Learning from a Community/Education Partnership

Why Partnership? Not all about the Coffee “A number of parties who agree to cooperate to advance their mutual needs” Meet multiple needs Access and Expertise Shared costs One focus Multiple needs= UCC: Goal to give the students the best possible experience through access to Communities/schools/facilities HAZ= To create innovative initiatives to increase the health of the community/ Access to Susan’s and the Students expertise One Focus: You would think it would be to increase participation in sport and health related activities amongst children and adults with autism.. But initially it was simply a decision to work together and see where it goes!

Background in Collaboration 2011 Health Action Zone Project UCC Sports Studies and Physical Education Department Cork Sports Partnership 2018 What has Sustained this Partnership In 2012 3 groups came together at the request of Susan to see if it would be mutually beneficial to work together on programmes and initiatives that would give students a experience gained in a real community setting.. And for HAZ and CSP it fulfilled part of our role as facilitators of new innovative projects into the communities and we were fairly sure the local boys and girls would learn something new .. Practice a positive health behaviour So how have we survived till 2018!!

Early Wins Youth Health Symposium Halliwick Swimming Training Fundamental Movement Skills in local schools Mutual beneficial Community Agencies Third Level College Student Community – learning, life long skill development, enjoyment, support (Susan talking to parents/parents supporting each other) Agencies – Bringing new programmes into the schools and communities/ covering large numbers of individuals with one health programme Third Level – Fulfilling the commitment to the students to give them the best of experiential learning Student – gaining invaluable on the ground experience e.g: learning that sometimes you have to not just adapt your lesson plan for the participant but also for the weather, the size of the hall, the size of the group etc..

Innovation Example: Expansion to new areas we linked with new partners FMS Conference 2013 Developing and printing of Handbooks Fundamental Movement Skills Class Expansion to new areas we linked with new partners COPE, Brothers Of Charity, Leisureworld, Irish Wheel Chair Association, Primary Schools, The Glen Sports & Resource Centre, Springboard Family Support Agency, The Farranree Autism Support Group, NICHE, The Mardyke Arena, “Innovation can spring from a singular entity or person but will only thrive through collective action.” (Stephen Murphy 2018) For this partnership group there was always a new activity .. This made us continually re-energise and refocuse on the work of the partnership e.g: FMS Class: where 30 people with autism arrive in one location and get streamed in to three separate groups to partake in games and activities adapted to suit their needs in locations such as The Parochial Hall, Outdoor soccer pitches and the Leisure world swimming pool Expansion: we had to grow because we were now targeting the Autism services and so we included the autism services in the planning

Embed Yearly Action Planning Each organisation knowing its role and willing and able to fulfil that role Community awareness of the project Services awareness of the project Access to funding The partnerships longevity is also down to…

A Partnership should: Have a core group of individuals and agencies Your first task is to NAME IT “We are now working in partnership.. We will focuses on..” Think big start small Embed the work Evaluate Innovate & Expand Create: Seek a champion with in agencies.. remember a dedicated person with in an organisation is worth more than any once off grant. Name it: it allows everyone to under stand that actions have to be completed Think: Achievable Evaluate: learn from what you have done name your strengths and the weaknesses.. Learn … move forward Agencies: multiple agency collaboration allows for greater sustainability, opportunity for growth, and access to funding..