Working as a community development worker with Galway Rural Development has been life-changing, ex-prisoner Damien Quinn told a recent ‘In Our Words’ event in Athlone. The celebratory occasion was held to showcase the value of the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme for which Damien works.
Having used his three years in prison to better educate himself, he found that the work involved in turning his life around was not over at all when he came out. Due to his criminal record, he was locked out of the type of community development roles he sought. That was the case until he was finally given a break.
“I spent since 2011 studying community development, and I couldn’t get a break for over a decade. Galway Rural Development Group were able to see me for the man that I am today, and the skills that I bring, and they invited me into the team,” he said.
“I started on the Social Enterprise Regeneration Project first, which was providing training to social enterprises in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon and I actually started my own social enterprise the same week,” he said.
That social enterprise, Spéire Nua, helps people in the situation he once was in himself, by seeking to help former prisoners to reintegrate into society and work.
At Galway Rural Development he progressed to a role on the SICAP team, working in community education and disability support. “I went for the job, and I got that, and I am a very, very proud member of a team.”
• Emily Hughes, Climate Action Officer with colleague Damien Quinn, SICAP worker, Galway Rural Development.
He said that management and colleagues there have had a huge impact upon him and he thanked them all. For a man who worked very hard to get the chance the experience has been transformative.
“It has been an absolute life-changing experience to grow professionally in an area in community development, which I’m very, very proud to be a part of,” he said.
Brooklodge Day Service is located quite near his home, but he didn’t know what was happening there until he came into contact with it through his work.
“I always thought it was the priest’s house, but it was actually a disability day service that I never knew about! One of the first things that we did was look at ways in which to empower the individuals and for them to generate a bit of trade income for themselves, and that type of thing.
“We successfully supported them to set up their own coffee shop, the Friday coffee shop, and when they got it all set up, one of the first things they did was to cater for a wedding of 110 people.”
He was also involved in helping to set up something similar in Athenry.
“If you’re ever in Athenry and you fancy spending a few quid socially, pop into the Green Bean Cafe, in Athenry Primary Care Centre and meet the lovely staff. It’s one of our favourite projects,” he urged the audience.
He also spoke about social farming and the benefits of that as a programme, while he said a project that involves drumming is one of his favourites.
“Everybody connects to the beat. For any ability, any age, there’s nothing stopping you from getting involved in drumming, and it’s great to be a part of it. And when you feel the energy, and you see the smiles, you know, it’s a really, really nice way to spend an hour or two.”
He said that running a summer camp for children with additional needs, where he observed the joy in the faces of the participants and their families, showed him the importance of the work.
As a child, Damien and his siblings were at times left alone, and he said people from the Travelling community played a major role in helping them, doing more for them than the statutory services.
He said he enjoys working with the community now through his job, for example being involved in the production of a mini-documentary about Traveller culture entitled ‘Life on the Road’.
“We did it in collaboration with the HSE and it actually premiered up in the Dublin International Film Festival. We were really, really proud to play a little part in celebrating life on the road and Traveller culture.”
His work on helping the rehabilitation of people with criminal pasts is continuing.
He spoke about an event called Generation Change where “the whole idea is inviting employers into the room with people with criminal histories. There will be national employers there, and we’ll be pulling on all those levers.”
He encouraged community workers who might know somebody who would benefit from interaction with Spéire Nua to contact him: “Let me know and I’ll work with you on that.”
He said that his job has challenged him and he said he wanted to challenge his colleagues in the audience.
“My role with Galway Rural Development certainly empowered me and I spend my time empowering them as well. Reciprocity is a massive word; a bit of give and take. They’ve supported me to do what I want to do. They’ve employed me, but they’re not just employers, they’re friends and they’re people that challenge me to be the best version of myself every day and I challenge them to be the best version every day as well.
“But I want to challenge you as well. I heard a lot of talk about funding and the need for funding; we go around every day and we empower people, we empower social enterprises, we empower local community groups, but I challenge you to think about how you can empower yourself. How you can identify opportunities to have your local development company grow and to ensure that you’re not scrounging for funding when the time comes,” he concluded.
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