ITM eBulletin February 2018

lTMNews

Fingal Traveller’s Organisation
Primary Healthcare Worker: Traveller Community
Applications are invited for the position of Primary Healthcare Worker.

Potential candidates should have:
A good knowledge of Traveller culture and the issues relating to Traveller health.

  • Experience as a trainee on a Primary Healthcare Programme or equivalent training
  • Knowledge of community development approach to working.
  • Knowledge of services provided by the Health Service and ability to link with same.
  • Good communication skills and appropriate attitude.
  • Willingness to visit all sites in the Northeast Fingal area.
  • Willingness to attend local, regional and national meetings to represent Travellers.
  • Willingness and ability to liaise between Travellers and Health personnel on Traveller issues.
  • Be reliable, a good team worker with ability to use own initiative.
  • Understanding/sensitive to individuals’ needs.
  • Full drivers license and own car desirable.

This is a part-time (10 hours per week) position, with an initial contract of 12 months duration, subject to funding. The candidate will be based in Matt Lane Resource Centre, St Macullin’s Park, Matt Lane, Balbriggan.

Salary will be €95.45 per week plus expenses.

Informal enquiries on the post can be made to Suzie McCarthy in Matt Lane, Tel: 01 8020504

To apply for this post, please forward a copy of your CV.
Applications must be submitted to the Primary Healthcare Co-ordinator, Fingal Traveller’s Organisation, St Macullin’s Park, Matt Lane, Balbriggan before 5pm Friday the 16th of March 2018

Fingal Traveller’s Organisation is an Equal Opportunities Employer.
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Peppers Court, James Fintan Lalor Avenue, Portlaoise, Co. Laois. 057 8682210

Community Development Worker & Horse Project Facilitator for Men’s Programme
Laois Travellers Action Group (LTAG) was founded in 1996 under the name Laois Travellers Views to work for the equal rights of Travellers living in the county. LTAG is looking to implement a Men’s Health Plan aiming at achieving equality of access and outcome in health, education and employment for Traveller Men, through capacity building that will increase the level of engagement, participation and self-determination of Traveller Men.

Men’s Programme (19 hours per week)

The purpose of the post will be:

  • To implement Laois Travellers Action Group Men’s Health Programme through the areas of health, sports, and capacity building in coordination with LTAG staff and in line with LTAG’s overall work-plan.
  • To outreach and consult with Traveller Men and other stakeholders.
  • To develop a programme of activities based on Traveller Men needs and interests.
  • To ensure equal access and representation to all Traveller Men living in county Laois.
  • To work in partnership with statutory agencies promoting the understanding of factors affecting Traveller Men.

The successful applicant will be required to have:

  • A thorough understanding of Traveller issues, particularly in relation to Traveller Men and Traveller Men’s health.
  • Three years of community development experience
  • Excellent communication, facilitation and interpersonal skills
  • A demonstrable understanding of community development approaches
  • Commitment to human rights and social justice and to work from an anti-racist perspective
  • Demonstrable capacity to work on own initiative and as part of a team
  • Ability to work with a wide range or stakeholders
  • Access to own transport with a full driving license

The successful applicant will be required to have:

  • Skills and experience in relation to horse care and management
  • Thorough understanding of Traveller issues, particularly in relation to Traveller Men and Traveller Men’s health.
  • Excellent communication, facilitation and interpersonal skills
  • A demonstrable understanding of community development approaches
  • Commitment to human rights and social justice and to work from an anti-racist work perspective
  • Demonstrable capacity to work on own initiative and as part of a team
  • Knowledge and ability to work with a wide range or stakeholders
  • Access to own transport with a full driving license

Qualifications Required:
A qualification and/or a minimum of three years relevant experience is essential.
A qualification in a related discipline (Community Development, Adult Education, Equine Science, Equine Studies, BHS) qualifications, is desirable.

Please submit a Curriculum Vitae and a detailed cover letter outlining qualifications, experience and skills specific to the position to The Manager, LTAG, Peppers Court, James Fintan Lawlor Avenue, Portlaoise, Co. Laois or via email at: laoistravellers@gmail.com by 2nd March by 5.00pm. This post is funded by the HSE.

Informal inquires or to request a job description please contact Annette Long, TEL: 057 8682210.
Laois Travellers Action Group is an equal opportunities employer.

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Traveller Counselling Service recruiting CD Worker
https://www.activelink.ie/content/vacancies/community/35356

Updates from the Irish Traveller Movement

Hi all

Just a reminder about the Yellow Flag’s Art Competition 2017/18, the closing date for which is Friday 23 March 2017.

Elva O’Callaghan ​& Margaret McDonagh​
Yellow Flag Programme

As part of the Yellow Flag’s 8 steps, schools are required to engage their whole staff team in intercultural anti-racism training. The Yellow Flag currently has a number of experienced trainers but with the support of IHREC will expand this panel around the country, specifically targeting trainers who are themselves Travellers and from other minority ethnic groups. As part of this project, ITM will conduct workshops in 3 regions from March 2018 to be followed by a 2 day training programme, based on IHREC/ITM’S Intercultural Training for Yellow Flag Schools.

Details of workshops will be announced in March.

Accommodation Updates
The Irish Traveller Movement will present to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Planning & Local Government on the Provision of Traveller Accommodation – ‘Review of funding for Traveller-specific accommodation and the implementation of Traveller Accommodation Programmes’, on Thursday 8th March 2018 at 10.45a.m

Minister of State, Damien English will lead the opening session along with the National Housing Agency followed by the Irish Traveller Movement with NTACC partners Pavee Point and the National Traveller’s Women Forum and closing with representatives of the County and City Management Association .
Upcoming ITM Events

postponed – postponed – postponed – postponed- postponed
TRAVELLER ETHNICITY CELEBRATION POSTPONED UNTIL 15 MARCH DUE TO FORTHCOMING BAD WEATHER

Organisers say public health and safety of paramount importance

The Traveller Ethnicity Celebration which was due to take place this coming Thursday, 1 March has been postponed until 15 March and will take place in the same venue, the Royal Hospital Kilmainham.

Speaking on behalf of the steering committee organising the event, Thomas McCann said that the decision to postpone the event was due to the Royal Hospital’s decision to close in light of the severe weather warnings that apply to Thursday.

“The Steering Committee organising the Traveller Ethnicity Celebration met this afternoon to consider the Royal Hospital’s decision to close this Thursday – the day upon which the Celebration was due to take place – due to the severe weather warnings that have been issued by Met Éireann. In the light of the Royal Hospital’s decision, we had no option but to postpone the event.”

Thomas McCann apologised to the hundreds of people who were planning on travelling from all over Ireland and abroad to the event, but said that it was in the best interests of public health and safety to postpone the event.

“We’ve spoken to the Royal Hospital Kilmainham and they have agreed to host the event for us on 15 March next. So the Traveller Ethnicity Celebration will be going ahead but two weeks later than originally planned and we’re very much looking forward to it,” Thomas McCann concluded.

Notes to Editors

Organising Consortium

The Irish Traveller Ethnicity Celebration is being organised by the following nine Traveller organisations with the support of the Department of Justice and Equality:

  • Irish Traveller Movement;
  • National Traveller Women’s Forum;
  • Minceirs Whidden;
  • Pavee Point;
  • Involve
  • National Traveller Money Advice and Budgeting Service;
  • Parish of the Travelling People;
  • Exchange House Ireland National Travellers Service;
  • The Traveller Counselling Service

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Pat Montague 087-2549123

Pat Montague
Montague Communications
087-2549123
www.montaguecomms.ie

Policy Updates
National Roma Integration Strategies up to 2020 has been published the preliminary findings resulting from the public consultation on the EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies up to 2020 has been published. The consultation ran from 19 July 2017 to 25 October 2017 and gathered 240 replies. The summary report takes stock of the contributions received and gives an overview of the opinions expressed by the respondents. You can find the summary report under this link:
https://ec.europa.eu/info/consultations/public-consultation-evaluation-eu-framework-national-roma-integration-strategies-2020_en

In the media

Information Sharing

Meath Travellers Living History Project
I am contacting you in relation to Meath Travellers Living History Project , we have added very exciting changes to our Living History Project , we are at present taking bookings for our project which is happening at a great pace . I am contacting you to ask you would your group, or any group you have contact with in your area of work be interested in having us bring our Living History to your area this year ,

The best time of year for us is from March to July. Can you please contact me as soon as possible if your organisation or any other group would like us to visit, and we have an up to date information pack available if you would like me to send it to you.

My contact details are nellmarie.mcdonagh@gmail.com or 085-7434179, or 086-3672070
Can I also ask you if you have a list of all Travellers groups in your area can you please email me the list please

Looking forward to hearing from you soon
Thanking you Sincerely
Nell Mc Donagh
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QQI Level 3 course on Media Expression
We are looking at running a QQI Level 3 course on Media Expression starting from mid March and were hoping that you might help us by spreading the word so that more people know that we are running it.

During the course the learners will identify different forms of media outside the recognised mainstream and also how to decide which type of media works best to portray different messages.

The course is designed to show people how they can liaise with the media to highlight issues that affect them and advocate for change.

At the end of the course the learners will also, as a group, create a one hour speech based show around issues affecting the Travelling Community, at either a local or national level.
Please contact:

Sadhbh Smyth
Trainer & Outreach Co Ordinator,
Raidió Corca Baiscinn,
Circular Road,
Kilkee,
Co. Clare,
Tel: 065-9083022
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Trinity College Dublin together with the Irish Cancer Society and HSE are inviting women from the Liberties area of Dublin 8 and Charlemont//Rathmines areas of Dublin 2 & 6 to take part in a new community based study to help women quit smoking.

The aim of the study is to figure out the best way to support women to stop smoking by comparing two different programmes; a community stop smoking programme, which is specifically designed for women, and a HSE stop smoking service.

We are looking for 50 women, who currently smoke, to sign up and take part in this exciting new research study. Each participant will be allocated to either one of two community stop smoking programmes, which will both start early March. The research will take 12 weeks to complete.

At the end of the programme, information from all of the women will be examined to assess how effective each programme was in supporting them to stop smoking. Participants will be invited back to their community programme after 6 months to look at their progress, discuss how the programme worked for them and to monitor the long term benefits of taking part in the programme.

Your help in recruiting participants for the study by distributing information about the project in the above areas and identifying women who might be interested in participating would be much appreciated.

These are the contact details and links to further information for women who might be interested in the study:

If you have any questions about the study, please contact Dr Aurelia Ciblis at Tel: +353 (0)1 896 1385 or email: ciblisa@tcd.ie
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Bus Éireann Apprentice Programme 2018. Bus Éireann, the national bus and coach company and Dublin Bus, which operates bus services in the greater Dublin Area are now seeking to recruit Traveller apprentice heavy vehicle mechanics in the following locations:

Dublin Cork Waterford Rosslare Stranorlar Ballina Limerick Thurles Tralee Galway Athlone Longford

These apprenticeship positions are open to both female and male candidates. Our apprentices are trained to the highest possible technical standards and acquire, amongst many other skills, the ability to maintain the various systems associated with modern public service vehicles. This includes training on the various day to day repairs and preventative maintenance tasks, in addition to vehicle diagnostics/fault finding with some of the most advanced systems of its kind in place. Our apprentices have had much success in the National Skills Competition over the years.

An apprenticeship comprises seven phases, three off-the-job and four on-the job. During all of these phases you are assessed on a structured ongoing basis.

On-the-job training takes place with Bus Éireann/Dublin Bus during Phases 1 – 3 – 5 – 7.
Off-the-job training is designated by SOLAS as follows:-

Phase 2: SOLAS Education and Training Board (ETB) Training Centre
in Dublin, Cork or Waterford

Phase 4: Department of Education and Skills – Athlone or Dublin IT

Phase 6: Department of Education and Skills – Athlone or Dublin IT

During your apprenticeship you will be trained for a category D driving licence.

Educational Qualifications:
Candidates must have obtained the following minimum standards at the time of applying.

Grade C or higher at Ordinary Level in the Junior Certificate (or equivalent) in one sitting in the following subjects:

  1. Irish or English
  2. Mathematics
  3. Science Subject  (Technology, Art, Craft & Design, Technical Graphics, Materials Technology (Wood), Home Economics or Metalwork).

Any two other subjects

(Grade D or higher on higher level papers is acceptable).
OR Grade D or higher at Ordinary Level in the Leaving Certificate (or equivalent) in one sitting in the following subjects:

The closing date for submitting an application is 1st April, 2018. Placements will commence in Autumn 2018 and applicants must be at least 16 years of age, on or before the 1st August, 2018. Each candidate will be required to undertake aptitude tests and the results will be used to compile a shortlist for interview purposes.

Applications must be made online to Bus Éireann Apprentice Programme 2018.

National Traveller MABS
All Weekly Social Welfare Payments to Increase by a Fiver From March
The increase will kick in during the last week of March 2018 and will impact people in receipt of payments such as the Jobseeker’s Allowance, Disability Allowance, Carer’s Allowance and the State Pension.
More Detail

Stick to Your Savings Goals
WE all have good intentions at the start of the year, it can be hard to make New Year’s resolutions stick. Often January is an opportunity to take a look at our finances and set money goals for the year.
More Detail

Bursary Fund available for Travellers and Roma in 1st Year University
The 1916 Bursary Fund is a targeted funding scheme established by the Department of Education and Skills to support implementation of the National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2015-2019. The National Access Plan is working to increase the numbers of students who are currently underrepresented in higher education.

This funding is being provided to underline the Government’s commitment to the type of equality of opportunity envisaged by the 1916 signatories.

What Higher Education Institutions will be awarding 1916 Bursaries?

All of the higher education institutions are awarding the Bursaries as regional clusters. The MEND cluster is made up of four higher education institutions – Athlone Institute of Technology, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dublin City University and Maynooth University. The MEND cluster have a total of 40 bursaries available to award to students attending these higher education institutions
More Detail

Bus Éireann Apprentice Programme 2018
Bus Éireann, the national bus and coach company and Dublin Bus, which operates bus services in the greater Dublin Area are now seeking to recruit Traveller apprentice heavy vehicle mechanics in the following locations:
Dublin Cork Waterford Rosslare Stranorlar, Ballina, Limerick, Thurles, Tralee, Galway, Athlone, and Longford.