Outputs

Click on the title of any brief to download.

Policy Brief Series

This series of Project Lifecourse policy briefs are based on findings from the first phase of the 3-Cities Project. Involving Dublin, Galway and Limerick, the 3-Cities Project aims to engage in a collaborative process to re-imagine services and communities to maximise participation for children and youth, older people, and people with disabilities in their localities and cities.

Participation in the Community

This policy brief examines one fundamental aspect of this work, namely community participation. There are important questions around what participating in the community actually involves, and should involve, for children and youth, older people, and people with disabilities.

Services- Challenges and Opportunities

This policy brief examines service provision from the perspective of service managers, service providers and, crucially, of children and youth, older people, and people with disabilities, as service users. The main focus for this policy brief is on services that can help to support community participation in each of the three cities.

The Role of the City

This brief explores how participation in the community is shaped by the very nature of the community that people live in and the wider characteristics of the city, including those that are infrastructural, administrative, demographic and socio-cultural in nature. Building on the findings of the first policy brief, it documents the
perspectives of the research participants on what aspects of the city, and its communities, influence choice, control, independence and meaningful engagement and contribute to its citizens’ wellbeing.

Citizen Authored Briefs

Each community within the 3 cities had a group of citizen researchers whom produced a series of citizen authored briefs, based on their own research activity, on the issues affecting community participation of the three groups within their locality. In addition to presenting important insights on such topics as safety, integration, and accessible amenities, these briefs also form important templates for other citizen voice projects and initiatives.

Galway

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Doughiska‌

The citizen researchers in Doughiska wanted to explore how the diversity in the community played a role in how people participated. They also wanted to gain a deeper understanding into how safety and community awareness and how these things can influence how and where children and youth, older people and people with disabilities participate in community life.

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Claddagh

Claddagh citizen researchers were interested in gaining insights into if and how the old Claddagh traditions play a role in community participation. They also wanted to explore how better utilisation of community spaces could positively influence the intergenerational relationships that have changed over time.

Limerick

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Garryowen‌

The citizen researchers were interested in understanding the source of pride in and sense of belonging to Garryowen that fellow residents expressed, as well as how those feelings might differ for different cohorts of residents across the Lifecourse.

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South Circular Road

Citizen researchers in the South Circular Road area were exercised by the impact of a range of changes locally, from the increased diversity of residents and the impact of the economic downturn, to the different assets the community provides for residents in the area, including green areas, a bike scheme and a residents' association.

Dublin

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The Liberties

The Liberties citizen researchers focused on tracing day-to-day exchanges between people and the places where these occur and also it also explored visual manifestations of migration and change within the urban environment.

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East Wall

The East Wall citizen researchers undertook a comparative exploration of intergenerational community values and experiences and it also traced some key features and landmarks in the urban environment.