## GREATER WHITEWELL COMMUNITY SURGERY ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2024 ## PEACE BARRIER SITE UPDATE **SITE 1** – SERPENTINE ROAD/ NAVARRA PLACE: WHILE THIS SITE IS SUCESSFULLY COMPLETED, THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF INCIDENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED. GWCS ARE WORKING ALONG WITH THE RESIDENTS AND STATUTORY BODIES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES AND CONFIRM THE REPAIR PROCESS. **SITE 2** – SERPENTINE GARDENS/ GUNNELL HILL: WHILE THIS SITE HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED BY DOJ AS ONE OF THE PRIORITY SITES FOR CHANGE OR RE-IMAGING DUE TO FINANCIAL COSTS, GWCS CONTINUE TO WORK ALONGSIDE DOJ TO KEEP THEM UPDATED SHOULD THERE BE ANY FURTHER REPAIRS REQUIRED. SHOULD THERE BE ANY PROGRESS OR ISSUES, GWCS WILL CONTINUE TO MEET WITH THE RESIDENTS TO ADDRESS THIS. **SITE 3** – THRONE/ HAZELWOOD: THIS SITE REMAINS ON THE DOJ PRIORITY LIST. GWCS AND DOJ CARRIED OUT DOOR TO DOOR VISITS ON 17[TH] OCTOBER TO INTRODUCE THE NEW PROPOSAL FOR THE CHANGE OF THE BARRIER. GWCS ARE CURRENTLY IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE RELEVANT AGENCIES TO ESTABLISH DETAILS OF THE AFTERCARE PACKAGE. AT EACH STAGE THAT THE DETAILS ARE RECEIVED, GWCS WILL ENGAGE IN DOOR TO DOOR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE RESIDENTS. **SITE 4** – GRAYMOUNT/ LOWER WHITEWELL: RESIDENTS OF THIS SITE HAVE NOW BEEN OFFICIALY INFORMED VIA LETTER BY DOJ OF THE 9.30PM CLOSURE TIME OF THE AUTOMATED SECURITY GATE. GWCS HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY DOJ THAT THERE ARE NO IMMEDIATE PLANS TO MAKE FURTHER CHANGES AT THIS STAGE. SHOULD ANY FURTHER DECISIONS BE MADE, GWCS WILL KEEP THE RESIDENTS INFORMED. **IFI PROGRAMMES:** GWCS CONTINUE TO ORGANISE VARIOUS PROGRAMMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IN ORDER TO BRING TOGETHER MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO GAUGE ATTITUDES REGARDING THE REMOVAL, RECLASSIFY AND REIMAGE OF PEACE BARRIERS IN OUR AREA. THESE GROUPS CONTINUE TO HAVE IN-DEPTH CONVERSATIONS THAT HELP GWCS MEASURE ANY ATTITUDINAL CHANGE. **AREAS AT RISK:** THIS IS A GOOD RELATIONS PROGRAMME FUNDED BY THE NIHE COMMUNITY COHESION UNIT WHICH GWCS USE TO CATER MORE CLOSELY TO THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND CONTENTIOUS PERIODS. THROUGH THIS FUNDING, PROGRAMMES ARE FLEXIBLE AND CAN BE SET UP QUICKLY TO ADDRESS ANY IMMEDIATE ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY. WE ALSO WORK WITH STATUTORY AGENCIES REGARDING OUTCOMES OF PEACE BARRIERS DISCUSSIONS. **NORTH BELFAST STRATEGIC GOOD RELATIONS PROGRAMME THROUGH CRC/ THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE:** GWCS CONTINUE TO WORK WITH CRC/ THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE WHO FUND AND SUPPORT OUR ACHIEVING PERSONAL POTENTIAL PROGRAMME (APP). WE FACILITATE THE APP PROGRAMME FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 4 TO 14 FROM 15 SCHOOLS ACROSS OUR CATCHMENT AREA. THIS PROGRAMME IS CRUCIAL TO THE AREA AS CHILDREN FROM VARIOUS SCHOOLS AND BACKGROUNDS MEET AND FORM CONNECTIONS THAT EXTEND INTO ADULTHOOD AND CREATE LASTING FRIENDSHIPS. IT ALSO GIVES THE PARENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET EACH OTHER AS THEY COLLECT THEIR CHILDREN FROM THE PROGRAMME. THIS IS A POSITIVE FOR US AS WE HAVE MADE CONNECTIONS WITH A WIDER RANGE OF RESIDENTS WHO WE CAN ENGAGE IN PEACE BARRIER DISCUSSIONS. **SHARED SPACE:** WE CONTINUE TO WORK ALONG WITH DTNI TO IDENTIFY OTHER SITES. ## **SERVICE PROVIDERS:** INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR IRELAND NORTH BELFAST ADVICE CENTRE ST VINCENT DE PAUL DFC NORTH BELFAST STRATEGIC GOOD RELATIONS PROGRAMME THROUGH THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE/ COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL NIHE NIHE COHESION UNIT MENTAL HEALTH SURGERY (AS AND WHEN NEEDED) CO-OPERATION IRELAND ASHTON CENTRE CLANMILL HOUSING ASSOCIATION GREENCASTLE PARENT AND TODDLERS FELDEN ADVISORY GROUP NEWTOWNABBEY JOBS CLUB GREATER NORTH BELFAST WOMENS NETWORK NORTH BELFAST PARTNERSHIP NORTH BELFAST ALTERNATIVES SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES JOHN AND PAT HUME FOUNDATION ONCE AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK ALL OUR EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS FOR THEIR DEDICATION THROUGOUT THIS VERY CHALLENGING YEAR. WE CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH THE COST-OF-LIVING ISSUES AND WITH THE INCREASE OF DRUG RELATED CRIME AND ANTI-SOCIAL ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY. BUT WITHOUT YOUR INPUT AND WORK, THIS AREA WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE THE POSITIVE OUTCOMES WE HAVE HAD. BRIEGE FLYNN CHAIRPERSON