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The Community Research and Training Programme has been running since April 2003 when ICR developed the first project in conjunction with LINC Resource Centre in Belfast. Since then we have worked with a variety of groups in providing training, support and assistance in developing, undertaking and applying research methods and practices. All individual projects are specifically designed and programmed to adapt to the needs of the local group.
Our approach encourages groups and organisations to build and develop their own capacity to support future work in their local communities. The training can also help increase confidence in engaging with local agencies and authorities, such as the police, politicians and statutory agencies and has given impetus to local partnerships to build on the research findings.
Our current projects include:
Durlston Pastoral Care Centre: a cross-community dialogue project with young people from the Dunclug estate in Ballymena.
North Belfast Women's Initiative and Support Project:
a survey of women in the Glenbryn area to explore health issues and needs, to provide a foundation for the future development of the work of the local women's organisation.
North-West Flyers:
work with a youth training project, involving young people from Protestant and Catholic communities in Derry Londonderry, and Lifford in Co. Donegal, involves evaluating the impact of various courses on participants.
Previous community research projects have included:
- Artillery Youth Centre, New Lodge, Belfast: young women's experiences of violence.
- Ballysillan Churches, Belfast: how the churches might engage more effectively on issues of social concern.
- Carew II Centre, east Belfast: attitudes to the growing minority ethnic and migrant worker population in the area.
- Greencastle Community Association, Belfast: a community audit.
- Larne YMCA: young people's attitudes to and experiences of sectarianism.
- LINC Resource Centre, Belfast: young people and electoral politics.
- Mount Vernon Community Association, Belfast: community health audit.
- North Belfast Alternatives: the attitudes of young and older people towards crime and anti-social behaviour.
- Off the Streets, Galliagh, Derry/Londonderry: a survey of 450 young people to assess their attitudes to and experiences of violence and disorder.
For further information on the Community Research and Training Programme contact Ulf Hansson at ICR. There is a short article on this programme at www.arvac.org.uk/docs/info_bull98a.html
ICR staff also develop and deliver other forms of training and related activities that draw upon our general research experience. Recent projects have included:
- Co-operation Ireland Civic Link Project: research training in Dublin, for teachers involved with the Civic Link Project.
- Limavady Borough Council: a good relations training programme for councillors and council staff in Limavady.
- Community Relations Online: ICR prepared a number of modules for an online community relations training resource for the Nerve Centre, a multi media project in Derry. www.nerve-centre.org.uk
ICR staff also offer various forms of support and assistance to a wide range of individual researchers, students, academics and journalists on a regular basis.
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