Derry/Londonderry Urban Village Area

Féile – Festival of Fire

The Urban Villages Initiative supported a number of projects during Féile 2017 at various venues across the city. Events included an outdoor cinema club, the Ryan McBride street football fun day, the New Gate Fringe Festival and the Meenan Square Past, Present and Future event.

The Festival of Fire at The Gasyard Park was the highlight of the week. It was a spectacle put together by enthusiastic local young people and international artists, and featured music from a host of local talent; it provided a vibrant alternative to the traditional bonfires in August. Over 11,000 people attended events that were supported by the Urban Villages Initiative at the Féile this year.

Féile 2017 was funded by the Urban Villages Initiative and Derry City Council Community Festivals Fund, it is a collaboration between a number of groups, volunteers and residents from the Bogside, Brandywell, Creggan, Bishop Street and Fountain areas who come together each year to shape and manage the programme of events.

2017/18 Community-Led Projects – Derry/Londonderry

Letters of offer have been issued to 5 community partner organisations that will lead projects to support the people who live in the Derry/Londonderry Urban Village area. Project lead organisations will work collaboratively and in partnership with other community and voluntary organisations to plan and deliver programmes across a number of themes.

Projects this year are outlined below:

Project Description
Project title: Streets Alive Community Partner: Gasyard Wall Feile Description: To produce a programme of collaborative and co-ordinated events across the Urban Villages area and include: A Year Round Cultural / Festival Programme Cultural Activity/Festivals on both sides of the Bishop Street/Fountain interface Sporting Inspiration & Events Programme Festival of Fire /Alternatives to Bonfires Youth Futures: Training programme for young people in arts/culture/tourism.
Project title: The Bog Couple Community Partner: Playhouse Description: The Playhouse will commission and produce a new piece of community theatre - The Bog Couple which will be inspired by Neil Simon’s classic script: The Odd Couple. The cast and crew for the production will be recruited from residents of the Urban Villages area, and will mentor & train participants in the “tools” of theatre including acting, voice, movement, character, on-stage awareness and production.
Project title: Know it, Change it, Live it Community Partner: Dove House Community Trust Description: Introduce low-income families from the Urban Village area to the psychology of managing finances to maximise income potential. Building financial confidence, increasing protection and promoting resilience through sessions.
Project title: ICT for Community Empowerment Community Partner: North West Regional College Description: ICT and Digital Technologies courses to engage residents of the Urban Villages area in education; developing existing/new skills and enhancing social and economic inclusion, self-esteem, confidence and increasing potential for employability.
Project title: Transport Programme Community Partner: Fountain Primary School Description: Provision of transport to the Fountain Primary School to enable children who live in the Waterside area of the city to attend school.

Capital Projects – Derry/Londonderry

The following capital projects are now complete.

Project Description
Project title: Bishop Street Community Centre Community Partner: Bishop Street Community Centre Description: The completed project involved refurbishment and improvement works to roof, windows, services, fabric improvements and finishes.
Project title: Community Equipment Programme Community Partner: TRIAX Taskforce Description: Community Equipment Programme enabling capacity to be enhanced and developed for more effective delivery of current and future programmes on a multi-agency basis including activities across the Fountain, Bogside and Bishop Street areas.

New Capital Projects

The Urban Villages Team recently invited proposals for capital projects to inform the development of a pipeline of potential capital projects across Urban Village areas. These proposals were assessed for strategic fit with Urban Villages aims and outcomes. Proposed projects which met the minimum standard are being taken forward for further consideration and development. The Urban Villages team is currently working with organisations to develop these projects and associated business cases. More information on these projects can be provided upon request.

Events in your area

	Derry/Londonderry
Event	Under a Samhain Moon
Venue	The Arts Factory Factory at the Gasyard Centre
Date	23rd & 24th October, 10am – 4pm

Event	Meenan Square What Next?
Venue	The Women’s Hub, Meenan Park Shops
Date	26th October, 6.30pm

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