Victim Support

In 1999, a decision was made by the then Fermanagh District Partnership to enter into a consortium arrangement with Sperrin Lakeland Health & Social Care Trust (amalgamated into Western Health and Social Care Trust as of 01 April 2007) to appoint a Community Support Fieldworker to oversee and develop a victims' programme for the county with funding received from Peace I. This development arose from work undertaken by FDP in its "Remember & Change" Programme.

The programme formally began in September 2000 and was charged with addressing the needs of those in Fermanagh who were affected in any way by the conflict through

undertaking work within the community to help promote awareness and understanding leading to improvement and change,
establishing links with existing agencies and networks and creating new links and opportunities where appropriate.

A sub-committee consisting of directors of the then Partnership with representatives from the Trust managed the Programme.

The type of practical assistance and support offered by the Programme was tailored to meet the particular needs of individuals and groups as the Programme developed through the provision of

Practical Support such as information and/or small grants for groups;
Emotional Support demonstrating to individuals and groups that they are accepted, valued and not forgotten; and
Cognitive Support in terms of advice, education, and/or guidance on how to deal with emotions, adverse reactions etc.

Support existing victim self-help groups and service providers
Provide relevant training
Work with individual victims who did not wish to align themselves to any particular group or organisation
Raise awareness, increase knowledge and network
Publicise its activities and services
Publish a comprehensive self-help directory, "Towards Healing" with 5,000 copies being distributed widely throughout the county to libraries, police stations, health centres and GP surgeries; youth clubs and organisations; schools and colleges; clergy of all denominations; as well as other statutory and non-statutory agencies in the county. Copies were also produced in braille, audiotape and cd-rom formats. A leaflet was distributed to each of the 19,000+ households in the county advertising the directory and included a return slip for anyone who wished to obtain a copy. Over 400 copies were dispatched as a result and there is still demand for the directory.
Determine the changing patterns of violence

With the cessation of Peace I funding, responsibility for the Programme itself was taken by Sperrin Lakeland Trust - on a non recurrent basis - to ensure that the valued and valuable work could continue for a further period of time as above.

In recent months, the Trust has engaged with the three LSPs coterminous with its catchment area - Fermanagh, Omagh, and Strabane - to develop a Community Victims Initiative for the region. Peace II monies have been secured to bring this project further. Part of its work will entail the compilation of a comprehensive study and needs analysis of the needs of victims/survivors living within the Trust's area in the area from which will emanate a broad and inclusive strategy.

Other projects currently being considered or being undertaken by this new initiative include

Study trips locally, nationally and internationally to look at examples of good practice elsewhere with a view to replication;
Provision of additional training in partnership with other agencies;
The development of a pilot one-stop shop for victims with outreach services developed on a sessional basis throughout the Trust which has provisionally secured funding through the OFMDFM Victims Unit Strategy Implementation Fund managed by the DHSSPS ; and
The development of a comprehensive standards manual which is due for completion this month.

The Programme continues to address the legacy of the conflict in the local community in terms of dealing with:

Personal and Community Pain;
Chronic Physical and Psychological Pain;
Missed Opportunities in life;
The Constant Struggle of Life itself;
Traumatisation and Re-Traumatisation; and
Dealing with constant reminders - both personal and communal - of the impact of the conflict.

It has sought to complement the Quality, Social Care Governance, and Community Development agendas of both the Western Health & Social Services Board and the Trust, contributing to developments in service delivery generally, peace-building and capacity building.

With increasing evidence of a growing need for research, audit, scoping, and inter-agency activity, the Programme is ideally placed to contribute to the fulfillment of that need. It also meets the salient points contained in the DHSSPS Priorities for Action as well as those contained in the Northern Ireland Executive's Programme for Government - Making A Difference 2002-2005.

A lot has been achieved since the Programme's inception in 2000, though a lot remains to be done in addressing the social and emotional effects of the conflict as well as the physical ones. In light of the imminent publication of the new Victims Strategy by the Government later this year as well as the recommendations arising from the recent evaluation conducted by the DHSSPS on service to victims/survivors of the conflict by HPSS, the Programme hopes to continue to play its part in contributing to the roll-out of these developments and addressing the issues pertaining to individual, community, and transgenerational trauma in the local community in terms of

Providing knowledge of and improving access to both advocacy and therapeutic specialist services;
Providing support for hidden victims and survivors, especially the aging and aged ones;
Raising awareness generally within the statutory sector as a whole;
Developing a more holistic approach; and
Working in partnership with other statutory and voluntary agencies.

As you will see from the contents of the attached table, the work of the Sperrin Lakeland Victims Programme is multi-faceted and also unique in the context of health and social care delivery in Northern Ireland as no other Trust in the Province (at time of writing) provides such a service to the local community.

The Programme currently has a complement of two temporary 1.0 WTEs in terms of staffing at time of writing:

It is hoped to recruit an additional Project Worker later this year subject to confirmation of funding. The Programme is under the direct line-management and supervision of the Director of Community Care and is reviewed bi-annually by the Chief Executive.

It is currently based in Trust premises at 15 Elliott Place, Enniskillen and the contact details are:

The Victims Programme
15 Elliott Place,
Enniskillen,
Co. Fermanagh BT74 7HQ
Telephone: 028 6634 4240
Fax: 028 6634 4079
Internal Extension: 4240
Mobile: 077 6969 7643

Sperrin Lakeland Victims Programme

Schedule of Activity: Current & Projected for the period January 2004 - December 2005


Activity	Status	Envisaged Completion Date
1. Work With Victims & Survivors
Ongoing Work with Victim/Survivor Self-Help Groups: The Ely Centre Fear Firinne Lisbellaw Community Victim Support Forum Omagh Support & Self-Help Group South East Fermanagh Foundation West Tyrone Voice	Assist with capacity-building, funding, and other practical issues	Ongoing for duration of Programme
Ongoing Work with Non-Aligned Victims/Survivors - i.e. those who do not want to be a member of any self-help group	Ongoing	Ongoing for the duration of the Programme - individuals will still be able to access the advocacy and onward referral mechanisms which are currently in place, especially with regard to applications to the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund
2. Inter-Agency Work
Ongoing Work with Statutory and Non-Statutory Service Providers: Aisling Centre, Enniskillen Community Dialogue Cruse Bereavement Care DHSSPS Disabled Police Officers Association Fermanagh Churches Forum Justice for the Forgotten (Dublin/Monaghan bombings) Koram Centre, Strabane Nexus Institute Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma & Transformation Omagh Churches Forum PSNI Welfare Departments Red Cross RIR & Army Welfare Departments RNID Victims Project Sperrin Lakeland Health & Social Care Trust Strule/Erne Local Health & Social Care Group Tara Centre, Omagh Victim Support Northern Ireland WAVE Western Health Action Zone Western Health & Social Services Board Western Health & Social Services Board Community Development Programme Western Health & Social Services Board Trauma Advisory Panel Western Health & Social Services Council Women's Aid	Ongoing - collaborative approach regarding training, information, and onward referrals	Ongoing for duration of Programme
Local Source of Information & Guidance to agencies and organisations cited above as well as: Community Foundation for Northern Ireland Community Relations Council Department of Foreign Affairs, Dublin EHSSB Trauma Advisory Panel Fermanagh District Council NHSSB Trauma Advisory Panel NIO Victims Liaison Unit OFMDFM Victims Unit Omagh District Council SHSSB Trauma Advisory Panel Strabane District Council	Ongoing	Ongoing for the duration of the Programme - valued and valuable support also received from these agencies as well.
Work with the Western Education & Library Board's Library Service	Facilitating the development of an archive of material pertaining to the Omagh Bomb of 15 August 1998 in partnership with the Omagh Support & Self-Help Group	December 2005
Work with the Western Education & Library Board Educational Psychology Department	Tentative approaches have been made to WELB who are interested in engaging with the Programme	Potential long-term inter-agency activity and collaboration involving training for teachers on the transgenerational impact of the conflict as well as schools work
Potential Cross-Border Activity	Approaches have been made to the Programme by the Cavern Family Resource Centre and the Tir Hugh Resource Centre in Ballyshannon	Ongoing for duration of Programme
Trauma Advisory Panel	Programme now a fully integrated member of the WHSSB Trauma Advisory Panel	Likely to continue indefinitely. Programme will support the work of the Panel in its catchment area
South West LSP Community Victims Initiative: Fermanagh LSP Omagh LSP Strabane LSP Sperrin Lakeland	Funding secured for Programme Costs under Measure 6.2b of Peace II monies Study trips locally, nationally and internationally to look at examples of good practice elsewhere with a view to replication Provision of additional training in partnership with other agencies; The development of a comprehensive standards manual "Contributing to Wellbeing" in response to the SSI Counselling Review The compilation of a comprehensive study and needs analysis of the needs of victims/survivors living within the Trust's area in the area from which will emanate a broad and inclusive strategy - additional grant secured from Community Relations Council The development of a pilot one-stop shop for victims with outreach services developed on a sessional basis throughout the Trust which has provisionally secured funding through the OFMDFM Victims Unit Strategy Implementation Fund managed by the DHSSPS Victims Programme servicing this Initiative on a 50% of time basis	Funding secured to 31 December 2005 Autumn 2005 Ongoing to December 2005 Launch by May 2004 Summer 2004 Funding probable but not yet guaranteed - pending submission of business case by 31 March 2004 - if successful, ongoing to 31 December 2005
Revision of "Towards Healing" Self-Help Directory	Ongoing - Statutory Obligation	Revision to commence in March 2004 with launch of revised edition in the Autumn of 2004


3. Training & Public Relations
Comprehensive Residential Modular Training Programme in association with the Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health Remember & Change Consortium	Peace II funding secured from the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland through Measure 2.4b Work always begun on recruiting Co-Ordinator by NIAMH and confirming course content	Programme to commence in September 2004 and due for completion in December 2005
Training for Clergy & Pastoral Care Workers	Approach already made by the Church of Ireland Diocese of Clogher for specific training during the first half of 2004 Awaiting feedback on series of seminars for clergy and pastoral care workers held throughout NI during 2003 arranged by an Advisory Group under the OFMDFM Victims Unit of which the Programme was a full member	June 2004 Ongoing for duration of Programme
Training for Carers	Discussions under way with WAVE regarding the delivery of their "Care for the Carers" course locally	Autumn 2004
Enhanced Counselling Skills Course	The Programme is a member of a consortium with Fermanagh College which secured funding from the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland through Measure 2.4b of Peace II monies.	Course launched - January 2004 Course to commence in the Autumn of 2004 with completion by December 2005
Provision of Other Relevant Training	The Programme is represented on an advisory group under the aegis of the Workers' Educational Association which is running a "Managing Better Relations" Course for Victim/Survivor Self-Help Groups.	December 2005
WAVE Young Adults Art Exhibition - "Every Picture Tells a Story" Briefings & Other Eclectic Meetings with Business & Community Sector Contracting Bodies Community Groups Other Interested Parties	Agreement to host exhibition with each District Council Community Relations Department & Arts Officer Proposed	Omagh - April 2004 Enniskillen - September 2004 Strabane - October 2004 Ongoing for duration of Programme
Publication of other relevant Information and Public Service Leaflets and Posters	Proposed	Ongoing for duration of Programme
4. General
Participate in Sperrin Lakeland Domestic Violence Forum	Ongoing	Ongoing for duration of Programme
Point of General Contact	Ongoing	Ongoing for duration of Programme
A&E Victim Support Programme	In partnership with Victim Support Northern Ireland - initial discussions held under chairmanship of Trust's Chief Executive	Awaiting response from Acute Services
Responses to pertinent consultation processes	Ongoing	Ongoing for duration of Programme
General Financial and Managerial Administration and Staff Management of the Programme	Ongoing	Ongoing for duration of Programme

Briefing Paper on the Sperrin Lakeland Victims Programme

February 2004

Sperrin Lakeland Victims Programme

Schedule of Activity: Current & Projected for the period January 2004 - December 2005