Bert Robinson, right Chairman of Newtownbutler Together , pictured withSean Feenan Community Foundation N.I. Thomas O’Reilly, Vice Chairman of Newtownbutler Together and Mary Leitch Youth Work Ireland
IT WAS once regarded as among the most polarised communities in Fermanagh – but things are changing for the better in Newtownbutler.
A new group drawing from the two main traditions in the area has been making strides in improving community relations in an area which suffered greatly dsuring the course of the Troubles.
Now the Newtownbutler Together group – set up in 2011 – has just been awarded a grant of nearly £100,000 to support its work over the next 18 months.
The group, which has new offices above the Credit Union building tries to encourage mutual respect and understanding of all cultures and traditions within the area; ‘with a vision to create a community that is vibrant, healthy, prosperous, safe and sustainable and has the needs of all at its core’.
The £98,000 grant will go towards helping develop ties between the two main communities in Newtownbutler and will include work to engage young people from the age of five through to 16.
At the heart of the project is community engagement and encouraging those who do not normally participate in peace building or who actively avoid cross-community contact. As well as providing jobs at their new office the project will also look at tackling local unemployment by delivering a series of four training programmes which will include personal development, CV writing, interview skills, job preparedness, interpersonal skills, participant specific skills such as computer skills, basic literacy and numeracy skills where required.
Chairman Bert Robinson said: “The Peace Impact Programme is an opportunity for Newtownbutler and we would welcome people to get involved in the project. There will be an advisory group and anyone interested is invited to contact us by email or through one of the members of the group.”
It is hoped that the new office will open in the next few weeks. For more information on the project email newtownbutlertogether @gmail.com.
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