The Integration Centre
| The Integration Centre |
Case Study Region | West of Ireland |
Geographical coverage | Galway, Mayo, Roscommon |
Type | Policy; advice service |
Main activity / focus | Advice and training for immigrants in the West of Ireland Region. |
Target beneficiaries / market | All migrants living in the West of Ireland |
Year established | 2009 |
Current Funding source(s) | Most of the funding allocated to The Integration Centre comes from the Atlantic Philanthropies Office and the One Foundation in addition to funding from Government Agencies. The Integration Centre works extensively with government agencies that provide accommodation to asylum seekers. The Community Foundation for Ireland and the Wheel Fund provides additional funding for projects regarding organisationaldevelopment. |
| In 2009, The Integration Centre was established as a result of a merger between Integrating Ireland and the Immigrant Network and the Refugee Information Service |
Website | |
Description
| The Integration Centre was established in 2009 from the merger of Integrating Ireland and the Immigrant Network and the Refugee Information Service. The Integration Centre’s identify and organisational direction was arrived at following an extensive consultation with key stakeholders. The organisation is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that exists to connect an independent network of communities and voluntary groups working with people from immigrant backgrounds. The centre employs Regional Development Officers in each of its regional networks; Dublin, Galway, Monaghan, Carlow and Cork. The Integration Centre aims to connect communities and advance the integration of people from immigrant backgrounds in Ireland. The Integration Centre works with people from immigrant backgrounds and with state and non-state organisations nationwide. The mission of the Integration Centre is to promote the integration and inclusion of immigrants by providing a credible voice and trusted resource that shapes a national vision of policy good practice and its implementation. The Integration Centre’s vision is that Ireland is an inclusive society where immigrants and their families are fully and equally involved. The Centre’s purpose is to influence and support the integration of immigrants into Irish society through integration planning, monitoring and advocacy. It provides a regionalisedinformation and advocacy service for all immigrants and offers training to statutory and non-statutory organisations. It conducts evidence-based research to influence positive change in integration legislation, policy and practice. The Integration Centre is in contact with more than 250 immigrant groups and organisations throughout the Republic of Ireland. In the Western Division of the organisation the following members are associated: Galway City Partnership, Galway Family Support, Galway Migrant Services, Galway One World Centre, Galway Peoples Resource Centre, Galway Refugee Information Services, Galway Refugee Support Group, Roscommon Partnership, Women’s Refugee in Ireland, African Community in Mayo and Mayo Intercultural Action. Western Alliance includes members from the counties of Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Clare, Donegal, and Sligo. The Integration Centre is committed to the integration and inclusion of individuals, families and children from immigrant backgrounds in Irish society, its institutions and communities. They specialisein integration planning, monitoring and advocacy at city, local, national and international levels and provide a regionalized information and advocacy service for all immigrants including protection seekers, refugees and people with subsidiary protection and leave to remain in relation to understanding and accessing their rights and entitlements. The Integration Centre offers training to statutory and non-statutory organisations and conduct evidence-based research to influence positive change in integration legislation, policy and practice. Local level integration planning is core to the work of The Integration Centre. With a network of more than 250 groups and organisations nationwide and five regional office locations, the ongoing commitment is to work collaboratively with key NGOs with established track records in this area as well as with statutory and non-statutory organisations to progress the inclusion of immigrants and their families and children in Ireland’s social, cultural, political and economic life and infrastructure. The Integration Centre’s established partnerships and engagement with key integration initiatives across the country which include those in Limerick City and County, Cork City, Wicklow, Galway County, Louth, Meath, Kilkenny, Waterford, Meath and Monaghan provides a strong basis from which to promote further progress. In Galway events such as the Galway City Intercultural Barbecue was initiated by the Integration Centre. As part of a social inclusion and integration agenda, the Galway City Intercultural Barbecue competition was held on Saturday the 29th August 2009. The competition was officially opened by the Minister for Community and Rural Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív, TD, and was marked by a series of colourful cultural presentations and performances from various communities which RIS and II work with. 11groups representing 11 countries from Africa, Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe took part in the well-attended event.
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Contact details
| Jipe Kelly, The Citizens Information Bureau, Galway. |