Letter of Support from the Rathlin Community and Development Association. Oct 2021

The RDCA is the representative body for the Rathlin Island community. It is responsible for representing the views of the community, ensuring the best possible services are secured, promoting a sustainable development agenda, and delivering social and economic wellbeing for and with the islanders. 

The RDCA is intensely engaged with a series of interconnected projects to improve the island’s wellbeing, environment and community and visitor facilities.  Among these is an active commitment to reducing the island’s carbon emissions and developing a range of renewable energies, a major project to eradicate non-native predators, restoring and strengthening the biodiversity, and the development of a creative, interactive space for community activities, research and visitor attractions at the clifftop site of one of the island’s three lighthouses.

In this context, the RDCA Committee is very pleased to welcome the development of this new charity, Druim, within the Rathlin community and to offer our full support.

 A few years ago, the RDCA facilitated a two-month, all-age consultation process across the island community, with excellent response from almost 90% of families and individuals, including the island’s Primary School.  The community highlighted many aspects of living on the island that bring a sense of wellbeing and pride, and which we are keen to share with others.  Many of the qualities mentioned were recorded by artists in visual minutes from the closing plenary session.  We believe those qualities, and the community’s pride in them, resonate fully with the vision and aims of Druim and provide a strong context in which Druim can flourish.  (See Visual Minute below.)

The commitments and contributions already made to the island community by the charity’s founders and trustees are fully in keeping with the qualities expressed by the community and graphically captured in these visual minutes.  Long-standing friendships with most of the trustees, already members of the island community, strengthen our trust and confidence in this admirable venture.

In our aspirations to improve services, infrastructure and opportunities for all in a most inclusive way, we are pleased to work alongside, and take guidance from, the valuable experience of Druim’s trustees.  This currently includes consideration and championing of a range of issues, including the following:

 Improved structural facilities on the island for people with disabilities, including provision of Changing Places toilet facilities

• Added harbour facilities in Rathlin’s Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council-managed Marina, including portable hoists for pontoons, improved beach access and other infrastructure that will allow inclusive access for water sports, safety boat training and water safety with potential for accredited courses and engagement with the Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival

• Increased understanding of a disability culture with opportunities for learning and skill development in disability awareness, communication and engagement with people who are marginalised, deepening our understanding of stress and challenging behaviour

• Supporting a range of people affected by stress, including carers, refugees and asylum seekers, NHS, social care staff and emergency workers, offering respite breaks and Druim’s services of bespoke recreational and therapeutic activities, in connection with other community activities and support where appropriate

• Promotion of wellbeing and positive mental health for all

Although we cannot always guarantee warm weather for visits and adventures on the island, we can trust in the warmth of welcome given to the people the charity will host.  We will be honoured to offer whatever support is possible and proper to its trustees in our efforts to realise the best of our mutual aspirations.

David Quinney Mee

RDCA Community Development Worker

October 2021