Contact Us
Carmichael House,
North Brunswick St.,
Dublin 7,
Ireland.
Tel. 01 8730455
01 8730986
Fax: 01 8730998
Email:
info@dublincil.org
National Leader Forum - NLF
NLF Activities
- 2003
In addition to creation, circulation of, and feedback to the Leader
Forum Discussion Document, other NLF activities included:
- Peer-group sessions: CIL supported the Leader Forum with research and analysis, particulary in relation to ongoing running of 'peer-group' sessions.
- Expert-group sessions: A 'Direct Payments' seminar was organised and took place in the NDA with guest speaker Adolf Ratzka.
- Rights Training: This training took place in conjunction with the Disability Legal Resource (DLR) group.
NLF Activities
- 2004
In 2004, seven 'listening' sessions were held in Dublin, Limerick,
Tullamore, Clare and Cork where Leaders discussed what form a National Leader
Forum might take. A draft report from these meetings was prepared in September
2004 by Molly O'Duffy (Dublin Inner City Partnership), and feedback on this
document was gathered from original Forum Leaders, and Leader Coordinators
countrywide. Click here to
read a brief overview of the desired NLF features, activities and roles
that were identified.
Rolling out of support and training for Leader Co-ordinators began March 7-9, with a three-day meeting and training event in Clarenbridge, Co.Galway, attended by 25 participants - Leaders, Leader Co-ordinators, and others. (Click here for the event timetable.) One of the main agenda items was discussion of the NLF draft report and its findings. Issues such as NLF structure and the role of a Leader Co-ordinator was also discussed, with the various tensions and issues faced at an organisational and a day-to-day level examined, and where possible, solutions suggested.
It was noted at the session, that while many questions remain to be addressed, the fact that the Leader Coordinators have begun a process together was a huge and positive step forward. Click here to view some images of the group at work!
Comments/feedback on the NLF report were returned to CIL Carmichael House to ensure inclusion in the next NLF development stage. In a further follow up an NLF teleconference was held on April 21st, involving representatives from CILs nationally (Mary Gaffney (West Limerick CIL), Pat Hallinan (Mayo CIL), Sean Rickard (Offaly CIL), Catherine Gorman (Carmichael Centre CIL). The teleconference gathered more feedback in relation to the NLF training, on what was learned and what was frustrating, and importantly, where to from here. In response to specific questions asked of the group, it was agreed that the NLF was a good idea and that there was a genuine need for it. It was commented that in order to set up an NLF in individual areas a number of things were needed:
- Support documents
- Motivation of Leaders locally
- Addressing lack of funding locally
- Access to training for Leaders
In the immediate short term it was agreed that an NLF co-ordinator has to work with and visit each regional centre, meeting with Leader Co-ordinators in order to understand what the local needs are. It was emphasised that regional networking was essential and the possibility of establishing a Regional Forum, in order to offer more support to individual Leader Co-ordinators than at local level was discussed. The wish for more time for leader Co-ordinators to get together as a group and concerns for those CILs with no Leader Co-ordinator was also expressed.
Teleconference participants wished the future National Leader Co-ordinator well and urgedhim/her to contact all Leader Co-ordinators as soon as possible. It was agreed that the group that participated in the March 7-9 workshop was a great group with great knowledge and that this should not be lost.
With an NLF Steering Group set up, meetings over the summer concentrated on looking at the development of an initial NLF model of good practice which could be replicated nationally. To this end setup of an initial Dublin Leader Forum is being supported and monitored.