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What commitment is involved?

The programme runs over a period of seven months from April to October, with a mixture of training days (Saturdays) and weekends, including a two week project overseas (see the dates section).   Participants must accept fully the commitment to the dates and time required in the preparation before, and follow-up after, the overseas visits.

SOE will help participants look at how they can make positive use of their experiences on the programme. The expectation of the Trust is that, on completion, individuals give something back by making their own contribution and promoting a culture of dialogue and learning throughout their own peer-groupings, the wider community, schools and youth organisations in Northern Ireland.

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Who can apply?

Any young person aged over 16 and under 20 on 1^st July (of the year for which they are applying) who is a resident of Northern Ireland.   Applications are welcome from young people from all backgrounds in NI, but in order to maintain a critical balance from across the community, applications are particularly welcome from individuals coming from marginalised and disadvantaged backgrounds.

The Trust wishes to attract individuals who have the potential to pass on the learning gained from their seven month's participation on this leadership and dialogue programme.

The Trust selects fifty young people each year. 

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How can I apply?

Applicants must complete an application form and return it with a letter of reference (from a teacher/youth worker/employer - not a family member).   Application forms are available, from the end of October, from this website, through school/youth organisations or by telephoning 028 9038 1500.

Closing date for the programme each year is the Wednesday before Christmas.   Applicants will receive a letter, stating if their application to attend a selection discussion has been successful or not, by the end of January/ beginning of February.  The selection discussion will be held in Belfast on the last Saturday in February.  Individual discussions last approximately fifteen minutes.

Interviewees will receive notification of the outcome of their selection meeting by the end of the first week in March.

Please note that due to the large number of applications received each year it is not possible to acknowledge receipt of individual forms.

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What can participants expect once selected?

The successful applicants are separated into five groups of ten and work alongside two co-ordinators, both of whom are past participants of the programme.  As a dialogue and leadership programme, participants are supported in developing skills to deal with discussions on contentious and contemporary issues, topics chosen by the young people themselves.  Participants are expected to contribute fully and supportively to the project discussions and SOE development throughout the experience.  Throughout the programme there is a balance of hard work and fun. 

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What does participation on the programme offer young people?

The Spirit of Enniskillen programme offers opportunities for participants to take responsibility for their own learning through:

• Extending individual experience of other cultures and an appreciation of the cultural traditions of Northern Ireland within an international context
• Exploring issues, chosen by participants as important to young people, and through this discussion testing values and beliefs
• The exploration of areas of dispute that produce potential disagreement in Northern Ireland and similarly other cultures dealing with diversity, identifying common features and, where possible, structures and approaches that encourage understanding and respect for difference
• Accepting responsibility for decision-making and its consequences both individually and as a group, building personal confidence, sensitivity to others and an ability to deal with conflict and hostility constructively
• Providing opportunities that encourage leadership qualities in individuals
• Developing a clearer understanding of both the possibilities and boundaries, to future work with immediate peers, the local community and civic society

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What happens on the 2 week project overseas?

Participants travel overseas to host organisations (see International section) where they meet and work with other young people similar to themselves.  There they will be involved in their own SOE programme and at the same time linking into the programme provided by their hosts.  This will be a mixture of dialogue, teambuilding & leadership sessions, as well as some fun activities. In 2007 two SOE groups will travel to the USA, and one group to Canada, Cyprus and Sweden.

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What is the role of the co-ordinator?

The co-ordinators, all past participants of the programme, are there to support the participants and are pivotal to the learning that can be achieved.  Co-ordinators receive full induction training and support throughout to carry out this role of delivering SOE's learning process.  They are modeling positive leadership and are demonstrating to young people how they themselves might facilitate constructive dialogue after the experience on the SOE. 

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Will participation on the programme affect my studies?

SOE is aware that the majority of young people applying to the scheme will be studying, whether at School, FE College, Government training programmes or University.  All of the days and weekends are planned so as to cause the minimum of disruption to their studies.  It is however important that the young people take ownership of their involvement and plan their studies in advance so that they can be free for the dates specified.  This is why we indicate the full set of dates at the outset and young people must commit to attending all of these dates, without exception.

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What are the outcomes for the young people?

The consistent outcomes for participants are that they become more confident in their sense of themselves and more sensitive to the hopes and fears of other communities. They also develop their dialogue, teamwork and leadership skills and enhance their capacity to work with others on contentious and contemporary issues.

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What is the involvement of parents/guardians?

As a parent/guardian you will receive information about your son/daughter's involvement on the programme.   There are two occasions when parents/guardians are invited along to meet everyone.  

1. An evening reception which is held in Belfast in June, prior to the overseas part of the programme. At this parents will have the opportunity to meet the 9 other young people in their son/daughter's group, the group co-ordinators, as well as SOE staff & Trustees.  
2. On the final weekend residential in October parents are invited, on the Sunday morning, to see presentations done by SOE participants.   This is held in Fermanagh and is followed by a buffet lunch.  This is an excellent opportunity for parents/guardians to see the culmination of the learning achieved by their son/daughter.

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What are the expectations of the Trust?

Spirit of Enniskillen opportunities are for those who can show genuine interest in learning about themselves and others, in particular how communities with differing backgrounds are learning to live together, respecting their differences, dealing with conflict positively and contributing to a shared future. 

This is a structured learning programme where, through a balance of hard work, enjoyment and recreation, participants gain a great deal for themselves and others.

To achieve this, the Spirit of Enniskillen Trust expects participants to:

Accept fully the commitment to the dates and time required in the preparation before, and follow-up after, the overseas visits; and to contribute fully and supportively to the project discussions and SOE development throughout the experience. 

Agree to be open to learning about themselves as well as others.  Being willing to listen does not necessarily mean having to compromise on our own principles.  On the contrary, it often helps us to clarify them. Individuals will have opportunities to work and meet with other young people from a range of different backgrounds and cultures, both at home and overseas.

Be sensitive at all times to the integrity of the Scheme. This must especially be reflected in personal conduct regarding alcohol or substance abuse, personal relationships and general respect for the rights of others.

Be prepared to give something back. On return from their overseas project participants are expected to stimulate debate amongst their friends and community on the issues they have investigated and how they relate to the future of society.  We will help participants look at how they can make positive use of their experiences with the programme to make their own contribution and promote constructive change, particularly in schools & youth organisations.

Raise a minimum contribution of £300 towards their project.  Participants are encouraged to fundraise this amount and, where fundraising exceeds £300, this additional money should also be passed on to the Trust.  The method of fundraising depends on the individual but methods used in the past include sponsored events such as fun runs, fasts, walks, silences, etc, but other events such as organising discos, jumble sales or doing odd-jobs have also taken place.

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What about child protection?

SOE's commitment to the safety of young people is paramount.  As a parent/guardian, if your son/daughter is successful in gaining a place, you will be asked to sign a form giving your consent for your son/daughter, if under 18, to participate on the programme.  A child protection policy, in line with the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults (NI) Order 2003, is in place and all co-ordinators and staff are vetted & trained accordingly. 

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What about insurance?

SOE provides full insurance cover, including for overseas travel.  Those individuals traveling to European countries should also obtain an E1:11 form.  This will be discussed as a group with their co-ordinators.

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What is the accreditation?

SOE's core programme is accredited on a number of levels through the Open College Network Northern Ireland:

Participants:    Level one (credits 6) and level two (credits 9) indicates evidence of the personal insight, dialogue and leadership skills development of participants.  The constant reviewing of interpersonal skills and planning for future action is viewed as central in helping them develop as ‘autonomous learning individuals'.

Co-ordinators: Level three (credits 9) accredits the development of those participants who then go on to become co-ordinators.  As a co-ordinator they are fully responsible for the facilitation and support of an annual project group.  Critically, all ten project co-ordinators each year are now themselves past participants of the programme, in itself modeling positive leadership.  This also demonstrates to young people how they themselves can facilitate dialogue and learning after the SOE experience.  As the role of co-ordinators is central and critical, full induction, training and support are provided to each new co-ordinator team, helping them to clarify their understanding and developing the facilitation and intervention skills necessary to deliver the learning process.

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What is the International Award?

The Spirit of Enniskillen is an access organisation for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme which is linked to the International Award.  Participants can use their participation on the core programme to cover the residential section &/or skills section.  Young people should speak to their youth leader or organisation through which they are doing the Award. 

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What happens when the programme is over?

All past participants of the Trust's core programme can become a member of Future Voices, a follow-up programme which is an independently constituted voluntary project, organised and run by young people for young people of all backgrounds, providing peer-mentoring, training and support in facilitating ‘dialogue, learning and good relations' through key partnerships between young people, teachers, schools and local communities.

Training and capacity building is carried out to mentor young volunteers through a progressive sequence of workshop delivery experiences building from the leader-for-a-day responsibilities of  the core programme; running individual discussion workshops in-house and on residentials; delivering learning workshops in schools; coordinating on the core-programme; responsibility for organising and delivering residentials; representing the Spirit of Enniskillen in external and international training events and finally taking part in teacher support seminars.

In addition to this capacity building and training, the annual Future Voices programme is also a balance of  relevant and open discussions on contentious issues and a calendar of social events for relaxation and enjoyment.

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Is there any cost involved?

Participants are encouraged to fundraise a minimum contribution of £300 towards their project.  Where fundraising exceeds £300, this additional money should also be passed on to the Trust.  The method of fundraising depends on the individual but methods used in the past include sponsored events such as fun runs, fasts, walks, silences.