Launch of the Sharing Rural Spaces Programme

December 2009 saw the launch of Sharing Rural Spaces, an innovative programme led by Omagh Forum for Rural Associations, which will bring together community organisations from diverse religious and political backgrounds to work together in pairs or clusters. The launch took place at Newtownsaville Orange Hall and provided an opportunity for the ten groups participating in the programme to meet, to learn more about each other and discuss ways of working together.  

The Sharing Rural Spaces programme is supported by the Peace III Programme and is managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by the North West Peace III Cluster.  It is designed to address directly the problems of hidden sectarianism and racism in rural areas and enable community halls to become more welcoming places and encourage their management bodies to become more inclusive organisations.  The programme is managed by Omagh Forum with project partners FOCUS, Omagh District Council and Omagh Volunteer Centre.  Gary Mortland, Senior Community Support Officer of Omagh District Council commented “This programme has the potential to have a positive impact within the participating communities. Through sharing each others’ facilities it will provide opportunities to build positive relations and contribute to stronger local communities.”   

Ten groups from different community backgrounds will participate in the programme and will work and share training in four clusters.  These comprise two older people’s groups: Carrickmore Afternoon Club & Hospital Road Senior Citizens Club;

Two young musical/cultural organisations: Newtownsaville Lambeg Drumming Social Club & the Beeches Community Music Youth Group; Three farming organisations: Camowen Farmers Combined; Blacksessiagh Farmers Group & Seskinore Young Farmers, and three more general community groups/social enterprises: Eskra Community Association, Mountfield Community Association and the Royal British Legion.

The groups will participate in four workshops and three site visits, providing shared learning opportunities to explore cultural traditions and introduce new thinking around good relations.  The launch provided the first opportunity to learn about a venue as Allan Rainey explained about the Orange Lodge and the symbols around the walls of the Newtownsaville Hall.  His story was detailed and personal, and elicited a warm response from participants. 

As part of the programme each pair or cluster of groups will then identify a programme of work to carry out in their areas with their partners.  Mary T Conway, Network Co-ordinator said “We are delighted to be leading this programme.  So often we hear negative news stories about sectarianism and racism and with the Sharing Rural Spaces Programme we are encouraging groups from very different backgrounds to work together and build on the positives that we share in this community of ours.  We are heartened by the feedback from participants who have told us that more of this kind of work should be undertaken.”