Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - Council Minutes

05 November 2009

Confirmed Minutes

In attendance: Maureen Hetherington, Sheena Funston, Sean Coll, Eamonn Oakes, William Redpath, Lisa-Jane Kerr

Staff: Jacqueline Irwin, Michaela Mackin, Joan Clements, Brian Mullan, Carol Taylor, Mary Pantaleoni, Karen Duggan, Patricia Cuthel (Minute taker)

Apologies: Jim Campbell and Duncan Morrow

Minutes from last meeting:

Agreed

Matters Arising

Brian Mullan updated committee on water rates and how these will now be added to the re-allocation of underspend.

Officers Report:

Brian presented the officer’s report on the Victims and Survivors Core Funding Programme.

Joan Clements gave an update on her Befriending support visits.

Carol Taylor gave an update on small grants:

She stated that already this year there have been 542 applications received with around £1.7million committed, leaving the scheme over-subscribed.

Carol highlighted a couple of examples of Good Practice: Omagh Support & Self Help Group – Walking Club and TEAR have completed their story telling project where their book was launched 2 weeks ago and has been recorded on DVD.

Michaela Mackin discussed the small grants scheme in further detail, there has been nearly £3million requested. We have processed 445 applications with 110 still to be assessed.

Michaela stated the intention to over commit the budget by around 15%. MM will be in contact with the Victims Unit to discuss this further. She also indicated that the most likely course of action in order to deal with the remaining applications would be to prioritise themes. Further details of this process would be passed to committee in advance of any decision making.

Michaela discussed the concern that there are groups who are just newly set up who have got other groups to fill in their application forms for V&S Development Grants. It is important to note that the application form for the scheme is quite simple and if groups require assistance to complete this process they will be unlikely to have the capacity to manage a possible grant award and related vouching. We are concerned about putting undue pressure upon groups, although a great deal of groups want their own identity as a group. We have been looking at the possibility of encouraging already established groups to support other small voluntary based groups with their support projects. Committee discussed the issues surrounding partnership and the will of many groups to have their own identity.

Sheena Funston commented that there are vulnerable groups out there who would like to avail of respite support trip grant awards but are not applying. It would be a concern on how these needs can be met.

Michaela Mackin issued the Committee with a Trends Analysis paper, this paper was discussed, in particular the growth in USC and UDR & Phoenix groups. It was noted that it ex-service groups now feel safe to come forward and seek support for those that have been traumatised by the Troubles period.

Michaela Mackin welcomed new staff Mary Pantaleoni and Karen Duggan and thanked Carol for her work on the scheme as the sole Development Officer for the last few months, she also thanked Brian Mullan, Joan Clements, Mary Pantaleoni and Paul Jordan for all their help in assessing small grant applications and to Patricia and Brook for their ongoing work.

A discussion took place with regards to what the new ‘Service’ will look like?

Sheena Funston commented that groups are very vulnerable and fearful at the minute about the Service and commented that a discussion had to take place around this matter.

Jacqueline Irwin asked the Committee if they could voice any ideas around how this discussion could take place.

Sean Coll commented that groups are not certain as to who will be dealing with all this. He confirmed that there is vulnerability in the Sector at present. With regards to the Review of Funding being carried out at present there may be groups that are not aware that things are going to change and stated that someone at a strategic level will have to do something about it.

Sean also commented that we must ensure consistency when assessing applications to the Scheme, and for groups to receive reasons why they are not receiving 100% applied for. Sean also commented that CRC can take pride in their quality of service and with respect to empowering groups to do the work. There are a great deal of groups who are doing important work at grass roots level to support victims and survivors.

Maureen Hetherington stated that she believes that CRC are the only body that groups would trust to take any discussion around the future of services and how to deal with possible duplication forward.

After a detailed conversation Jacqueline proposed that CRC take this further by discussing with the Victims Commission. All supported this proposal. It was noted that the Victims team are considerably over-stretched at present and therefore Duncan was suggested as being key to this discussion.

Sean Coll agreed that CRC is in the best position and that representatives could meet with Forum/Commissioners.

Michaela Mackin thanked Committee for their comments and indeed their constant support in ensuring recommendations passed to them have come back speedily which has ensured the Scheme is responsive to needs.

Programme Update Report

Michaela Mackin gave the following update:

2009 Victims & Survivors Conference has received good feedback from groups. The work on the first day focused on the Service consultation and was productive. The open debate on the second day was tense at times but the majority of feedback showed that it was a worthwhile exercise and that CRC would host a follow up next year. There was a recognition that some people were not ready to have certain discussions and sensitivities to this would be shown in the invitations to the follow up seminar.

Sheena Funston commented that the people on the platform should be more sensitive to the needs of delegates and that it was very heated at times, and noted that CRC staff had to step in to refocus delegates.

Michaela Mackin commented that it was a difficult balancing act in order to attend to the needs of all of those at the conference. She noted that people in attendance were at different levels in their journey towards healing. She also said that many delegates asked for these conversations to continue and that they were timely. It would be the intention of staff to coordinate a further event on issues raised in relation to dealing with the past however this would be undertaken at a time when the team is freed up and will most likely be in the next financial year. Michaela also said that invitations to such an event would issue with the cautionary note that only those that are ready and prepared for such conversations around the difficult issues relating to the past should attend.

Review of Victims Funding

Michaela Mackin gave the following update:

Deloitte are taking forward a review of funding since the original end date for Victims Funding in 2005. This will include 15 focus groups, around 20 key strategic stakeholders and this work begins this month.

Finance/Verification Training

Mary Pantaleoni updated the committee on the Grant Verification Training Seminars on 18th & 19^th November 2009. Mary referred to the financial guidelines prepared for groups and the powerpoint to assist groups to vouch for their grant awards.

Governance Audit Review

Michaela Mackin updated the committee on the progress of the Governance Audit.

Maureen Hetherington thanked the Victims team for the great volume of work they are doing.

AOB

Special Request from Ashton Community Trust

Committee approved Brian Mullan’s recommendation that group receive funding for a full time administrative worker.

Special Request from WAVE Trauma Centre

Committee approved Brian Mullan’s recommendation in principle while group await Peace III funding.

Committee considered the following applications

09/0639 – USC Main Branch

09/0798 – Springhill Community House

09/0795 – Royal Irish Rangers

09/0786 – Wounded Police & Families Assoc

09/ 0677 - UDR Omagh

09/0767 – TEAR

09/0379 - USC

09/0671 – CALMS

09/0573 – CALMS

09/0756 - The Wider Circle

09/0724 – Limavady Welfare Support Group

09/0726 - Teach Na failte

09/0640 - Crossfire Trust

09/0838 – Ashton/Koram Centres

09/0837 - Ashton/Koram Centres

All above applications were approved in principle on the basis of the Committee reviewing the recommendations by email and the availability of funding/budget.

Application Rejected

09/0383 - Not Forgotten Society – Rejected

Members requested that a letter to sent to group advising of other potential funders.

Date of Next Meeting

08 December 2009, Stormont Buildings @ 10am, this meeting would primarily focus on the Review of Victim Funding where Deloitte will be in attendance from 11am. Michaela suggested that a further committee meeting would be likely to take place in January/early February of 2010.

WAVE’s launch taking place at 12 noon at Stormont and members of the committee have been invited to attend.