Community partnership seeking help to make Cork a safer city

The Cork City Local Community Safety Partnership is inviting expressions of interest from individuals with specific experience and expertise to help make Cork a safer city.

The partnership brings together local government, statutory agencies, community organisations, elected representatives, and community members to work collaboratively on local safety priorities.

Its committee identifies community safety concerns, develops local solutions and coordinates actions across agencies and services.

It also helps ensure that services are responsive to local needs, and that communities have a direct voice in decisions affecting their safety and wellbeing.

The partnership is currently seeking representatives in areas including domestic, sexual and gender-based violence; youth and family services; and the justice system, including people who have experienced prison and their families, probation services, the courts service, victims, and victim support services.

Vision of a safe city

Partnership chair Terry Shannon said: “Community safety is about more than policing and enforcement.

“It is about ensuring that people are safe and feel safe in their communities, and that everyone can participate fully in community life without fear of harm or exclusion”.

The Safety Partnership’s vision is for a: ‘Safe city where every community has the right to live free from harm and fear and to participate fully in community life’.

Community representatives appointed to the Partnership will play an important role in ensuring that lived experience and community perspectives are reflected in local decision-making.

Members are expected to engage regularly with their communities, identify emerging issues and advocate for community needs.

Membership is voluntary, with members serving a three year term and attending approximately six meetings annually per term.

Encouraging applications

Meetings are generally held in Cork City Hall on Tuesdays at 4.30pm.

The partnership’s coordinator Sandy McGroarty said: “We are encouraging applications from individuals who are passionate about creating safer, stronger and more inclusive communities and who can bring valuable insight and experience to the work of the Safety Partnership”.

Those interested in applying or learning more about the role are encouraged to visit the community safety section of the Cork City Council website at www.corkcity.ie, or contact the safety partnership coordinator directly.

The deadline for applications is Friday, October 30.