1. Learning from a Community/Education Partnership

2. 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!

3. 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 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!!

4. 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..

5. 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

6. 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…

7. 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..