The measures under this heading are generally directed at increasing the capacity for civic involvement in society. Currently, we are supporting initiatives targeted at disadvantaged youth, minority groups and volunteering.

Youth Leadership Programme

The programme targets young people between 15-17 years from schools, youth projects and alternative education providers in the Northside Partnership catchment area. It is designed to build up confidence, promote leadership skills and develop the personal capacity of participants to discuss matters of concern and to actively participate in group work and active community life. The programme generally runs from October to May.

Intercultural Working Group

The Intercultural Working Group is a joint initiative by the Northside Citizens Information Service, The Northside Community Law Centre, The Media Co-op/Near FM, Edenmore CDP and the Northside Partnership. The group aims to address some of the issues/concerns experienced by people from Minority Ethnic Groups/Communities in North Dublin. The group also provides Intercultural Awareness Training for people and organisations in the Northside Partnership catchment area.

Volunteering Support

The overall objective of this measure is to counteract the decline in voluntary activity through developing support measures for the local community and voluntary sector. Local information on volunteering, which was obtained through case studies and surveys, resulted in the organisation of training and support programme for local organisations in April/May 2008. The training consisted of the following modules:

(1) Developing a volunteer policy,
(2) Effective recruitment and selection,
(3) Support of volunteers,
(4) Relationship between paid staff and volunteers,
(5) Youth volunteering.

Youth Initiative Project

The Youth Initiative was established in 2008 as a joint initiative between the Northside Citizens Information Service, the Northside Community Law Centre, Sphere17 and Northside Partnership. The Citizens Information Service and the Community Law Centre realised that not a lot of young people are using their services. Therefore, the group engaged 11 young people in a pilot project targeted at delivering information regarding young people's issues.

All of them completed the training, which covered topics such as information giving & use of internet, social welfare & civil rights, employment rights & education, Health & safety, mental & sexual health, law & gardai, interculturalism, media and young people's rights. 5 participants completed the required 12 hour work experience and 4 young people are currently involved in setting up the information clinics which will take place in Sphere17.