25 Years - News - Rural Community Network
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Net wo r k News
RURAL
March 2017
. NUMBER 60
www.ruralcom
munitynetwor
k.org - Celebratin
g 25 Years
Celebrating
25 Years
Chairperson’s Foreword
T o be celebrating 25 years is a significant milestone for any organisation. It has
been a privilege to have been involved in RCN for over half of this time during
which we have seen many changes, celebrated many successes and faced many
challenges. Throughout this time RCN has consistently demonstrated at the core of its
work a commitment to rural people, rural communities and rural issues. As someone
living in a rural community this is why I initially became involved as a Board member
and it is RCN’s ongoing commitment to rural that keeps me involved.
We are facing challenging and uncertain RCN is grounded in the groups that it In my time as a Board member with RCN I
times socially environmentally and works alongside. It is managed and owned have been extremely fortunate to have
economically. Rural communities, which by those groups. Its strategic plan places worked with many highly skilled and
make up 35% of the overall population of at its core an ambition to support, develop talented people. I have learned so much
NI, will not be immune to these and grow local groups in order that we are from their knowledge and experience of
challenges. If they are to develop and in a position to make informed responses rural issues. For me, many of my best
thrive we need to ensure there is a to government policy making and take experiences with RCN have centred
commitment within government to better informed decisions about the direction of around having opportunities to visit
understand the particular challenges travel in our lobbying and campaign work. organisations working in their own
facing rural areas and a commitment to Our connection with groups on the communities. Seeing first-hand how rural
finding resolutions to these challenges at ground helps us as, an agency, to provide groups, most of whom are volunteers,
both a local and central government level. evidence of the impact of polices on rural work to bring real changes to their
communities and helps us to articulate communities has been truly inspiring.
Over the past 25 years RCN has worked the views of rural groups to policy makers.
tirelessly to grow and develop the capacity
of local groups to find local solutions to We want to thank all of those groups, PAUL DINSMORE
local issues through working alongside individuals and organisations who have
Chairperson RCN
these groups to develop their shaped and supported the work of RCN
understanding of policy contexts, their over the years. You have made it the
capacity to respond to adverse impacts of thriving, passionate and ambitious agency
disinvestment, service withdrawal and that it currently is. In these uncertain
challenging financial circumstances and times we continue to commit to working
we have worked to articulate their voice tirelessly to articulate the needs of rural
and their viewpoints right across dwellers, particularly those who are most
government. marginalized, to those who both make and
influence policy.
2
Unlocking the Potential
have spent almost 20 years working in rural development; firstly when I
I managed Oakleaf Rural Support Network, then as an RCN Board member, an
RCN employee and now Director. During that time I have witnessed first-hand the
drive, ambition and passion of this organisation, its staff, its membership and its board
in lobbying policy makers and investors to view rural areas as a valued asset rather
than a challenge to be overcome.
Improving the lives of those living and social isolation, service withdrawal, within their gift to unlock the potential of
working in rural communities has been a unemployment and connectivity to name their areas to deliver opportunities for
key function of Rural Community Network a few. The prospect of Brexit adds a local employment, local services, local
since its inception 25 years ago. All further set of complications to rural facilities and social support. RCN will
through those years the organisation has communities and in particular our rural continue to support them in their
had held tight to a vision which would border communities. We know that the endeavours.
ensure vibrant, sustainable rural ‘one size fits all’ approach to rural
communities by working alongside our development will not work as rural areas
member groups to support their efforts to have different needs and require different KATE CLIFFORD
achieve their potential in areas of solutions. Having worked alongside our Director
economic, social and cultural strong, supported and empowered
development. In its 25 year history this communities for the past 25 years we
organisation has worked alongside a wide know from experience that many of these
variety of stakeholders, from local groups issues can and will be addressed with local
and key agencies in the community and innovation and creativity.
voluntary sector to government
departments and Ministers, to deliver Rural Community Network believes that
policy changes, pilot programmes, the most important resource in any rural
financial investment, research and support community is its people and through the
services. This special edition of Network development and support services we
News highlights some of the key offer, along with our partner organisations,
successes that RCN has delivered in its we aim to capitalise on the talent,
lifetime and reflects on our journey so far. creativity and energy of rural people to
maximise their assets and overcome
As we look to the future, Rural Areas will barriers to their development. Rural
be faced with many challenges, including people, across Northern Ireland have it
3
NICVA
H
aving worked together for “That voluntary and community sector effective way. We have enjoyed a
so many years, it was great organisations across Northern Ireland mutually beneficial relationship built on
to finally cement the (urban and rural) are provided with the trust and appreciation for each
relationship between the two key generic infrastructure support which organisations’ expertise. We are delighted
organisations by joining in allows them to function effectively to that this relationship has continued to
partnership to deliver the generic deliver government objectives and develop and we are now providing joint
strand of the Regional Infrastructure maximise the impact of the work support for faith based community
Support Programme (RISP) funded they do”. organisations.
jointly by then Department for
Social Development and NICVA and RCN alongside CO3 and CENI
Department for Agriculture and developed a programme of work to help
UNA MCKERNAN
Rural Development (now ensure that the Voluntary and Community
Deputy Chief Executive
Department for Agriculture, Sector (VCS) operating in Northern Ireland
NICVA
Environment and Rural Affairs and is supported to operate in an effective
Department for Communities). way. This support, on which the VCS
depends, includes a combination of
The joint policy statement produced in capacity, skills, physical resources and
2012 demonstrated government’s structures which help those organisations
commitment to working with and function appropriately to meet the needs
supporting the Voluntary and Community of the communities they serve.
Sector to help secure the delivery of
efficient and effective public services, NICVA and RCN have worked hard
particularly to vulnerable and together since 2012 to deliver this support
disadvantaged communities. The vision for ensuring the needs of organisations, urban
the programme was: and rural across NI are met in the most
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Twenty Years a Growing
migration to work elsewhere doesn’t
T
here’s a well-worn Irish consistent disappointment (though the
description of the life- new Mid-Ulster Council’s Local require the cruel, long separations that it
cycle that starts “Fiche Development Plan 2030 Preferred Options used to bring. New, vigorous people from
bliain ag fás/Twenty years Paper includes a great deal of thinking Europe are now central to many of our
a-growing … Fiche bliain faoi that’s inspiringly refreshing for those of us local economies. Local entrepreneurialism
bhláth/Twenty years in blossom”. lucky enough to live in Mid-Ulster). just won’t lie down. And since the first
Rural Development Programmes arrived
On that basis, we are, frighteningly for Rural-related health care has been a Tyrone have won 13 All-Irelands compared
some of us, now half-way through the ‘in one-way street of accelerated retraction. to just three before that!
blossom’ period of structured rural Too many core infrastructure projects
development here. Over those three earmarked for rural areas (such as the To those who helped make those many
decades the rural development space has Police College and the A5 and A6 roads) good things happen for us … Thank You!
become cluttered, confusing and, too get beset by problems. Important small And that includes RCN.
often, frustrating for the people, Schools disappear and it continues to be
communities and groups actually living in impossible to get the Schools estate To finish where we started. That Irish take
and making up rural NI. But given that opened up for other uses. on the life-cycle finishes out “Fiche bliain
before the late 1980s happy arrival on the ag cromadh/Twenty years declining, Fiche
scene of the ‘Three Wise Men’ of the then Despite their centrality to daily personal, bliain gur cuma ann nó as/Twenty years
Department of Agriculture, Bill Hodges community and economic life, broadband when it doesn’t matter if you’re there or
(RIP), Felix Dillon and Gerry McWhinney, and mobile phone coverage are either not”! It’s clearly therefore time to start
the rural development space was more of absent or unacceptably poor in too many planning for the decades ahead. Over to
a desert, many of us would prefer the bit rural areas. RCN and the good people in it!
of clutter any day.
The development of Sprucefield, a place
Plenty of good things have happened in nicely accessible to many rural people, MARK CONWAY
the years since but there’s still a lot to do. seems stymied because of a reluctance to
Inaugural Chairperson RCN
As a rule-of-thumb for me our local accept that ‘traditional’ city centres aren’t
Councils provide very good civic and won’t ever again be what they once
governance and service delivery for rural were.
areas but the performance of too many
things organized for us at the regional But for all that, for me rural life here is
level here is correspondingly poor. better than it ever was. Most populations
are growing, after more or less a century-
Planning, from the PSRNI ‘Green Book’ and-a-half of grinding decline from the
through to PPS 14 and 21, has been a Great Famine. Modern travel means
5
Rural Development
Council
rom as far back as I can remember there has been a
F relationship between RDC and RCN and for me that
accounts for almost twenty of the twenty five years that
both organisations have been in existence.
In fact, my first role within RDC was and experience particularly when it comes continued budgetary pressures and
within Community Based Actions. The to promoting rural development and concerns for sector sustainability, one
CBA team was set up in 1996 to deliver working for the betterment of rural thing is certain, we need to continue to
EU Peace Programme funding to rural communities. work together to strengthen the rural
communities, working in partnership with presence and ensure the rural voice
RCN to form what was known as the Rural I still remember in 1999 the is heard.
IFB - an Intermediary Funding Body for announcement that there was no longer a
the EU Peace Programme. This need for a Rural IFB and the tremendous We wish RCN all the very best as they
partnership approach in the delivery of the rural lobby that mounted resulting in a celebrate 25 years and wish them well
Community Based Actions measure further £13.18m being secured and for the future.
ensured that rural communities right the continuation of a rural specific IFB
across Northern Ireland engaged in and until 2009.
had access to the Peace Programme. TERESA CANAVAN
The response for funding was great and That said, working in partnership it is not
Chief Executive
the projects were many and varied. without challenge and both organisations
Indeed it gives me great pleasure to have seen many changes over the years
witness how many of these groups remain which have brought with them ups and
in existence today and that the RDC and downs but we always seem to arrive back
RCN partnership, in some small way, may to recognising the huge benefits to be
have contributed to their success along gained through working in partnership
the way. and collaboration.
Both organisations are in no doubt about As we embark on a future of new
the value of partnership and bringing challenges and opportunities facing into
together the diversity of skills, knowledge Brexit, the outcomes of elections,
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7
INTERVIEW
No point hankering after
the status quo
Network News spoke to Denis McKay adopted its constitution in 1987. under the first Rural Development
North Antrim Community Network We worked away and encouraged the Programme. Re-naming as North Antrim
founder member and founding Board establishment of community Community Network was more reflective
member of Rural Community Network organisations in each of the Glens and we of the wider reach of the Network.
about the formation of community had some members from outside the
networks in the Glens of Antrim. Glens geographical area. NN What were the key successes for
the Network in the early days?
NN How did the Glens of Antrim Some of our committee members and
Community Development Association groups were initially content to remain as DMcK A key milestone was when we
come about? a Glens of Antrim organisation but there employed our Network Development
were other member groups and people, officer Breige Conway who is still with the
DMcK – Before GARCDA was formed we myself included, that recognised the value Network as Manager. We were very lucky
had individual community groups of a wider North Antrim alliance of to recruit Breige and she played a key role
operating in three of the Glens, namely community organisations. If we had in developing the Network. The Network
Cushendun District Development remained as GARCDA we would probably Directors still retained their role and took
Association, Cushendall District continued to have been perceived as an the strategic decisions and that was how
Development Group and Glenariffe organisation dominated by one side of the it should operate. We had a strong group
Development Group. These three separate community. So we decided that we of people democratically elected on our
associations were established and working needed to expand the coverage of the Board who were all very active in their
together as the Glens Development Network and we met with new members respective communities and I think we
Group. I can only speak for Cushendun in villages across North Antrim who gave good support and complemented the
where a loose association, a village wanted to join us or who were interested work of the staff. I would say our key
committee was established in 1985. in finding out more. I’m a keen fisherman success was getting new groups to join
As far as I can remember Malachy and I remember I often brought a bag of the Network and ensuring that there was
McSparran heard Cushendall were fish with me to distribute to people we a wide range of groups from across the
developing a community group in the were meeting in those new groups, it was community in North Antrim who could
village and that was motivation for people a great way of breaking the ice. buy in to what we were trying to do.
in Cushendun to establish one. The three We offered practical advice and support to
groups came together out of necessity GARCDA then became North Antrim groups when they were setting up and we
and to be honest funding was a Community Network in 1997. Initially we were able to help groups access a
motivation as well as we all realised that expanded into five wards adjoining the computer which helped them with their
together we would have a lot more Glens as this corresponded with the North administration and communication.
leverage with potential funders. GARCDA Antrim Area Based Strategy brought in
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NN What were the key challenges for regeneration and community NN Looking back what would you
NACN in those early years? development but very little in rural say are the key lessons from your
communities. At that time farmers were involvement in NACN and RCN?
DMcK A key challenge was getting around having more bad years than good years
all those small member groups, working and many of the smaller farms were only DMcK Once people are stirred out of their
with them to get organised with a clear keeping going through income earned off lethargy they will become active and make
plan of what they wanted to do. I believe the farm. A key challenge was to ensure their voice heard. I found that lots of
there is a natural limit to how far a local that rural communities were getting a fair people involved in community
network can reach, especially in rural areas share of EU funding. The Rural Halls development in committees are blow-ins
where distance is an issue. NACN couldn’t programme run by RCN became very or incomers to that community, including
expand much further beyond the North important at that time and it allowed rural myself. Although I had links to Cushendun
Antrim area with Cushendall as a base communities to either develop or renovate – my father was from here – I grew up in
because the travel time to other areas community meeting spaces and places Glasgow. I think the input of outsiders is a
would have been prohibitive. where people could come together and good thing in a community as it stirs
develop services. I would say at that time people up and gets the locals involved, as
NN How did you get involved with we also reflected the views of smaller they would say “who does he think he is
the original board of RCN? farmers who weren’t members of the UFU spouting off when he’s only been here a
and whose concerns would have been very few years – I’ve been living here all my life
DMcK I was an original board member different from those larger farmers who and I have something to say as well!”
and as I recall we were invited, as a strong were UFU members. Rivalry between villages and places can be
rural network, to get involved in the Board a good thing and it can motivate people to
of RCN by sending a representative. NN What were the key successes push on and get their own projects up and
One of the key motivations for us to get of RCN in those early days? running.
involved, to be honest, was due to RCN’s
developing role as a distributor of funding DMcK I’d say the Halls Programme was a I think in many rural areas older people
to rural communities at that time and we key success and was money that was very liked to live below the radar and not stir
were keen to learn how we could benefit well spent across a wide range of rural things up too much they just accepted
from RCN. communities throughout Northern poor services or circumstances. If you
Ireland. The other key success was that want to improve things in your area then
NN what were the key issues people realised they could make their you have to raise your voice. Change is
RCN faced in those early years? voice heard through working collectively happening all the time anyway and there’s
and that important issues could be raised no point hankering after the status quo,
DMcK I’d say the most important with decision makers. you have to try and shape change to
challenge was raising rural issues - Rural benefit your area.
representation and raising the rural voice
to policy makers and decision makers.
In our view government was spending
millions in cities and towns on
9
Community Places
W
e share a common have about what motivates people who
ambition with RCN. love the place they live to advocate for
It is to help ensure that its sustainable development.
communities have their voices
heard and their rightful place in Without the voices that RCN enables,
the decision making processes some communities would simply be swept
which affect them. aside in the onward rush for short term
gains at long term cost to wellbeing.
It is thus no co-incidence that down The challenge for many of us in the future
through the years we have often worked will be to provide the solid ground from
in partnership with RCN on furthering which such voices can be heard loud and
community engagement and participation. clear – and respected. We look forward to
This has ranged from jointly supporting pursuing this cause with our RCN partners
practical programmes and projects for for many years to come.
local facilities and services, to lobbying on
broader policy fronts including planning
and rural disadvantage.
COLM BRADLEY
As two relatively small organisations, each
Director
with a wide regional remit, we know at
first hand the real mutual benefits of
sharing information, skills and resources
and being creative to maximise impact.
A recent example is our joint “Re-thinking
Nimbyism” multi-media project. It
challenges the prejudices all too many
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11INTERVIEW
Combatting de-population and
developing rural communities
Jennifer McLernon worked for the JMcL The RDP was a European wide as well as ensuring LEADER1 funding was
Department of Agriculture and Rural initiative and it put rural development on spent. That was the theory, but in practice
Development (DARD) as one of three government’s agenda. Initially I believe we sometimes found it difficult to make
Rural Area Co-ordinators (RAC) at the there was some debate within significant impact with some other
time RCN was established and the new government as to whether RDP would Departments and local authorities where
Rural Development Programme was even be a DANI responsibility. Bill Hodges personnel jealously guarded their territory.
being introduced. In this discussion who was the Permanent Secretary in the LEADER1 was aimed at rural community
with RCN she reflects on some of the Department at the time hadn’t come from initiatives rather than agricultural
issues facing rural communities at the an agricultural background which perhaps initiatives and also targeted the most
time and how the Rural Development contributed to him seeing the wider deprived rural wards. As we developed the
Programme influenced the picture and championing rural programme there was debate within the
Department’s approach to wider development. He argued strongly that it Department as to how we should develop
socio-economic issues in rural areas. needed to be located within the projects. One school of thought was that
Department. Felix Dillon was just below we should focus on economic
NN Jennifer, tell us a bit about your permanent secretary level and he related development and work with the business
background and how you ended up well to rural development with Gerry people in rural communities who could
working on the Rural Development McWhinney, who became my direct boss. develop projects that would bring
Programme. I think they understood what rural employment to those areas. There was a
development was aiming to achieve and tension though with some of us who saw
JMcL My early career was in teaching and connected well to some of the main that there was also a need for more social
delivering training in the Hospitality players across rural Northern Ireland. development type projects and that the
Sector. I then took up a lecturing post in “softer” projects, as I would call them,
the Department of Agriculture in the NN How did the emergence of the were legitimate to do.
Communications Department at Rural Development Programme change
Loughry College. From there I went on the approach of the Department NN You worked for the Department
secondment to NIPSA for 4 years after regarding the significance of rural when both RCN and RDC were
which I returned to DANI as a training development? established in 1991. Why did
officer and eventually became the Department actively support
Departmental Training Officer. I spent a JMcL Initially within the Department there rural development organisations at
year in policy division in DANI mainly on was some tension between the more that time?
European Funds and legislation. It was traditional agricultural side and the rural
basically a desk job and that probably development side whose main concern JMcL Rural Community Network’s role at
didn’t best suit my personality or was engaging with the non-farming rural that stage was to animate the groups on
disposition but it was to be useful community. For the roll out of LEADER1 the ground in rural communities and I saw
experience. Then the Rural Development DANI set up a new Rural Development how important that was. We needed
Programme (RDP) came along. It sounded Division with a policy team at Dundonald those groups to be able to submit project
like an interesting initiative and I liked House and three regional teams. Sean bids that we could fund. RCN was already
the idea of engaging and working with Nugent was responsible for Tyrone and in existence and was doing animation
communities so I applied for one of the Fermanagh, Martin McDonald was work. The Rural Development Council
RAC posts . responsible for Armagh and Down and I (RDC) was established to encourage and
looked after counties Derry and Antrim. develop project ideas and support groups
NN What do you remember of Our role was to work as Rural Area to submit projects to DANI for funding.
the Department’s focus on rural Co-ordinators. Although we were LEADER funding was used to match other
development before the rural employed by DANI which was to become funding but the initial idea was that the
development programme? DARD, we were to assist the co-ordination community had to find 10% match
Was it on the agenda of the of all appropriate government funding of their ow, either in cash or in
Department in any way? interventions in those rural communities
1 The LEADER programme (an acronym in French meaning Links between actions for the development of the rural economy) is a European Union initiative to support rural
development projects initiated at the local level in order to revitalise rural areas and create jobs
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kind, to put into the project. An example community we would work with them to trying to work with groups who had the
of this was the Glenshesk Hatchery and provide the support to get an application bones of a good idea but whose project
Rivers Restoration project developed by an over the line. Our ultimate aim in was perhaps over-ambitious. We might
association of angling groups around supporting both RCN and RDC was to have made suggestions to amend their
Ballycastle. The river system and salmon reduce out-migration from rural plans and keep them involved in the
stocks had been badly damaged in communities by providing infrastructure programme. Looking back now I don’t
disastrous floods in 1990. With a and opportunities that made it possible think too many white elephants were
comparatively small funding package for people to remain with a reasonable funded through the RDP.
members of this association physically standard of living. The main issues we
helped to build the hatchery. They were concerned with were economic NN How did having new partner
certainly gave their time and expertise to development and job creation, public organisations in the community and
gathering the roe, from what was left of transport, services, leisure facilities and the voluntary sector change the way the
local salmon, to stock the new hatchery provision of public or affordable housing. Department worked? Or did it?
and then manage it. The plan included
environmental, social/leisure and NN Were any views expressed on this JMcL I think it worked because there were
economic outcomes as both locals and changing policy direction by the then sufficient people, both inside the
visiting anglers could be accommodated. Direct rule ministers? Department, other agencies and in the
community sector, who understood what
The animation and development of grass JMcL I don’t recall much of an issue in we needed to do collectively to deliver the
roots groups was an essential element in relation to our direct rule ministers at the programme. Whilst, undoubtedly, there
those early days and was the foundation time. were disagreements the shared goal was
of later success. When I started as Rural As long as decisions had been cleared by to develop rural communities and combat
Area Co-ordinator in Derry and Antrim my senior departmental officials they were the de-population and desertification of
perception was that the community largely content. rural areas for the benefit of the whole
infra-structure in parts of those counties society of Northern Ireland. To be honest,
was less well developed than say in NN From your point of view what as I remember it, there wasn’t a dramatic
Fermanagh or in County Armagh. After were the challenges the RDP faced change in the philosophy of the
five or six years of work by RCN and the at that time? Department.
Rural Support Networks there were viable
groups in Derry and Antrim that allowed JMcL One of the big challenges was The Rural Development Programme was
these areas to attract their fair share of getting local stakeholders, including farm introduced across Europe and we knew we
RDP funding. Rural Support Networks families, to engage. We found it easier to couldn’t deliver it ourselves. DARD
were important in encouraging local engage with the business people in the needed viable community and voluntary
groups to take responsibility for their community or those who were focused on groups based in rural areas to help deliver
own networking. economic development and regeneration. it so it was a pragmatic approach adopted
Another challenge was working with local by the Department at the time. I
RCN also played a key role in keeping a authorities to get them to address thoroughly enjoyed my time helping roll
focus on the social development issues community development as this wasn’t an out the Rural Development Programme
that needed to be addressed when some issue that was on their radar at the time. across Northern Ireland. I met some
agencies and authorities would have The other challenge for the Department as amazingly energetic and dedicated people.
interpreted their aims in a way that a funder, and for the LEADER programme I think together we made a significant
focused on the economic development was to avoid delivering ‘white elephants’. difference through, what was for its time,
side of rural development. I saw my role We did have to try and manage that as quite a radical initiative.
then as getting the RDP funding spent funders and ensure that public money was
effectively and we tried to be as flexible as used to achieve the aims of the
possible within the rules to make that programme and that it was properly
happen. If we saw a good idea from a accounted for. In some cases that meant
13Forkhill Community
Development Association
M
ajella Murphy from With Support from DARD , DSD and our about the impact of Brexit. Will there
Forkhill Community local council and councillors we have been again be a physical barrier between us and
Development Association successful, the site has been secured and our southern neighbours? We have worked
speaks about the challenges the the twenty social houses built by the hard to re-connect with neighbouring
community faces in the next 25 FOLD Housing Association, now occupied communities within the border region
years. Forkhill is a rural village in by young families. since the re-opening of border roads after
the south of County Armagh with the Troubles ended. Our people work,
a population of 498, close to Work is almost complete on a green socialise and have family and community
Dundalk in County Louth and spaces project which links the school, links across the border. Our young people
Newry in County Down. Forkhill church and village by a half mile walk way, travel to Dundalk and Dublin to further
is a small village but there is a meandering through the site with their education, will this still be affordable
strong community infrastructure, historical and cultural features recording after Brexit?
with a thriving GAA club, the history of the area. Our next major
community development project is to secure funding for business We celebrate and are very proud of our
association, senior citizens club and retail units which will provide local wee village in South Armagh. This is an
and women’s group. employment. We are unsure about the area of outstanding natural beauty sitting
impact of Brexit on this phase of our at the foot of beautiful Slieve Gullion.
During the Troubles the British Army Village regeneration. We are a united and growing community
occupied land in the centre of the Village ready to face the future in a positive
and built one of the largest army bases in Our population is growing and we have a fashion.
Europe. With the onset of the peace gap in support and opportunities for our
process we began a lobby to obtain this young people. There is no youth club in
eight acre site, which included the former Forkhill and if young people are not
RUC station, for the regeneration of our interested in sport we have little resources
village. Our aim was, and is, to put the for them. Our village sits on the border
heart back into our community. with North Louth and we are concerned
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Development Trusts NI
D evelopment Trusts NI is a relative newcomer to community development in
Northern Ireland. The work we undertake to deliver in support of our members is
closely aligned with the work that RCN have been to the fore on for the past 25 years.
Where others have come and gone RCN has weathered many storms and consolidated
its significance as the lead advocate promoting the interests of rural communities.
Those times of change have largely been question on whether Lough Neagh might promoting rural voice. We wish you well
at the behest of the public purse holder be brought into community ownership for the next 25 years in facilitating rural, in
seeking more services for less investment and that the bed of the Lough be acquired place shaping and in changing the places
and all the while many of the problems by the communities that surround it and in which we live so that they continue
that characterise rural life persist. Those developed as a resource for social and to represent the types of places we
problems, the lack of investment in the economic renewal. In asking that question want, that we need to sustain our rural
economic infrastructure, reduction in we ventured into the rural communities way of life.
public services and access to services, that have a vested interest in the Lough.
migration and social isolation continue to We were ably partnered in that process of
shape the rural experience. Having an engagement by RCN and in particular by CHARLIE FISHER
advocate, a representative body like RCN its present Director Kate Clifford. Without
Programme Manager
has been, and remains, pivotal in ensuring the intervention of RCN we would not
the voice of rural communities is heard have reached out to the significant
and their needs are met. You don’t numbers of people needed to make our
develop a track record of 25 years in rural consultation on the future of the Lough
development by getting it wrong but by viable. That we concluded our work on
consistently doing it right. community ownership of the Lough and
presented a report on the Future of Lough
Recently DTNI have had an opportunity to Neagh is testament to the knowledge and
promote an agenda of community expertise of RCN.
ownership, of promoting the rights of
communities, to own, to buy, to build and DTNI would like to congratulate, celebrate
to shape the places in which they live. and share in your 25 years of active rural
Recently we have progressed on asking the community development, of advocacy and
15Keep your Eyes on the Prize
asting my mind back 25 years may run the risk of rewriting
C history, but hopefully I can highlight some useful memories
and perhaps some lessons. Overall it is fair to say that
things would have been much worse for rural areas had rural
development not taken place.
RCN has played a significant role in that of the work was carried out. Community no small legacy. Keeping an awareness of
process. That may be stating the obvious Development (CD) was core to this work other local national and international rural
but, when I think back to the 1980s, rural and RCN set about supporting a community development experience and
areas were largely forgotten. This neglect comprehensive coverage of rural NI sharing this experience continues to be
became a concern to some in the through helping and supporting the vital for the future.
Belfast-based voluntary sector and, in development of local rural support
conjunction with the then DHSS, the networks who would support and promote When looking back it is true to say rural
sector picked up on an opportunity from community development activity. The areas are more vulnerable now than ever
the EU poverty programmes to begin to crucial decision of RDC to shift from its before; Brexit will be hard to counter;
address rural poverty. This programme community development approach to a shifts in the economy such as the 2007
focused on 3 rural pilot areas and ended in project-based delivery approach, left RCN crash disproportionately affected rural
1990 when a new focus on Rural with a greater role in keeping a focus on areas and the recent fall of the political
Development emerged from the EU. This community development. institutions will leave a vacuum.
new focus extended the remit of existing Turf wars are a waste of time and energy,
Agricultural institutions to address the Concepts of Rural Development were and I do not absolve myself from this
wider concerns of rural communities. being hotly debated at every level of the lesson, but keeping good relationships,
Locally the Department of Agriculture EU; from what value should be placed on while working on conflicts, is something to
(DANI) stepped into this role and soon each pillar of social, economic and keep to the fore. There is only one
incorporated its new responsibilities into environment content within funding question for those working with rural
its name, transforming from DANI to support programmes, to how agriculture communities and it is this, ‘is what you are
become DARD – the Department of might lose out in this new debate. doing benefiting rural communities, not
Agriculture and Rural Development. The interplay of networks from the most yourself or your institution?’ If you can
local to developing new partners across affirm this you will not go far wrong.
Large credit for this new emphasis on the the EU was heady stuff in its time. Others will make this assessment but for
need to pay attention to Rural Keeping the voice of local communities to what it is worth my conclusion is that
Development rests with the EU; which the fore in all of this was vital. The Small RCN have stepped up to this challenge
went on to develop the LEADER* Grants programs of the new EU Peace pretty well and have not been complacent.
Programmes. In its first phase in NI the Programme in 1995 and later the
LEADER programme was implemented by Millennium Halls programme both Finally I could have named so many
the Rural Development Council (RDC). enabled RCN to deliver tangible benefits wonderful people in this piece but, alas
Local authorities had hoped for a larger to local rural communities. RCN’s they are too many. To a staff and board
role in the management of the Rural Community Development educational and leaders, many of whom have stayed
Development Programme. This eventually work, networking and funding of CD with the course for the full 25 years, we all owe
came about in the second phase of the support from DARD was highly significant you a great debt. It was a great honour to
LEADER programme. In parallel to the in keeping the voice of rural communities work along-side you for a short time.
growth and development of RDC, RCN in mainstream policies across the board.
was set up to support networking, All of this work was a modest, if important
promote a voice for rural communities backdrop, to the cease fires and peace NIALL FITZDUFF
and support community development. process which was to come.
Inaugural Director RCN
RCN’s commitment to address our divided Having a well-developed community
society played a part in how every aspect infrastructure with a set of core values is
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From the Market Yard to rk
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Oldtown Street ws
A light hearted reflection on the development of RCN by
our longest serving staff member Kathryn Kerr.
Having started with RCN in May 1992 never in my wildest
dreams would I have imagined I would still be here 25 years
later nor to be honest would the organisation.
I was employed on a 2 year contract and change after change after change, stamps and others, who over their coffees in
for RCN to still be functioning at such a had to be bought, licked and runaway Turkington’s café in Cookstown, were the
high level is testament to the drive, carts, with minds of their own, wheeled up initial driving force securing funding for
tenacity and forward thinking of its to the Post Office with the hundreds of not only this Network but also the rural
directors and I have actually enjoyed every publications. support networks.
minute of it.
As this space became cramped we Over the years RCN has benefitted from
RCN’s first official office was in expanded across the entry to 47 James the input of Board members and a range
Molesworth Street, with Niall Fitzduff’s Street. This office felt like a sauna in of staff who have come and gone as their
office overlooking the main street while I summer and like the dawn of the ice age project work has ended and other projects
was stuck beside the Market Yard, with the in winter. Health and safety wouldn’t are initiated to meet the needs of rural
drone of the auctioneer trying to compete have been great either in those days. Our communities. Rural communities have
with the cows. It was during these days fire evacuation ‘policy’ was to clamber out been enriched by projects like Millennium
that I honed my computer skills with of the window onto a pointed roof top or Halls, Community Halls Advisory Service,
solitaire and minesweeper; I believe this open a box, throw a ladder out of the Women’s Sectoral Programme, Rural
could have been classed as continuing window while hopefully not breaking a leg Community Estates Programme, Technical
professional development. Amenities were on descent – depending on which side of Assistance, Rural Enablers Programme and
limited to say the least – the kitchen was the alley you were on. Skills for Solutions, many of which have
a large cupboard with a sink and only cold evolved or morphed into other things.
water and the public toilets were 2 floors Our new building in Oldtown Street is
below. On the upside it was above a local definitely luxury compared to all that RCN’s work is ever changing; reflecting the
pub, and with Board meetings stretching went before. Now we have state of the nature of rural communities and society.
into the evening, I usually just managed to art computer systems, heat, a car park and Nothing stands still but the work of the
get in before last orders. a dishwasher. Staff numbers have gone Mediation Unit - now known as Cohesion,
from 2 to 34 and now back to 6. But we Sharing and Integration and the core unit
After a few years and the promise of more still have the paperwork from 25 years ago of RCN, that of supporting and relaying
staff, we moved to luxury offices in James despite our best efforts trying to tidy the the voice of our rural members remains
Street - certainly luxury in comparison. place. So our filing system still makes use our focus. That was, is and will always be
Again, two floors up and with external of James Street – a place where some staff at the heart of our work – some things
metal steps, it was obviously built long have never dared to set foot! remain the same.
before anyone considered disabled access
- and the enclosed steps were frequently a I have had the pleasure of working with a So, here’s to the next 25 years by which
refuge for those with a penchant for rich variety of people over the years and time I will be 80 – hard to believe I know
alcohol. Staff numbers started to rise but have made many lifelong-friends among – and just might be eligible for the new
partners were still needed to make up the the unbelievable total of 100 people who state pension.
numbers at the Christmas dinners. have been employed by RCN. I can still
Technology has certainly changed things remember each of them, and many of
over the years – and for the better. Then their idiosyncrasies! RCN has come such a
publications were typeset in house, with long way thanks to Niall, Mark Conway
17From Rural Remainder
to Rural Asset
Gareth Harper and Roger O’Sullivan existed despite the promise of rural represented a turnaround moment for the
were joint editors of Network News. proofing, community planning and the organisation and ourselves. The combined
Here they reflect back on their 20 rural development programme. The drive of the staff and board during those
combined years of working in Rural Centralization of Services Strategy, the years saw some of the most ground
Community Network. Noble Index of Deprivation and then breaking work in giving voice to the
PPS14 resulted in one of the last Network difficult issues that communities,
We both took up our posts in RCN at the News that we worked on together entitled organisations and funders faced -
end of 1990s, a time before individual The onslaught on rural. Mark Conway understanding the other narrative of
work emails, mobiles that fitted in your summed up the feeling at that time: the legacy of the Troubles and minority
pocket, when ‘all other duties’ in your job experiences. RCN went through the
description really meant it. After many years of honestly trying to play process of embedding Equity, Diversity
a part, PPS14 for me is the last straw… and Interdependence (EDI) – led
Working in RCN was a time of growth and What really is the point when people just enthusiastically by Michael Hughes, later
development both for the organisation ride roughshod over the genuine input of to become CEO. It was not just telling
and ourselves. The Policy, Research and others and dictatorially apply ill-thought others how to behave but challenging
Information (PRI) team had been blanket policies across a whole series of our own perceptions and others
established with encouragement from the totally different contexts and issues… you perceptions of us.
rural sociologist Mark Shucksmith of should be ashamed of yourselves. Maybe
Newcastle University and an ambitious it’s my rural Tyrone arrogance at its worst, Divisions in rural communities may be less
vision by Niall Fitzduff, RCN’s CEO with a but I increasingly think people like us don’t obvious, but no-one can deny that they
work ethic second to none. Our role was deserve the like of you. What consoles me exist. They affect the whole structure of our
to bring policy and evidence into the core is the sure knowledge that PPS14 or not, communities; in the most personal details
of the organisation and for the team to our rural people will still be here when of our lives: whom we marry and are friends
“clean its own face” financially at the you’re all long gone. Network News N44 with, where we worship, where we live,
same time! This in turn involved providing what we say to one another. For many of us,
a service and a challenge function to Mark Conway is a part of RCN folklore - survival is in the silences - the things that
government who after many years had his term as chair of RCN had passed are left unsaid, the conflicts that remain
realised that they needed to understand as we arrived and Libby Keys with her ‘under the table’. We have a Peace process,
(or at least show the desire to understand) compassion and commitment to but no history of how to do this - a bit like
rural issues in planning and delivering community relations became our chair fixing the plane while flying it. And some of
rural services. and ‘go to’ person for any event or the steps we need to take run against
meeting – always generous with her time deeply learned behaviour.
RCN’s work on the Department of the and wisdom. (Later Roy Hanna would Libby Keys Network News N33
Environment’s Shaping Our Future strategy become our chair followed by Alan Poots
saw a major shift from a sentence on rural - rural community development would No reflection on our time spent with RCN
in the first document, to a paragraph, to a become the focus of discussion on those and Network News could be complete
page and then a section - a change in M1 shared journeys!) without reference to the annual
perception and language - from rural conferences; two days in late September
remainder to rural asset. However, we also Tony Macaulay joined RCN in 1999 as when rural community groups had a
saw the mixed and conflicting policy deputy director and head of the Policy chance to share best practice and catch
decisions for rural communities, that research & information team. This up. The moving conference was like a swan
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upside down – what seemed like panic on
the top but always calm underneath as
this tried and tested model had never
failed us - from Hilltown to Lusty Beg
island, from Knockatallon to Coleraine.
That said, our role was to have the annual
report ready for day one of the conference
and one year the ink on the report had to
dry on its way down the motorway
in the back of Gareth’s Toyota Corolla!
Working in RCN was different every day,
some days challenging, other days
frustrating but always rewarding, mainly
because of the people you met and
worked with. We had the chance to visit
new places and discover new ways of
working from very committed people
trying to make the most for rural
communities often on less than a shoe
“
string. Network News’ role was to ensure
that it reflected and also informed, from
frequently contrasting positions, key areas
of concern and debate.
During our time, over 50 community
meeting spaces were supported, highly
valuable peace building work was funded,
areas of low community infrastructure
RCN had a focus on
were supported to build confidence, the
skills of community organisations’ boards
tackling poverty and
and staff members were enhanced, the
voice of rural communities was
disadvantage – but it
strengthened and a wide range of
policy areas were addressed. never had a poverty of
ambition for rural
”
Finally, we must take time to remember
the sad passing of our colleagues who
worked with us on Network News during communities.
this time: Ruth Stewart, Carol Foster,
Ann McGeeney, Dr. Jimmy Kearney and
Dr Jeremy Harbison.
19Cookstown and Western
Shores Area Network
CWSAN and indeed the Rural Support Networks are delighted to share in this
very special celebration, the Rural Community Network’s 25th anniversary.
We take this opportunity to congratulate RCN and its current staff on having
reached this important milestone, having been a key pillar in supporting and
assisting many sub- regional community and voluntary organisations at various
points over the past two and a half decades.
We have no doubt that RCN will be joined communities, combined with the selfless Going forward, we wish RCN, in their
by many community organisations from contribution of many volunteers has been efforts to continue delivering a strong
right across the country, board members, evident in their work since humble advocacy role in supporting rural
supporters, staff and colleagues to beginnings from Cookstown’s main street communities, and in particular through
reminisce and ponder the challenges they in the 1990’s. It is this contribution that encouraging community collectives to
have faced and the contributions they undoubtedly has helped create the success decipher and help rural policy outcomes,
have made over the years. Indeed of many of our Rural Support Networks become more meaningful and accountable
personally, I can recount many positive who today, independently, strongly, forge to all who work or reside in rural
experiences and also reflect upon the their own way in what certainly isn’t an communities. The secret to date has been
many difficulties faced by the whole easy operating environment. that RCN certainly understands fully that
community sector over the past 25 years, those communities know best in the
much of which was mitigated by the The RCN’s role in promoting the identification of and provision of solutions
support and dedication of RCN staff. sustainable development of rural to their own particular issues and are
Suffice to say, we have most certainly communities, initially through the support certainly best placed to facilitate positive
come a long way since RCN first assisted of local support organizations such as change with appropriate support
us to develop CWSAN, the local RSN CWSAN, has indeed served the rural initiatives. As Lao Tsu wrote, “start with
network in the Mid Ulster area in 1996, community well. Supporting a what they know, build with what they
and to provide support to other Sub community development approach has have.., when the work is done, the task
Regional Networks over those initial ensured that the voice of small, local rural accomplished, the people will say “we
formative years. communities has been heard collectively, have done this ourselves”. A true reflection
practice to policy made appropriately, and of much of the behind the scenes work
Undoubtedly, the past 25 years have been civic leadership developed immeasurably. embodied by the RCN.
both challenging and eventful but I believe As part of the supporting infrastructure,
that RCN’s longevity is down to the owned and managed by the collective
network’s ability to evolve effectively as rural community, RCN has indeed helped CONOR CORR
an organisation, to meet the changing to create and encourage those most CWSAN
needs of the sector and to continue to disadvantaged to engage in community Development Manager
provide innovative solutions to helping activity to address social need, cohesion,
empower local organisations voice rural social exclusion and to embed a shared
concerns. A strong sense of belonging to future through their work.
and belief in advocating on behalf of rural
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Community Foundation NI
I t is a privilege to be given the opportunity to contribute to the
Rural Community Network’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
The histories of the Community contributions to keep their communities opportunity and investment, play its part
Foundation for Northern Ireland and Rural together, to be cohesive and to build in the development of a society that is
Community Network have been very relationships. fair, just and peaceful.
much interlinked as both organisations
have a long association in working We’ve seen RCN as one of the key On behalf of the Community Foundation
together in efforts to address issues of community development contributors to a for Northern Ireland may I congratulate
poverty, social exclusion and sectarianism. wide range of strategic projects we’ve Rural Community Network for its
Whilst this work has been challenging, been involved in, including grants panels, achievements and contributions to not
what has been consistent in our work with the early development of the Building only rural communities but also wider
RCN has been their steadfast Change Trust and the Space and Place society in Northern Ireland. We will
commitment to rural communities and to Programme. RCN’s rural perspective makes continue to find ways to work together
community development principles and positive contributions to address poverty, and look forward to the challenge of how
practices. inequality, sectarianism and discrimination we as an organisation consider rural
in all its forms. We particularly celebrate proofing in our work.
This operating ethos has enabled many that RCN continues to take risks; we know
joint projects between our organisations. that being a critical voice for rural
When we sought European support for a communities can place the organisation in ANDREW MCCRACKEN
fledgling Peace Process, RCN provided an uncomfortable spaces. Rural communities Chief Executive Community
invaluable critical dimension to this should be grateful that there is such an Foundation for Northern
highlighting their own experiences and the organisation fighting for rural issues; Ireland.
experiences of their members. RCN has an reminding policy/programme makers and
invaluable expertise in the particular funders, including ourselves, that rural
nuances of the impact of the conflict communities are of equal value, that life
within a rural context and the way rural experiences in rural areas are different but
community organisations are making vital that rural does and will, given equality of
21INTERVIEW
NIRWN a focus for
Rural Women
RCN spoke to Majella Murphy a training for rural women delivered at the for us to develop a rural women’s
founding member of South Armagh point of need. We delivered basic infrastructure across NI. This was a big
Rural Women’s Network and NIRWN community development and capacity shift for both staff and management
Co-ordinatorand Louise Coyle NIRWN building courses to rural women with committees of the Networks as we had
Development Officer about the origins childcare costs and travel costs included. been focused on the sustainability of our
of NIRWN and its contribution to The fact that childcare and travel costs organisations and in that extension period
rural community development over were included allowed women who we had to re-focus on how we could
the past decade. previously wouldn’t have been involved in sustain the work rather than the
community education to participate. organisations.
NN How did NIRWN come about? The expenses were paid by cheque and
that meant women, who had never had NN Why was there a need for a
Majella & Louise: NIRWN was founded in bank accounts before, had to open their separate women’s rural network?
2006 as a result of a lobby for support for own accounts. For some women on those
rural women across NI. This lobby was led programmes that was an important step Majella & Louise: Women were coming
by the then 6 rural Women’s Networks, in building their personal independence as out to local women’s groups and getting
Women’s Resource and Development it raised those women’s consciousness of involved in their programmes and taking
Agency and RCN. their importance as individual people, on leadership roles in those groups but
rather than them seeing themselves as a they weren’t getting involved or leading in
Fermanagh Rural Women’s Network and wife or mother or partner. wider local community development
RCN had run a conference on women and initiatives. Gender equality wasn’t an
community development called “Making The Networks began realising the issue that was talked about much in rural
the Tea or Making the News” in 2003 importance of responding to policy and communities at that time. We felt we had
which kick started the rural women’s the need to lobby on women’s issues. to develop a regional network as we
policy forum and gave voice to the As the new Assembly started to develop couldn’t sustain the 6 local networks and
specific needs of rural women. legislation, and local Ministers began to most of us believed that we needed to
shape the services government sustain the work. Our motivation was to
Following the Ceasefire and the Good departments were delivering, we knew we ensure that women’s voices would be
Friday Agreement there had been a needed to be influencing those decisions heard in debates on community
mushrooming of women’s groups across but knew that this was a gap in our skills. development, on policy and on service
the North, supported by lead groups in We realised that unless we zworked to delivery across rural NI. There were huge
their areas which then developed into influence the development of policy challenges for us as 6 separate
local women’s networks following the which would influence how services organisations moving to one regional
Fermanagh model. 6 separate women’s were delivered on the ground the organisation.
networks became established in: South circumstances that led to the exclusion
Armagh, Roe Valley, Omagh, Newry & of women would persist. NN What have NIRWN’s
Mourne and Mid-Ulster alongside achievements been?
Fermanagh. These were all independent Funding was running out for the 6 Rural
organisations who met regularly and Women’s Networks and we faced the Majella & Louise: NIRWN has developed
accessed Lottery funding to employ prospect of closure. During our lobbying a strong rural policy voice for women and,
staff and run programmes. for funding the feedback from politicians to an extent, we have addressed the
and officials was that they wanted the previously unmet need of strategic,
NN What types of work did the Networks to ensure complete regional support that the 6 Networks
Rural Women’s Networks do? geographical coverage across NI and recognised existed when the Assembly
weren’t interested in funding 6 separate came into being. We deliver strategic
Majella & Louise: The core work was organisations. The Networks received a support for rural women. We are a central
grass roots community development and funding extension from DSD to allow time point for: networking; consultation; policy
2 Women and Public Appointments in NI http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets/documents/raise/publications/2014/assembly_exec_review/11914.pdf
3 Women in Politics and the NI Assembly http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets/documents/reports/assem_exec_review/women-in-politics.pdf
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