Supporting Integration

Connecting Communities is about making connections between the local community in Inishowen and those who are newly arrived. We offer particular support to the International Protection Applicants (IPA) who based in the two IPAS centres in Inishowen. IDP also provides support to the Ukrainian community who have moved here due to the war, under the Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection Programme (BOTP). We also work with the black and minority ethnic communities to create and support opportunities to engage with, and build connections with people from the Irish community. So whether it’s finding a role as a volunteer with a local community group, getting access to training, help with your CV, or some support around placing a relocation request, we are here to help those newly arrived in Ireland.

IDP is also part of the a number of county-wide interagency working groups to support our BME and migrant communities, namely: BME Inclusion group; Supporting Pathways to Work subgroup; Local Authority Integration Team (LAIT) working group; Community Integration Forum (CIF).

What we do…

A range of activities and supports are provided based on consultation on the needs of our new communities. Examples of the type of activities include:

Health & Wellbeing programmes
Social Soccer for Men
Monthly lunches for International Protection Applicants
Training and workshops

International Protection Applicants or Migrants

• Like to Volunteer? Contact the Donegal Volunteer Centre
• Need Employment Support? Employment Support – Inishowen Development Partnership
• Local Authority Integration Team Donegal – www.donegalcoco.ie/en/services/community/refugee-response/integration

Local to Inishowen, and interested in making connections with our migrant community?

• How to get involved as an individual…you can link in with our Community Development Team and connect to groups across Inishowen who work together with our migrant community-
• – contact Denise@inishowen.ie/Rachel@inishowen.ie/ aine@inishowen.ie
• How to get involved as a local community group – connect in through our IFAN Integrating Communities subgroup – contact Denise@inishowen.ie/Rachel@inishowen.ie
• At a county level – you can connect to the Donegal Intercultural Platform

Some of the activities provided by the Connecting Communities team are supported by the International Protection Integration Fund