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G8 Youth Summit

The Fermanagh Trust in partnership with Co-operation Ireland, Future Search Network and Libraries NI is holding a G8 Youth Summit in the Lough Erne Golf Resort on the 15th and 16th May 2013. The summit will provide young people from the ages of 16 to 25 across the region with the fantastic opportunity to have their voices heard by world leaders on a range of international development issues.

Two international speakers will address the young people attending the summit. Joanna McVey, Chairperson of the Fermanagh Trust said “We are delighted to be organising this event. It is not everyday a young person gets the chance to present their views to world leaders. This will be a huge opportunity for young people from Fermanagh and beyond and a great experience for all involved”.

The Fermanagh Trust is pleased to be working in partnership with Co-operation Ireland and also have the support of U.S. - based Future Search Network who are facilitating the summit, which will help promote a vibrant, positive message from the youth of Fermanagh and beyond.

A key output at the end of the youth summit will be the production of a communiqué from the young people, which will be formally presented to representatives of the G8 countries. It is hoped that these will then be presented to the G8 leaders in June when they arrive in Northern Ireland for the G8 Summit.

Enniskillen Library will be providing a wealth of educational resources on international development for the participants of the summit and the wider community. They will be supporting The Fermanagh Trust by receiving applications as well as assisting those interested in learning more about global issues in the coming weeks ahead of the youth summit and G8 in June.

Stephen Bleakley, Area Manager (Omagh & Fermanagh) of Libraries NI, adds: “We are delighted to give our support to the G8 Youth Summit being held in Enniskillen during which the young adults attending will have the opportunity to discuss international affairs, promote cross-cultural understanding and build global friendships. Application forms to attend the summit can be returned to Enniskillen Library and the library will be displaying a range of resources relating to G8 issues which library members can borrow for free.”

For any 16 to 25 year olds interested in participating in this exciting free event, application forms can be downloaded here. Alternatively, application forms can be requested by emailing chloe@fermanaghtrust.org with the subject title ‘YOUTH SUMMIT APPLICATION’. Completed applications must be received no later than Friday 5^th April 2013 and can be returned by emailing the above address, or by handing them into Enniskillen Library.

Minister for Social Development, Nelson Mc Causland MLA joined a panel and audience discussion with Lauri Mc Cusker from the Fermanagh Trust , Roisin Foster from Cancer Focus NI and Dr Tim London from Queens University. Approximately 150 people attended the event from across NI.

During the discussions chaired by William Crawley, the panelists discussed what steps are needed to be taken to help community and voluntary organisations achieve their goals in supporting people and communities and build a stronger charity sector.

Alex Maskey MLA, Chair of the Assembly Committee for Social Development, also spoke at the Conference, during his presentation he looked at the contribution community and voluntary organisations had made over the last 40 years and encouraged new thinking and new ways working.

Lauri Mc Cusker who participated in the event said:

‘‘It was an excellent event, which captured the importance of joined up thinking and effective partnership working. It was encouraging to have the opportunity to highlight both the issues impacting on communities and organisations and the future challenges in areas such as County Fermanagh.’’

Lauri explained ‘‘In County Fermanagh we have to think strategically and work in partnership with the large Belfast based organisations. That is very much our ethos here in the Fermanagh Trust. The conference was a very important opportunity to outline our thinking and contribute to the overall theme of the importance of collaboration in this challenging economic climate.’’

For further information on the work of Collaboration NI visit; http://www.collaborationni.org/

Fermanagh Trust Social Enterprise Award is now closed for applications. Award winner to be announced at an ceremony in the Manor House Hotel on Friday 26th October 2012.

Chernobyl Children’s Appeal brings children to N Ireland for a recuperative holiday, & this year Gemma Johnston - receptionist in Fermanagh House, & her family, hosted 2 children. The staff organised a fun day starting with games at the Broadmeadow followed by a very welcome lunch in Fermanagh House. We were delighted also to support & host a cake sale to help raise funds for the Children Appeal, the total amount raised was £482.23. Special thanks to all Fermanagh Trust staff who helped make the day so successful, & memorable for the children.

The children from Chernoby enjoying the Fun Day hosted by the Fermanagh Trust

The visit took place the day after the Minister of Education, John O’Dowd announced the establishment of a Ministerial Advisory Group on advancing Shared Education. Fermanagh schools have ample evidence & good practice that can be fed into the Advisory Group. By working co-operatively on a cross-community basis, schools in Fermanagh have been able to strengthen curriculum delivery & enhance educational opportunities for pupils. The delegation spent considerable time with Catherine Ward (Shared Education Programme Manager) & representatives of the Shared Education Advisory Committee, Marie O’Shea, Principal of St John the Baptist Primary School, Roscor & Victoria Wilson, Principal of Newtownbutler Primary School & also Kate Doherty, Chair of the Board of Governors, Tempo Primary School. During the lengthy meeting, the MPs learned about the progress of Shared Education in Fermanagh, from its inception in 2009, when it was a new initiative designed to enable schools deliver the curriculum jointly with a neighbouring school from a different sector. Now 3 years later, Shared Education is largely embedded in the weekly timetable for the majority of schools in the County. Schools, & ultimately pupils, are benefiting from being able to tap into the teaching skills & expertise, resources & facilities of their partner school & they realise that they can achieve much more jointly than operating as a single stand-alone unit. The MPs were impressed with the success of the Programme, but the Fermanagh representatives stressed to the delegation that the sectoral bodies & the Department of Education need to ‘catch-up’ with the school communities in Fermanagh. The fact that Shared Education represents two priorities in the Programme for Government, (i) ensuring that all children have the opportunity to participate in shared education programmes by 2015, & (ii) substantially increase the number of schools sharing facilities by 2015; was welcomed. However, meaningful delivery of these commitments impacts on a number of policy areas, e.g. how schools are funded, so that collaboration & good educational outcomes is encouraged over competition & perhaps, most importantly, the current area planning process on the provision of education needs to take cognisance of the priorities in the Programme for Government relating to Shared Education. The Fermanagh school representatives emphasised that a number of schools wish to explore shared education models. They hope that the managing authorities tasked with area planning adhere to the Terms of Reference issued by the Minister of Education, which state that realistic, innovative & creative solutions to address need, including opportunities for shared schooling on a cross sectoral basis, are identified. The area plans could shape the schools estate for the next 30 to 40 years, so it is very important that local communities make their views known during the consultation process, which is already on-going for the post-primary sector, & will start for the primary sector when the primary school area plan is published at the end of the summer.

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