In June 1998, at a meeting for the Ballymun Community Arts and Resource Centre, people were asked if they would be interested in becoming involved in a network of organisations. Several groups volunteered and a follow up meeting was then held. These groups were the seed network group which invited other networks to Ballymun to give presentations and ideas on "what a community network is?"

In August 1998 the Community Action Programme (CAP) started a community research process by talking to a number of groups in the area about their experiences of the regeneration process that was going on in the area. In February 1999 these groups were brought together to discuss the initial findings of the CAP research. From a discussion at this meeting it was recognised that there were many challenges facing the Ballymun community over the next few years. The biggest is the regeneration of the area and community groups were not being included in any discussion on the regeneration. Although all groups would surely be affected somehow, there was nowhere for community groups to come together to discuss or tackle the common issues that faced us all. This identified the gap that needed to be addressed. CAP agreed to support a network group in its early stages.

Since that meeting in early February '99, the Network has become BCON. BCON meets monthly and through word of mouth has grown from about eight member groups to over thirty groups working in the Ballymun area. So far our work has included:

• Information exchange between groups affiliated to BCON.

• Meeting with Ballymun Regeneration Limited regarding their plans for community groups.

• Representatives of BCON now sit on the Ballymun Youth Strategy Group.

• Representatives of BCON also sit on the Village/Neighbourhood centre group with Ballymun Regeneration Limited and Dublin Corporation.

• Regular feedback is given to member groups on developments in the area.

BCON is becoming more recognised in the area as a voice for community organisations. BCON is not limited in its membership and it is open to everyone who is active in the Ballymun community. Everyone has a part to play. The community consultation research carried out by CAP asked all groups if they would be interested in a network of organisations, the answer was an amazing 100% yes. BCON believes that it is time for groups to follow up on this.

Aim of the Planning Day 

• BCON should provide a forum for people working in the community to share experiences and information on day to day work and funding activities. 

• BCON should act as an umbrella organisation for community groups in Ballymun focused in the community and on community and voluntary organisations. 

• BCON should provide a voice for community groups in Ballymun and a spokesperson (s) for issues that affect community and voluntary groups as well as people in Ballymun.

• BCON should continue to be represented on the Youth Strategy Group, working to ensure that the needs of voluntary organisations are included. 

• BCON should strive to provide support for people who work in the community in Ballymun. 

• BCON should be addressing issues raised by the regeneration, in particular: highlighting the needs of the community and community groups; housing; and the provision of neighbourhood facilities. 

• Future activities of BCON should include continued sharing of information and resources between group in Ballymun.  

• Spearheading the need for new accommodation for groups in Ballymun, providing a voice for community groups on this issue and keeping community groups informed on developments.

• Developing links with other areas, similar groups and local institutions e.g. DCU. 

• Investigating the existence of a directory of community groups in Ballymun. 

• Developing democratic structures within BCON and ways for BCON to work. 

• BCON should continue to meet on a monthly basis. 

• Information is crucial to the development for BCON and a newsletter for BCON was suggested as a way of achieving this. 

• Working groups should be established within BCON to work on policies, learn from other areas, relay information to network members, address concerns and to respond to matters that arise. 

• BCON should develop subgroups as and when is needed, the workgroups would be focussed on particular issues

• BCON should have its own democratically elected organising/steering committee, their function would include organising the agenda for BCON monthly meetings, acting on the proposals from the planning day, supporting the development of themed meetings and the ethos BCON. 

• BCON needs to elect a chairperson and appoint a vice-chairperson, a secretary and a treasurer. 

• The work of BCON needs to be supported through administrative backup and support. To achieve this BCON should be looking towards getting a worker. 

Since then BCON has continued to meet monthly and to work on the proposals and recommendations of the planning day.

Chairperson -  

Fiona Cormican, Community Action Programme 

Steering Committee- 

Aine Rooney, Ballymun Unemployed and Welfare Rights Centre 

Greg Foxe, Ballymun Local Drug Task Force 

Derek Fitzpatrick,- Ballymun Partnership 

Lorraine O'Neill, Ballymun Voluntary Youth Council 

Oliver McGlinchy, Ballymun Development Co-op 

Camilla Fitzsimons, STAR Project Ballymun 

Audrey Meehan, Ballymun Voluntary Youth Council (secretary) 

Tracy Foran, Fountain Project Ballymun 

Caron Tolster, Ballymun Healthy Cities 

BCON will continue to work in achieving its aims and developing further the recommendations that came out of the November planning day. 

If you or your organisation is interested in becoming involved in BCON please contact: 

Audrey Meehan Secretary