A. Project environment: profile of the organisation and local community
" Outline the project environment for the suggested voluntary activities, including the local community where the project will take place (e.g. geographical, social and economical environment).
" If the host placement is located in a live-in community, please include the rules and conditions that apply also for the volunteer.

Northern Ireland has an area of 13,576 sq km and a total population of approximately 1.7 million. Economically, the Gross Domestic Product per capita is 78% of the UK average. Traditionally the economy has been based primarily on the agricultural and manufacturing industries, although recent years have seen more inward investment and the emergence of technological and telecommunications companies as major but often short-term employers. Local unemployment rates have been amongst the highest in Europe and at a regional rate of 7%, are currently amongst the highest in the UK.
While the socio-economic situation is stabilising in Northern Ireland, the legacy of 30 years of civil strife is still very evident and there are still sporadic instances of "trouble". Small dissident paramilitary groups have resisted the development of the "peace process" and still participate in occasional terrorist activities, while some of the paramilitaries who have agreed cease-fires have displayed signs of "in-fighting" or have switched their control base to the drugs trade. On the whole, any unrest tends to be very occasional and in specific geographic areas.
Northern Ireland has a very rich, if divided, culture and has many areas of outstanding natural beauty.


40% of children in Northern Ireland live below the poverty line. Children from ethnic minorities are particularly disadvantaged. Children and young people represent approximately 40% of the population in Northern Ireland but generally have few opportunities to contribute to decisions impacting on their lives both in politics and on a more general community level.

Belfast is the main city in Northern Ireland. It has a number of areas of social disadvantage and many young people face the challenge of feeling disengaged from the educational, employment and political systems and from society in general.
The volunteer will be based mainly in Belfast, although the Rambles and other work will involve activities in other areas.
The volunteer will live in a shared house with other EVS volunteers co-ordinated by Bryson Charitable Group. This is not a live-in community.

B. Proposed activities for EVS volunteers
" Describe what you can offer to volunteers in terms of service and learning opportunities.
" Please, explain what will be the role of EVS volunteers in the host organisation.
" Describe the activities in which the volunteers could be involved and the activities the volunteers could create in your organisation. Give examples of typical activities for the volunteers.

The role of volunteers will be to assist the Shopmobility Belfast staff with the promotion and operation of the day-to-day activities. In terms of learning opportunities, the volunteer will learn about different aspects of promotion and marketing and about working with the local press and other media in order to gain press coverage. They will also gain disability awareness and learn about the range of factors which affect people with physical mobility difficulties.

The main focus of activities for the volunteer will be to assist in raising awareness of the services of Shopmobility Belfast and therefore to enable higher numbers of people with mobility difficulties to increase their mobility and independence. The volunteer will be supported in identifying different approaches and will be encouraged to use their own skills and initiative in creating new opportunities for promotion.

For example, the volunteer could focus on the promotion of the four Shopmobility Belfast sites which are in West, South and East Belfast. This could involve issuing press releases, organising information days, approaching organisations to inform them of the work of Shopmobility Belfast, etc.

In addition, Shopmobility Belfast provides services at public events throughout the year, such as the Ideal Homes Exhibition or the very popular Rose Week. The volunteer may be involved in the promotion of the Shopmobility Belfast services in advance and during these events.

The proposed "Youth Rambles" could be another area of activity for a volunteer. These events would be targeted specifically at young people with mobility difficulties and would enable them to visit public spaces which would otherwise be less accessible to them.

There may also be a role for the volunteer in the "Baywatch" scheme, where the misuse of designated disabled parking spaces is surveyed and addressed.

The volunteer will be guided and supported by the Shopmobility Belfast Co-ordinator and will be encouraged to develop their own ideas and initiatives for promotion.

In addition to the promotion activities, there may be opportunities for other involvement within the organisation, for example in learning about the use and maintenance of equipment, in supporting people with physical mobility difficulties, etc.

The EVS volunteer will work as part of a team with local staff and volunteers. In working with and for local people, they will have the opportunity to learn much about life in Northern Ireland and about the local culture and traditions. In addition, part of the induction and on-arrival training will cover intercultural issues.

C. Volunteer profiles and recruitment process
Please describe the profiles of volunteers you would like to receive in your organisation. Include information on how you ensure an open and transparent recruitment process as well as the overall accessibility of EVS to all young people. Consider further information about the type of sending organisation you want to cooperate with. This information can help the match-making between volunteer candidates, sending organisations and your organisation.
There is no particular profile of volunteer in mind, although this placement would be beneficial for someone who is interested in marketing and promotion. Ideally, the volunteer will be interested in working directly with people with physical disabilities or with mobility difficulties. Since the role will involve promoting the activities of Shopmobility Belfast, the volunteer will ideally be able to improve their English so that they can communicate effectively with potential service users and with local media.
We are open to working with any sending organisation and will consider all volunteer applications individually. The selection will be made by a combination of staff from Shopmobility Belfast (who will have a clear understanding of the exact role of the volunteer within the organisation) and a staff member from the Co-ordinating Organisation, Bryson Charitable Group (who has extensive experience of the EVS programme)

D. Special needs (if applicable)
If your placements are open to hosting volunteers with fewer opportunities, please provide information about the competence, experience and infrastructure and (human or other) resources available in your organisation to accommodate and support them
Both Shopmobility Belfast and Bryson Charitable Group will respond to individual additional needs of any volunteer. Shopmobility Belfast works directly with people with physical disabilities or mobility difficulties. Bryson Charitable Group has had experience of supporting EVS volunteers with disabilities and health needs and those from socially or economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

E. Risk prevention, safety and protection
Please describe how you will guarantee a safe living and working environment for the EVS volunteers, how you will prevent risks and crises and how - in the case of EVS volunteers aged 16 or 17 - you ensure appropriate supervision, child safety and protection.
All activities will be risk assessed by the Shopmobility Belfast staff and other appropriate training will be delivered to the volunteers (e.g. health and safety).
The Co-ordinating organisation, Bryson Charitable Group, will deliver induction training on the volunteer's arrival in Belfast and this will include elements of personal safety and other relevant information.

http://ec.europa.eu/youth/evs/aod/hei_form_en.cfm?EID=12000680123