Co Wicklow Leader+ Ireland www.wicklowleader.ie
Wicklow Leader + mission is "through a process of partnership and co-operation, to develop the capacity of individuals and communities by supporting the economic, social, cultural and environmental improvement of the catchment area of Wicklow Rural Partnership. In particular, a number of women’s groups have been supported by the programme to play an active part in their communities. They have produced a report on ‘Women’s Role in Agriculture’.
Wicklow Leader is keen to work in partnership with its counterparts in Laois to support and sustain the initiative that was hosted by the Irish Farmers Union to increase the participation of women farmers in decision making.
• A networking event bringing together women’s groups and projects from across Wicklow and project partners addressing gender equality between women and men.
• Dissemination of recent reports on women in agriculture and farming.
• Joint working on supporting newcomers from diverse backgrounds into rural communities.
• Participation in other events on the theme of inclusivity.
Wicklow Leader+ hosted an event to bring together a number of women's groups from the county with transnational partners, which took place in November 2007.
Twenty women representing 8 different organisations/groups from Ireland and the UK participated in a two –day transnational workshop in Wicklow on 15th and 16th of November 2007. Groups represented included:
UK Groups
• North Northumberland Women’s Network
• WorcNet
• College of the Peak
Irish Groups
• Irish Countywomen’s Association Wicklow (ICA)
• Irish Farm Family Committee –Wicklow
• Tinahely Women’s Network
• Kilcoole Women’s Group
• Baltinglass Women’s Group
Thursday 15th Nov – Transnational Network Meeting
This meeting took place at the offices of Wicklow Rural Partnership the local LEADER Action Group in Co. Wicklow and involved the UK partners and the LAG.
This meeting provided a valuable opportunity to highlight the previous LEADER+ programme in Co. Wicklow and some of its impacts both at community and enterprise level. Priorities for the future were identified under the New Rural Development Programme 2008 – 2013. Siobhan Geoghegan made a presentation on the consultative process which is currently underway in county Wicklow. This meeting provided for valuable exchanges of information from both the UK and Irish side.
Following this meeting the partners had the opportunity to review the plan and running order for the workshop on the 16th and made some final adjustments to the plan for the day.
Download the notes of the meeting here
Friday 16th November – Workshop at Brockagh Resource Centre – Laragh, Co. Wicklow.
Morning – Session One
The morning session commenced with a short presentation on the Brockagh Resource Centre in Laragh by manager Pauline Fahy. Pauline gave a very interesting and informative overview of this impressive community centre and the vast array of activities that it hosts; this was followed by a walkabout and a questions and answers session.
This was followed by a presentation on the activities of NNWN by Hala Zaluczkowska. The North Northumberland Women's Network is committed to providing support to help local women achieve their goals, and to play an active part in the local economy and community. It is run by women for women and offers various networking opportunities, a range of traditional and not-so-traditional activities, mentoring, one-to-one support into learning, enterprise or work.
In this presentation Hala outlined the various projects and type of work that NNWN are involved in delivering to its members. In particular Hala outlined the ‘Self Build Project’ which is currently underway and also the NETS Exchange and Trading Scheme. This was followed by a visual presentation by Rebecca Hoskins who has participated on the ‘Self Build’ project; Rebecca delivered a very practical and positive outline of work progress on this project to-date. These presentations captured the attention of all the participants and a lively discussion followed with plenty of opportunity of experiential learning.
Group Work – Session One
In an effort to encourage participants to think about their specific groups and to facilitate networking and sharing and exchanging of ideas and perspectives, participants were divided into 4 groups of 5 and asked to discuss the following:
The Benefits of being in a women’s network/group
The Challenges of being in a women’s network/group
Each group presented feedback on their discussion which included the following.
Benefits
- Getting to know people particularly if you are new to an area
- Sense of belonging and integrating
- Sharing and gathering relevant information eg transport/babysitters/
- Friendships- Meeting others with similar backgrounds.
- New Opportunities in term of employment and business
- Meeting and networking with people who have similar needs
- Social contact and breaking out of isolation.
- Support from a business and personal perspective
- Sounding Board for new business ideas
- Opportunities to trade with the group and wider connections through word of mouth promotion.
- Developing new skills through access to group education and training.
- Engaging in community development work in order to sustain services
- Emotional support
- Confidence building and personal development through group work
- Reaching out to all women
- Getting support and realising “you are not on your own”
- Little cost to get involved – very accessible
- Broadening ones outlook, life and skills
- Linking into wider networks.
- Lobbying for women’s rights (e.g. non-contributory pension for farmers wives)
- Getting things done, achieving and setting up other community resources e.g. community playground, Parent and Toddler Group increasing the involvement of women in the community.
- Exchange of ideas and knowledge.
- Empowerment for women
- Benefits to women and wider community.
- Developing links with other groups within ones community with a view to undertaking a joint project.
- Operating a system whereby a different core group take on responsibility to organise an upcoming meeting including all elements of that meeting, speaker, activity etc; as operated by Tinahley Women’s Network.
-
- Challenges
- Maintaining cost at a minimum in order to remain accessible.
- Whilst women may benefit other family may not move at same speed or in the same direction.
- Trying to respond to everyone’s needs is a challenge.
- Keep things vibrant and interesting.
- Keep existing membership and attract new members.
- Coming up with new ideas
- Giving others a chance to do things
- Capitalise on opportunities when they arise despite time constraints.
- Being aware of the demands on women and the changing role of women.
- Getting women to undertake a leadership role.
- Sourcing Funding
- Developing a strong dynamic in the group.
- Venues for meetings and activities
- Transport to and from activities
- Perception of different groups
- Breaking down myths
- Sustainability and Commitment and getting shared responsibility from volunteers are constant challenges.
- Trying to do too much
- Raising expectations too high.
- Time constraints
- Totally dependent on voluntary input.
- Work life balance – particularly with younger women – children and work commitments.
- Hard to recruit committee members and officers
Following lunch a short trip was made to Glendalough (Ancient Monastic Site of great Importance in Co. Wicklow and the country’s 2nd most visited site by tourists)
The final group session of the day examined the following:
Priorities for action for rural women’s network in 2008 onwards…..
This was done in the round as the full group and participation was extremely high
Priorities Identified included the following:
- Re-focus on local groups within local communities
- Develop networking opportunities for women’s groups i.e. in Co. Wicklow.
- Find ways of sharing resources and co-coordinating publicity and advertising local services e.g.: a leaflet/directory
- Networking - Website for Wicklow Women’s Groups, with links to other women’s networking websites
- Website – to contain a toolkit of case studies and models of good practice to assist learning and sharing opportunities.
- Create opportunities for fact to face networking opportunities – 3 per year including International Women’s Day on 8th March annually .
- Extending invitations to group events to other networks.
- Carry out an audit of all women’s groups and develop a database for dissemination to all groups.
- Develop a space for groups to celebrate their activities and share with wider groups.
- Celebrate ‘Rural Crafts’ and ‘Traditional’ skills.
- Develop projects that involve young people – intergenerational committee.
- There is a need for practical project based support with expertise from local development organisations.
- The whole area of Integration is of great importance to women’s groups/networks.
Evaluation
The final activity involved an Evaluation of the day and a simple approach was adopted. Women were asked to indicate one or more positive or negative aspect from the day on a post-it pad which was then placed on the wall.
The following is the Evaluation Feedback
- Positives
- Loved networking.
- The chance to interact with women from different backgrounds.
- Re-energised my enthusiasm.
- In danger of becoming that dreaded thing “unfocused”, my mind is so seething with ideas.
- Such a good feel good factor to be in the company of interesting lovely women.
- Barter system idea is inspiring. NETS
- Meeting kindred spirits.
- Experiencing sisterhood.
- As always great to share with everyone, lovely to meet old and new friends – looking forward to 8th March 2008 – International Women’s Day..
- Lovely food and fantastic scenery.
- A really great day so informative and what a lively group.
- We have got such an amount of food for thought, for me it certainly has been an eye opener.
- I found many of the ideas very interesting and now feel like I want to get more involved in local groups and activities.
- Great day, opportunity to meet other women’s group.
- A chance to organise future forum and marry ideas.
- Need to co-ordinate and get youth involvement to secure future.
- Meeting women from other networks and to share ideas.
- Time to re-focus and work with women and role of volunteers.
- I am taking with me the sense of networking and how vital it is.
- In today’s busy times we need to make sure we connect. Also although we may not be completely comfortable with it, technology is also vital in sustaining these links with other groups, we need to keep in touch and keep this world small.
- The importance of groups networking – exchanging ideas and sharing expertise.
- Liked the idea of groups bartering systems again sharing talents.
- Found the day inspirational. Renewed energy to focus on networking more with other groups in area, not just women’s groups.
- Realising just how much inspiration and enthusiasm women have and are eager to share.
- For me it has been really encouraging to go for it even more.
- All good vibes – great interaction between everyone.
- Self build project – food for thought.
- Contacts established between women’s groups in Wicklow for sharing courses etc leading to more efficiency.
- I was fascinated by the building project – very inspirational, wouldn’t have though such could be achieved. It’s completely outside the box for me, perhaps we should think outside the box more – it may encourage others to join.
- The need to invest in our youth in rural areas and meet face to face with like minded groups and network.
- Information gathering & case studies.
- Learning together the most important outcome of today’s meeting.
- Vital to keep up contacts even if only twice a year.
- Negatives
- Not enough time X 10.
- Could have been more condensed.
- Case studies from Irish participants.
- Participant list and better break up of groups.
- Any other comments?
- Lovely welcome and atmosphere and great to hear of everyone’s achievements.
- Would love to come back.
- Great day – need more time!!!!!
