Gollogly

M

ore than 60 leaders from across the community and voluntary sector have taken part in CO3’s first members’ day in the MAC. The event on May 23, which was sponsored by law firm Edwards and Co, incorporated short workshops on personal and professional skills including relaxation techniques, legal matters and novel writing.View’s Una Murphy, Willis McBriar and Louise Friel also gave taster sessions on using social media and pitching stories to journalists.

The afternoon finished with a drinks reception and stand-up comedy from actor Dan Gordon.

CO3 supports chief executives and other decision makers in the Third Sector. Explaining the thinking behind the event, CO3 chief executive Majella McCloskey said: “We wanted to treat our members and allow them to take some time out of a very pressured and challenging role in order to have a taster of some personal and professional development opportunities.”

CO3 is also holding a half-day media summit in Crumlin Road Gaol on September 6 where the keynote speaker will be Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow.

Ms McCloskey said: “The media summit is an opportunity for people in Northern Ireland’s media to connect with leaders in the Third Sector. It’s an opportunity for our members to understand how to pitch stories to the media, and it’s a chance for the media to see fresh faces, hear fresh stories and maybe just provide some variety in what they’re reporting.”

She said they were “over the moon” to have Mr Snow at the event. And she promised: “There will be a few other interesting names involved as well.”

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Clockwise from above: Actor Dan Gordan with Majella McCloskey, Chief members of C03 enjoying the day; VIEW training digital associate Louise

VIEW, issue 16, 2013

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f Executive CO3; Dorcas Crawford, Senior Partner at Edwards & Co Solicitors and C03 chair John McMullan; some of the e Friel and VIEW co-founder Una Murphy delivering a talk on how to engage with the media Images: MichaĂŤl Marie

VIEW, issue 16, 2013

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The Big Picture Children from Drumahoe Primary School, Co Derry, enjoyed a Wind in the Willows-themed exploration day in the Woodland Trust’s Oaks Wood in the Faughan Valley recently. The children learned about the natural habitat through the medium of drama and storytelling as part of Faughan Valley Landscape Partnership’s Woodland Discovery Days If you would like your community/ voluntary organisation to be selected for The Big Picture in the next issue of VIEW, send images, marked ‘Big Picture entry’ to editorial@viewdigital.org

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VIEW, issue 16, 2013

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Comment David Thomas, NI Chair of the Enough Food for Everyone IF campaign, believes more lobbying is needed on world hunger following the G8 summit

Some of the performers at the recent IF concert in Belfast’s Botanic Gardens

We are determined to stand in solidarity with the world’s poor

T

he people of this island are renowned enthusiastic supporters of tackling global hunger and poverty. Perhaps there is something in our collective psyche, a folk memory of the potato famine, the last famine in western Europe.

A determination to stand in solidarity with the world’s poorest people was evident once again as strong public support for the Enough Food for Everyone IF campaign’s activities across Northern Ireland – lobbying MPs and MLAs, thousands braving the rain at the Big Belfast IF rally, joining the campaign online, buying IF wristbands, tweeting and posting – helped build a public movement and mood for global social justice.

This strong message was heard by the world’s elite. In the run-up to the summit, IF had already secured action on UK tax havens, on malnutrition and on land.

The IF campaign always maintained that a successful G8 summit could be the beginning of the end of world hunger. The Fermanagh G8 deal is exactly that, a beginning, another move in the right direction. The IF campaign achieved some key goals that matter directly to the one

in eight people living with hunger worldwide – but more campaigning and lobbying work is required to hold G8 leaders to account for progress towards turning ambitions and pledges into concrete action.

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People can be proud of getting issues like tax avoidance discussed

’

The G8 announced that all developing countries should have the information they need to clamp down on tax dodging. This in itself is momentous, and could make a real difference in helping poor countries to keep

more of their fair share, money which can be used to tackle hunger.

People here can justifiably be proud of the role they played in getting issues like tax avoidance and land rights discussed at this level.

Real progress has been achieved and this helps the move to a dynamic post-aid agenda.

Regarding the legacy of the G8 in a Northern Ireland context, there is a great opportunity to continue the momentum by building on the heightened public and political awareness of the issues highlighted by the IF campaign.

I switched on the car radio a few days ago and heard a panel discussion on Radio Ulster about the impact of tax dodging in developing countries and realised that there is no way that issue would have been discussed in that way were it not for the IF campaign.

We will continue the fight against hunger.

We must now move the development agenda forward in Northern Ireland, and ensure justice for those living in poverty all over the world.

• Visit www.enoughfoodif.org for more information

VIEW, issue 16, 2013

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Comment The words of the Lough Erne Declaration will be meaningless unless followed by actions, says Eithne McNulty, Trócaire’s director in Northern Ireland

Will G8 summit go down in history as a publicity stunt?

Some of the protesters who recently took part in a march in Belfast against the G8 summit

T

he dust has settled after the G8 Summit in Co Fermanagh but are we any further on in the fight for justice for the world’s poorest people? Yes, the G8’s Lough Erne Declaration has the potential to act as a turning point in the struggle against extreme poverty but it could also go down in history as yet another meaningless publicity stunt by the world’s wealthy nations.

The declaration does contain aspirations that have the potential to lift millions out of poverty. Clamping down on tax evasion alone could add over £85 billion to the economies of the developing world.

However, nothing will be achieved without the political will to turn those aspirations into reality. The declaration is heavy on ‘should’ and light on ‘must’. It makes many of the right noises but the real test will be whether there is any substance behind it.

‘

The declaration is heavy on ‘should’ and light on ‘must’

’

Failure to make commitments on sustainable development and reducing carbon emissions is particularly worrying as it displays a lack of will towards tackling climate change. This declaration ignores the critical role that small farmers play in feeding the world’s poor.

Image: Kevin Cooper It does little to address the challenges faced by small farmers and could potentially further undermine fragile local food systems. By maintaining a strict focus on opening developing markets, the worry remains that the G8 countries are looking out for their own trading interests more than they are those of the world’s poor.

Time will tell whether history records the Lough Erne Declaration as a real turning point for the one billion people who go to bed hungry every night or yet another in the long list of toothless stunts by the world’s most powerful countries.

The IF campaign, of which Trócaire was a leading member, gave a voice to many thousands of people here who demanded that the world’s poor be top of the agenda at the G8 Summit.

It is up to us all to now make sure that our government carries through on the commitments made in Fermanagh.

VIEW, issue 16, 2013

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Images of Belfast to click with the public A

photographic exhibition which offers a snapshot of life in interface areas of Belfast over the past 45 years is going on display at Belfast City Hall next month.

The Beyond the Wall exhibition chronicles the journey of the Clonard and Mid Shankill areas from before the Troubles until the present day.

The peace-building group Interaction Belfast initially collected almost 400 photographs, with community representatives selecting the final 80 pictures for the exhibition.

Roisin McGlone, director of Interaction Belfast, said the photographs show how far the communities have come in building positive relationships.

“This is a pictorial record of the journey of those communities through that very difficult and bloody conflict. They’ve come out the other side and they’re looking forward to moving on – with help,” she said.

She said the Clonard and Mid Shankill areas are still among the most deprived in Northern Ireland, and desperately need investment if the peace walls separating them are to come down.

“That was an industrial part of our city and there was employment for people – now we have walls and wasteland. In order for us to move forward, and to look at the removal of the mental walls, people need to have a good standard of living and jobs, and to feel the benefit of the peace process,” she said.

Ms McGlone said there have recently been encouraging developments in interface areas, such as the Belfast Metropolitan College’s £18m e3 campus on the Springfield Road, but more targeted investment is needed.

She said that while she welcomed US President Obama’s speech in Belfast on June 17 in which he said America would always “stand by” Northern Ireland, she wanted to see more tangible measures being taken to help interface areas.

“If Obama’s speech translates into concrete developments on our interfaces, it will be very welcome,” she said.

• Beyond the Wall runs from July 2 until July 31 on weekdays from 9am – 4.30pm in the East Entrance of Belfast City Hall, which can be accessed via the side door on Donegall Square East.

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Roisin McGlone, director of Interaction Belfast, beside one of the images in the Beyond the Wall exhibition Image: Kevin Cooper

VIEW, issue 16, 2013

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Cheers: Lynda Bryans supporting the Big D Guest T launch at Stormont

Lynda backs Aware tea event THE charity Aware Defeat Depression has invited people to host their own Big D Guest T tea parties in their homes, staff rooms, community centres and sport clubs on World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10.

The main aim is to get your family and friends gathered around a cup of tea and some buns, have a chat and in turn raise funds for Aware Defeat Depression.

Speaking at the launch was well known former TV personality Lynda Bryans.

Lynda suffered from depression 19 years ago and described it as “an experience I will

never forget. It is like it happened last week and it stays right there in your head.

“When people like Stephen Fry and Alastair Campbell speak about their depression, it’s like it gives us permission to speak about our depression.

“By hosting your own Guest T, you are helping tackle the stigma of depression and spreading a message encouraging people to talk about depression and mental ill-health.”

Following the event, Kieran Hughes, fundraising officer for Aware, said: “Every penny raised from the Big D Guest T will go directly

towards helping the increasing amount of people who suffer from depression in Northern Ireland.

“The money raised will help fund Aware’s community services and education programmes.

The Big D Guest T can help spread the message that depression is a common but treatable illness which any one of us could experience.”

Anyone who would like to host their own Big D Guest T can contact Aware Defeat Depression’s fundraising officer Kieran Hughes on kieran@aware-ni.org or phone 028 9035 7820.

CoderDojo Belfast awards budding young coders

By Willis McBriar AN ORGANISATION that teaches children ICT skills awarded its 150th ‘belt’ to young coders at an awards ceremony in Belfast Metropolitan College earlier this month.

CoderDojo Belfast teaches children and young people to build web sites and create applications for computers, smartphones and tablets.

Eighty-one belts – wristbands with USB flash drives attached – were awarded to those who have participated in CoderDojo Belfast over the past year at the ceremony on June 8.

White, yellow and blue wristbands were awarded depending on the young person’s level of involvement.

John Healy from Citi, one of the sponsors, also announced the winners of the GameMaker Competition to create a game for Citi.

CoderDojo Belfast was founded by Belfast Metropolitan College in association with Momentum in April 2012.

CoderDojo clubs are run by volunteer mentors and the organisation is on the look-out for more people to get involved. Contact Peter Doherty at pdoherty@belfastmet.ac.uk or visit www.coderdojobelfast.com