IFI Wider Horizons IFI Wider Horizons ProgrammeProgramme

Overview of the Programme

Objectives

Context/Background to the development of the Wider Horizons Programme

Outcomes

Challenges

WHP established 1986 – one of the Funds WHP established 1986 – one of the Funds longest running Programmeslongest running Programmes

very bleak time during the height of the very bleak time during the height of the Northern Ireland ‘Troubles’Northern Ireland ‘Troubles’

economic deprivation and political economic deprivation and political instability - violence and civil unrestinstability - violence and civil unrest

high unemployment, low investment and high unemployment, low investment and deterioration of the physical infrastructure deterioration of the physical infrastructure throughout Northern Ireland and Southern throughout Northern Ireland and Southern Border countiesBorder counties

closure of border roads cut off cross-closure of border roads cut off cross-border trading and cross border contacts border trading and cross border contacts were minimalwere minimal

IFI Wider Horizons IFI Wider Horizons ProgrammeProgrammeContextContext

political activity – 1985 signing of the Anglo-Irish political activity – 1985 signing of the Anglo-Irish AgreementAgreement

emphasis on the totality of relationships – cross-emphasis on the totality of relationships – cross-community in the North, cross-Border between community in the North, cross-Border between North and South of Ireland, and East/West North and South of Ireland, and East/West between Britain and Irelandbetween Britain and Ireland

Article 10 recommended that a special fund be Article 10 recommended that a special fund be set up to further the economic and social set up to further the economic and social development of cross-community and cross-development of cross-community and cross-Border relationships, especially with regard to Border relationships, especially with regard to ““those areas of both parts of Ireland which have those areas of both parts of Ireland which have suffered most severely from the consequences of suffered most severely from the consequences of the instability of recent yearsthe instability of recent years”. ”.

This was the context in which the Fund and This was the context in which the Fund and subsequently the Wider Horizons Programme was subsequently the Wider Horizons Programme was born.born.

IFI Wider Horizons IFI Wider Horizons ProgrammeProgrammeContextContext

IFI Wider Horizons IFI Wider Horizons ProgrammeProgrammeContextContextThe words of the first Chair of IFI highlights the focus on The words of the first Chair of IFI highlights the focus on promoting contact and dialogue through economic and promoting contact and dialogue through economic and social regenerationsocial regeneration

““Stability and prosperity are seen as prerequisites for Stability and prosperity are seen as prerequisites for peace and reconciliation. Nobody is so napeace and reconciliation. Nobody is so naïïve as to ve as to suppose that money alone can buy peace; or that money suppose that money alone can buy peace; or that money could, or should be used to subvert deeply held principles could, or should be used to subvert deeply held principles or beliefs. But discord, conflict and violence flourish in or beliefs. But discord, conflict and violence flourish in conditions of economic instability and disadvantage; and conditions of economic instability and disadvantage; and contributions to ‘viable and self-sustaining growth’ may contributions to ‘viable and self-sustaining growth’ may provide a foundation upon which a more peaceful and provide a foundation upon which a more peaceful and prosperous society can be builtprosperous society can be built””

Annual Review 1986/87 International Fund for Ireland (p.3)Annual Review 1986/87 International Fund for Ireland (p.3)

IFI Wider Horizons IFI Wider Horizons ProgrammeProgrammeObjectivesObjectives

the fostering of mutual understanding the fostering of mutual understanding and reconciliationand reconciliation

The twin objectives of the WHP are:The twin objectives of the WHP are:

to improve the to improve the employability through employability through training, work experience training, work experience and personal development and personal development at home and abroadat home and abroad

IFI Wider Horizons IFI Wider Horizons ProgrammeProgrammeMethodologyMethodology

Cross-border, cross community – geographic Cross-border, cross community – geographic links/partnerships (TDP, Springboard, Clanrye)links/partnerships (TDP, Springboard, Clanrye)

Bringing groups together for training and Bringing groups together for training and overseas work experienceoverseas work experience

While abroad the participants learn to live and While abroad the participants learn to live and work together as a united groupwork together as a united group

Taking young people away from their home Taking young people away from their home environment, where they can be challenged by environment, where they can be challenged by outsiders who know very little of the differences outsiders who know very little of the differences that may divide them, has been found to have a that may divide them, has been found to have a very positive impact on participantsvery positive impact on participants

Mutual understanding achieved through formal Mutual understanding achieved through formal and informal methodsand informal methods

IFI Wider Horizons ProgrammeIFI Wider Horizons ProgrammeStructureStructure

A current WHP Project typicallyA current WHP Project typically

targets targets unemployed, disadvantaged unemployed, disadvantaged 18–28 year olds 18–28 year olds

has three phases – Pre-departure, has three phases – Pre-departure, Overseas and Return phasesOverseas and Return phases

has an equal ratio of participants has an equal ratio of participants i.e. 7 from the Nationalist i.e. 7 from the Nationalist community in NI, 7 from the community in NI, 7 from the Unionist community in NI and 7 Unionist community in NI and 7 from the border counties or Dublin from the border counties or Dublin in the South of Ireland.in the South of Ireland.

IFI Wider Horizons IFI Wider Horizons ProgrammeProgrammeSStructuretructure Duration varies Duration varies

– pre-departure / training pre-departure / training phase (8 – 17 weeks)phase (8 – 17 weeks)

– overseas/work experience/ overseas/work experience/ study phase (1 – 10 weeks)study phase (1 – 10 weeks)

– return/job return/job seeking/progression phase seeking/progression phase (2 – 6 weeks)(2 – 6 weeks)

Various overseas destinations Various overseas destinations – Canada, Europe, USA– Canada, Europe, USA

IFI Wider Horizons ProgrammeIFI Wider Horizons ProgrammeStructureStructure

Pre-departure phasePre-departure phase

accredited vocational training – specific and accredited vocational training – specific and genericgeneric

mutual understanding activities – formal & mutual understanding activities – formal & informalinformal

Residential – team buildingResidential – team building personal development & life skills e.g. money personal development & life skills e.g. money

management, drugs and alcohol awareness, management, drugs and alcohol awareness, first aidfirst aid

career planningcareer planning meeting with overseas provider meeting with overseas provider

IFI Wider Horizons ProgrammeIFI Wider Horizons ProgrammeStructureStructure

Overseas phaseOverseas phase OrientationOrientation Work experience placementWork experience placement Social & cultural activitiesSocial & cultural activities

Return phaseReturn phase CV preparation / Job search / career CV preparation / Job search / career

progressionprogression Complete qualifications & portfoliosComplete qualifications & portfolios EvaluationEvaluation Graduation eventGraduation event

IFI Wider Horizons IFI Wider Horizons ProgrammeProgrammeChallengesChallenges

WHP changed over the years due to challenges:

- changing economic climate- changing social environment- demand for skills- cultural changes due to

immigration- operational challenges –

currency fluctuations, Ash cloud, 9/11, foot & mouth, SARS

IFI Wider Horizons IFI Wider Horizons ProgrammeProgrammeSummary 2011 Activity PlanSummary 2011 Activity Plan

Budget for the WHP in 2011 is £4.22m Budget for the WHP in 2011 is £4.22m Stg (IFI) + €1m (FÁS) + £700k (DEL)Stg (IFI) + €1m (FÁS) + £700k (DEL)

TDP – 11 projects TDP – 11 projects (228 participants)(228 participants)

Springboard – 10 projects Springboard – 10 projects (210 participants)(210 participants)

ClanryeClanrye – 4 projects (84 participants) – 4 projects (84 participants)

Open Access – 3 Projects Derry – Austins, Open Access – 3 Projects Derry – Austins, DYCW & St Columb’s Park House DYCW & St Columb’s Park House (63 (63 participants)participants)

Open Access ‘Special Project’ BallymenaOpen Access ‘Special Project’ Ballymena

Total 29 projects Total 29 projects (up to 606 participants) (up to 606 participants) inin 2011 2011

IFI Wider Horizons IFI Wider Horizons ProgrammeProgrammeResultsResults

• To date approximately 17,000 To date approximately 17,000 young people have completed young people have completed the WHPthe WHP

• 28 Wider Horizons projects 28 Wider Horizons projects plus one development project plus one development project successfully completed in successfully completed in 20102010

• Combined progression into Combined progression into training & employment in training & employment in 2010 was 71%2010 was 71%

IFI Wider Horizons IFI Wider Horizons ProgrammeProgrammeResultsResults

During the 2008 Evaluation oDuring the 2008 Evaluation one participant ne participant statedstated

““This Programme has changed my life. This Programme has changed my life. I would be lying in bed all day and I would be lying in bed all day and getting up to go drinking and stone getting up to go drinking and stone Catholics later. Now I’m involved in Catholics later. Now I’m involved in youth work and I love it. Some of my youth work and I love it. Some of my best friends are Catholics, and I go best friends are Catholics, and I go to places I’d never have gone before. to places I’d never have gone before. I have great hopes for the future… I have great hopes for the future… before the Programme I had nothing before the Programme I had nothing going for me.” (p 105)going for me.” (p 105)

Evaluation of the impact of Mutual Understanding Evaluation of the impact of Mutual Understanding interventions on participants on the IFI’s Wider Horizons interventions on participants on the IFI’s Wider Horizons Programme’ (May 2008) Deirdre Fitzpatrick & Programme’ (May 2008) Deirdre Fitzpatrick & AssociatesAssociates