BRIDGE Project

Building a Receptive, Integrated and Diverse Galway of Equals
The BRIDGE project seeks to promote the effective delivery of reception and integration supports (including advocacy and capacity building interventions) to asylum seekers and third country nationals living in Galway City and County.

The project is coordinated by Galway City Partnership and funded under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), and supported by the Department of Justice and the European Union and funding partners Galway City Council, Tusla, Croi Na Gaillimhe, HSE and University of Galway.

Project Aims are to:
  • Develop and maximize the capacity and potential of those in the asylum process, refugees and third country nationals to engage with mainstream organisations and communities through the provision of information resources, skills and confidence, and
  • Deliver a capacity building programme to improve referral systems, information provision and supports within/between mainstream organisations to assist them to meet the needs of the target groups.

Project Outcomes include:

  • Increased information supports, resources, personal development and coping skills for those in the asylum process.
  • Enhanced capacity and empowerment to access information and advocacy, cultural orientation, language/IT skills, education/ training and employment for refugees and third country nationals.
  • Enhanced capacity and empowerment to access social, recreational, community supports and intercultural dialogue for refugees, third country nationals (TCNs) and those in the asylum process
  • Improved collaboration, skills and capacities of public sector organisations and mainstreaming of good practices to address the needs of respective target groups.

In accordance with AMIF guidelines the project has 3 overreaching areas of work;

Reception/Asylum Supports
  • Outreach support to residents of direct provision centres:
  • Providing information, advocacy/self-advocacy training and support, language training through IT skills, health/wellbeing and psychological care.
  • Integration Actions introducing TCNs to Irish society: Language skills and multi-media orientation programme.
Actions focused on vulnerable and socially-excluded persons: Community outreach/advocacy support centres will address this need through information, advocacy support centres and community based capacity building programmes.
Actions that promote mutual understanding between the host community and TCNs: Pilot intercultural support programme with and between migrants and the majority population.
Capacity Building
Actions strengthening the capacity of public and civil society in providing services in a culturally-appropriate manner:
Delivery of intercultural and diversity training programme to frontline staff in public sector agencies and facilitate the roll out of the HSE Intercultural Awareness in Health and Social Care Programme.