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PRESS RELEASECross-border women’s meeting focuses on barriers to progress1st December 2003The Cross Border Women’s Development Project will hold their second joint committee meeting today, Monday 1st December at Donegal County Council offices in Lifford. Representatives include Councillors and officers from both Derry City and Donegal County Councils. Speaking prior to today’s event Mayor of Derry Councillor Shaun
Gallagher said: “As part of the project the Councils have recently advertised
for independent researchers to come in and undertake studies which
will identify particular barriers that have impeded the progression
of women in the workplace.” The second study will focus specifically on the barriers that prevent women from advancing within the two participating councils and the obstacles that prevent women from entering the local government labour market at all occupation levels. Rena Donaghey is Vice-Chair of Donegal County Council and said the
project implementation would realise major benefits to women from both
Councils: Members of The joint committee for the Cross Border Women’s
Development Project include Alderman Mary Hamilton and Councillors
Maeve McLaughlin and Helen Quigley from Derry City Council and Vice-Chair
of Donegal County Council, Rena Donaghey, and Councillors Albert Sloey
and Terence Doherty. Officers from both Councils will also be in attendance
at today’s meeting, including Liam Ward, Human Resources Manager
for Donegal County Council, Peter Sidebottom, Manager of Personnel
Services, Ellen Cavanagh, Management Services Officer, [Derry City
Council] Una Collier, Equality Officer Donegal County Council and Project
Officer Maria McGilloway, who is on secondment from Derry City Council
to the project. Notes to EditorThe Cross Border Women’s Development Project is an initiative of Derry City Council and Donegal County Council and is partly funded by the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation under Measure 5.2. This two-year project aims to identify, develop and promote initiatives to encourage the participation and advancement of women in the public sector labour market, particularly in Derry and Donegal Councils. The project is managed by a Joint Committee made up officers and Elected Members from both Councils. PROGRAMMESSpecific programmes include: mentoring; job shadowing; secondments/exchange; taster days; career/personal development training; and training in non-traditional areas. These programmes will be provided on a cross-border, cross-organisation and cross community basis so as to promote women’s participation in and access to the local government labour market.MENTORINGMentoring is a process to support and develop female employees in their personal and career development. The Cross Border Women’s Development Project isco-ordinating mentoring initially for 12 female staff in Derry City Council and 15 female staff in Donegal County Council. Mentors are male or female employees that have volunteered to give their time and experience to help build the capacity of women within these organisations, through a supportive relationship that is focused on goal setting and developing skills. Mentors have received training to develop their mentoring skills. The current mentoring programme will last for an initial six months. TRAINING IN NON-TRADITIONAL AREAS AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENTFemale staff from both organisations are currently participating in training that will develop skills for jobs that have been traditionally carried out by men. Apart from developing skills in a non-traditional area and gaining a qualification, the training is designed to build the confidence of female staff and will contribute to their overall personal and career development. These training opportunities may include personal development in areas such as confidence building and interview skills.TASTER DAYSTaster days involve group visits for women to Derry City Council and Donegal County Council. These information days are an opportunity for women to find out about the career opportunities available in the Councils, to get to know what services the Councils provide and where the services and jobs are located. It will also be an opportunity for women to meet staff in the Council DepartmentsRESEARCHThe project is carrying out research into identifying the barriers to equal access, participation and advancement of female staff in both organisations. There will also be research into the barriers that prevent women from entering the local government labour market at all grades. Independent researchers carrying out the barriers’ research will facilitate focus discussion groups targeted at women in the community The project will carry out a workplace review that will provide information on employees in both organisations in relation to areas such as family life, educational background, training, career development and profession, equality, communications, general employment issues, etc.WEBSITEThe project is also developing a website to provide women in Donegal and Derry with information on cross border and cross community issues, women’s organisations, training and employment opportunities, childcare facilities, family friendly work practice entitlements (statutory and non statutory), entrepreneurship/self-employment. The website will also include information on social and other issues for example, work/life balance, healthcare for women, domestic violence, e-commerce, environment, sources of help and other relevant subject areas.For further information please contact City Marketing on 028 71 376 504 For additional information contact: Press OfficeTel: 028 71 376504Fax: 028 71 264858 Adele McCourt Email: Adele.McCourt@derrycity.gov.uk Claire Lundy Email: Claire.Lundy@derrycity.gov.uk 
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