Our Integrated Partnerships (IP) is a collaborative initiative that brings together various stakeholders, including government agencies, local community groups, and community members, to address specific social, economic, or environmental challenges within our area. Our partnership aims to create synergies and maximize resources to achieve common goals and improve people’s overall well-being.
Examples of our work include initiatives to revitalise our neighbourhoods, improve public health outcomes, promote educational opportunities, support small businesses, and address environmental issues. Our specific goals and activities can vary widely depending on the community and the participating organisations’ needs and priorities.
The Upper Springfield Community Development team applies a community development approach to addressing the inequalities that exist within the local area. This collective approach among local community groups and representatives is vital in enhancing residents’ and organisations’ knowledge, skills, confidence, motivation, networks and resources.
Every three years the area partnership carries out a community-wide consultation which gives an overall and very localised needs analysis of our nine sub-areas. Our community consultation is a valuable process that fosters inclusivity, democracy, and informed decision-making. It helps our residents, stakeholders, and authorities to engage in open dialogue, share perspectives, and contribute to shaping policies, projects, or initiatives that directly affect people living in our area.
In essence, our community consultation is the cornerstone in local decision-making processes. It supports individuals, strengthens communities, and leads to more effective and sustainable outcomes that truly reflect the aspirations and well-being of the people it serves.
Our 2023 consultation highlights key area priorities that the integrated partnership’s membership will address through bespoke program delivery. The priorities are :
Housing Led Regeneration
The partnership leads on many different housing issues and developments in the area. The need for housing is self -evident but housing development needs to be appropriate and supportive of people’s access to housing. Central to our work is ensuring that all housing stakeholders provide local development through a housing needs lead approach.
Addressing local disadvantage through needs-based housing is essential for building more equitable and inclusive communities. Such housing initiatives must always prioritise the specific needs and challenges faced by vulnerable people who live in our area.
By tailoring housing solutions to the unique circumstances of our community, we can provide affordable and safe shelter for those in need. Needs-based housing can help break the cycle of poverty and improve overall well-being by offering stability and a sense of security. It also fosters better community belonging, as residents have a better chance to thrive when their housing needs are met.
Housing solutions must always address local disadvantage, acknowledge our community’s diverse needs while ensuring fair access to decent and affordable housing, regardless of socioeconomic status.
Current housing developments are:
Environmental: Access to the Black Mountain
The partnership is currently developing a multi-million-pound project with a number of organisations to allow safe access to the mountain.
The ‘Access to the Hills’ project will have a transformational impact on the Upper Springfield community for locals and visitors alike. A game changer for the Upper Springfield and Whiterock area, it will reopen traditional pathways providing safe access onto the Black Mountain, allowing locals and visitors to access and explore our hills. For too long, there has been barriers preventing local communities from accessing the stunning natural resource on our doorsteps.
The mountain offers a sanctuary for people’s health and well-being in several ways. Its natural beauty and serene surroundings provide a perfect escape from the stresses of urban life, promoting mental and emotional relaxation. The opportunity for outdoor activities like hiking and walking will encourage physical fitness, reducing the risk of lifestyle-related health issues. The panoramic views of the city and the countryside create a sense of awe and connection to nature, which positively impacts on mental health. This scenic backdrop also fosters a sense of community, as people gather to enjoy the outdoors together. In essence, our Black Mountain serves as a vital resource for enhancing both physical and mental well-being.
New Community Health and Well-Being Centre: Community Involvement
The partnership along, with our Healthy Living Centre, is actively campaigning for a new health and wellbeing centre that will replace our old health centre and the aging Whiterock Leisure Centre. Such a facility will offer numerous benefits. It will provide accessible, comprehensive healthcare which will help to improve our area’s health outcomes by addressing holistic health and wellbeing management. But the improvement in health inequalities is much more than provision of bricks and mortar!
The partnership seeks to ensure the community is at the centre of policy development and service delivery. The well-being of individuals is significantly influenced by the events within communities and how the services in those areas collaborate. The COVID-19 pandemic has vividly demonstrated the crucial necessity of strong partnerships at the local level. These partnerships involve healthcare providers, local government, and other stakeholders, highlighting the indispensable contribution of communities and the community sector in bolstering overall health and well-being.
Communities’ contribution to enhancing health is now gaining well-deserved attention within health policy and practice, particularly due to lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. To reduce health disparities, it is vital to engage communities in efforts to enhance their own health and well-being. As part of this refocusing, our local health provision must genuinely consider the significant role that communities can play in promoting and maintaining good health. This entails working at the local level, where the connection to communities is most robust, and recognising the pivotal role communities can have in achieving positive health outcomes.
Community Safety
Our community safety projects play a pivotal role in building confidence among local residents. By supporting them in reporting incidents of crime, our different programmes help individuals to act against wrongdoing, fostering a sense of security and control within the community. Additionally, we liaise with statutory bodies, bridging the gap between residents and authorities, ensuring that concerns are heard and addressed promptly. Through our proactive approach to resolving community safety issues, such as vandalism or anti-social behaviour, the project demonstrates tangible results, instilling confidence that positive change is possible. Ultimately, the collective efforts of such initiatives strengthen community bonds and create a safer, more resilient neighbourhood where residents feel empowered and secure.
West Belfast Community Safety Forum
The project manages the West Belfast Community Safety contract, funded by the Belfast PCSP. The network support project strategically guides the West Belfast Community Safety Forum and identifies emerging community safety trends throughout the area. We formulate strategies to tackle these issues effectively. Moreover, the project actively enhances the four community forums’ capabilities of the across West Belfast while identifying valuable training and funding prospects.
For further information: Mary McArdle on 02890236677 (Ext. 5) and on M.mcardle@usdt.co.uk
For more information on our Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership please feel free to contact:
Micheal Donnelly
Community Development Manager
Upper Springfield Development Trust
689 Springfield Road
BT12 7FP
Tel: 02890236677 (Ext. 5)
Email: M.donnelly@usdt.co.uk