Supports
We and our affiliated organisations are dedicated to providing support for individuals & communities from all over the world, with a special focus on refugees and asylum seekers and the Black & Minority Ethnic communities. Our goal is to support migrant communities to navigate complex systems and structures, access resources, realise their rights, challenge inequality and racism and build a brighter, more inclusive future for all.
Information, Assistance & Advocacy
- Are you a refugee living in Donegal? Are you living in the International Protection accommodation? Are you from a Black or other Minority Ethnic background? Are you a member of the Roma Community? Do you need assistance with your Visa status, work permit or other documents? Have you experienced racism or discrimination? The Donegal Intercultural Platform provides supports in these areas
- education
- visa and work employment
- housing
- health
- welfare
- child and family support
- incident reporting
International Protection supports
The Intercultural Platform was established in 2009 to support people in Direct Provision Hostels in Donegal Town and Moville.
Since that time we have been at the forefront of opposition to Direct Provision (DP) – but in support of people in the DP system. We attend meetings of the Friends of Port Road IPAS Apartments, demonstrations and meetings and we are now working with the new residents in the IPAS houses for single men and families in the international Protection Accommodation system. These houses are mainly in Letterkenny and a few outlying towns.
We have received funding for a special support programme called ‘Pathways’ to assist recently arrived people in the asylum system across Donegal. This programme if funded by the Department of Integration (DCEDIY) See mopre information on the Pathways Tab.
English conversation Classes
We deliver face-to-face English conversations workshops in a variety of locations across Donegal. Classes are taking place every Wednesday and Thursday in the Library in Letterkenny from 10.30 to 12noon, Donegal Town Mondays 10.30 in the Church of Ireland hall. We have classes in Dungloe each Monday and Kilmacrennan on Wednesdays at 10.30am and Mondays at 8pm in the old school house. Bundoran on Tuesday afternoons 2pm in the Community centre and Milford also on Tuesdays in the ETB until the end of July and then moving to the Public Services Centre for August. We hope to add Buncrana soon as well. If you would like to help – we always need conversation facilitators – email donegalip@gmail.com call or text Paul on 0860841433 or use the ‘contact’ tab in this website. Thank you.
We support Ukrainians
A service dedicated to supporting children and families from Ukraine adjusting to life in County Donegal. We recognise that family life is not always easy. Life events can affect our family life and family relationships. Supported by CYPSC Donegal and TUSLA.
Your Family Support Worker is here to support you and will:
• Listen, support and assist you in your family’s place of residence
• Create the conditions for the inclusion of parents in accessing appropriate services
• signpost you to specific support services for adults, teenagers, children and carers
• Support your inclusion in TUSLA’S ‘Meitheal’ system of Family Support gatherings so you can address issues as they arise.
• Inform you of Children’s Rights under ‘Children First’ legislation in Ireland so that you are informed of all aspects of law relating to family support and Child Protection in Ireland.
Think Equality Donegal
Think Equality Donegal (TED) was established in 2021 as a unique collaboration between the Donegal Travellers Project, Donegal Intercultural Platform and Donegal Local Development Company.
The project seeks to promote the inclusion of Black Minority Ethnic (BME) communities, including Traveller and Roma, in all aspects of the county’s economic and social life by building a culture of respect for human rights, equality and intercultural understanding. Specifically, the project is concerned with addressing the barriers that are preventing members of BME communities, including Traveller and Roma, from having equality of access and outcome across public services in Donegal. To that end, a core component of our work is to engage, inform and support public/government bodies to meet their responsibilities to comply with the public sector equality and human rights duty. At the same time, we are working to build the capacity of BME communities, including Traveller and Roma, to assume leadership and decision-making roles within our public institutions.
Think Equality Donegal’s vision is of an inclusive, equal society in Donegal where culture, diversity and ethnicity are valued and celebrated within connected communities across the county, and where prejudice and discrimination have no place on the lips or in the minds of our residents or our leaders. (See more information under the Think Equality Donegal tab).