BY MICHAEL BRESLIN
Fermanagh Local Strategy Partnership (LSP) which has been in existence since 1995 is due to close at the end of this month. The Partnership has successfully administered just under £7million of grant aid to local communities and businesses.
Its spokeswoman, Helen McCormick said the Partnership model had played a vital role in the County since its inception in 1995.
"Over the past 13 years, the Partnership has supported 355 groups and businesses throughout the County "
At an event last week to mark its, held at the Early Years Centre at Trory, Anne Beattie, the Chairman of Fermanagh LSP, revealed that since the inception of the Partnership in 1995, 75 individuals has given of their time voluntarily to serve on the Board with an estimated investment of 15,000 voluntary hours.
"I believe that the success of the Partnership was due to the commitment and dedication of the board members and staff. This success was demonstrated by its ability to meet the tight time frame imposed for the delivery of the Programmes, and the fact that it has administered £7 million in grant aid.
"I would like to thank the current staff members, Helen McCormick and Kerrie Walsh for their commitment and for successfully closing the LSP".
Present at the event were members from Fermanagh LSP and the previous Fermanagh District Partnership. Both groups had successfully delivered the Peace 1, Peace II, Peace II Extension, Natural Resource Rural Tourism Initiative and the Local Community Fund Programmes.
At the event, three representatives of projects supported under the Peace II Programme presented an overview of their project.
the Devenish Partnership Forum in Enniskillen was grant-aided £82,000 to to deliver a Health and Well-being Programme. This Programmes addressed health-related issues in its widest context. Local residents were able to avail of a wide range of activities, including walking groups to weight management classes, adults learning to swim, dancing to pilates and yoga.
All activities were directed at residents living in the four Devenish estates of Cornagrade, Kilmacormick I and II, and Hillview, which form part of the Devenish ward.
The Programme had a very positive impact on the health and well being of many of the residents, with over 400 people attending at least one activity.
Siobhan Wallace, Programme Co-ordinator commented: "The feedback from the Project was fantastic. It has been a fabulous project to be involved in and it really has made a positive impact on the physical and emotional health of those that took part."
The Project is now continuing under funding through Neighbourhood Renewal and has been widened to include Windmill Heights, Galliagh Park and Enniskillen Town Centre.
Fermanagh LSP was one of 26 locally based partnerships set up in Northern Ireland to administer Peace I and Peace II Programme under the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in their local area.
The Peace III Programme will be delivered by the Council 'cluster', comprising Fermanagh, Dungannon, Cookstown and Magherafelt Councils, the last-named acting as the lead Council for the Programme.
A spokesperson for the Special EU Programmes Body commented: "As the European Union's PEACE II Programme draws to a close, we from our part recognise the valuable contribution LSPs throughout Northern Ireland have made to ensure that the Programme was delivered to local communities, improving services, resources and relationships at the grass roots level.
Pat Colgan, Chief Executive, Special EU Programmes Body said Helen and her team in Fermanagh were to be commended for their commitment to the Programme. He wished all of those at Fermanagh LSP, from staff to board members, every success for the future.
Fermanagh District Partnership was established in 1995 to deliver the Peace I Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties.
On the recommendation of the Special EU Programmes Body, the Partnerships were replaced by the Local Strategy Partnerships. LSPs were set up to ensure an evolution from the District Partnership model in Peace I to a new model of strategic partnerships, based on a more integrated and sustainable approach to planning and managing the use of the Peace II funding and other European Union funding.
In Fermanagh the LSP was established in August 2001 as a Company Limited by Guarantee. The Fermanagh LSP comprised of 28 members made up of an equal partnership between local government and the main statutory agencies operating at a local level, together with social partner representatives (private sector, trade unions, community and voluntary and agriculture and rural development sectors).
Fermanagh LSP and the previous District Partnership were responsible for directly delivering 3 EU Peace Programmes, namely Peace I, Peace II and Peace II Extension. As part of its strategy role, the LSP set out to promote the sustainability of both the Partnership and locally-based initiatives by sourcing external funding opportunities.
Fermanagh LSP met this challenge by securing additional funding from DARD and their Partners to deliver the Natural Resource Rural Tourism Initiative (NRRTI) in Fermanagh. This Initiative was successful in helping rural communities maximise the opportunities for tourism development arising from peace.
Within three years, Fermanagh LSP awarded grants to 71 projects across the business, community and local government sectors with an estimated investment in the local tourism sector of over £4 million.
In addition Fermanagh LSP was appointed by DSD to deliver the Local Community Fund over a 2 year period in the Rosslea Ward. A total of 13 grants were awarded. Projected funded ranged from the purchase of equipment and the upgrade of Orange Halls to the purchase of equipment for the Play Group.
The grants awarded by Fermanagh LSP ranged from the development of canoe trails under the NRRTI Programme to the refurbishment of the Lisbellaw Credit Union. A £50,000 grant was awarded to Lisbellaw Credit Union to upgrade their premises. In addition, £170,000 of grant aid was invested in the childcare sector in order to upgrade childcare premises.
