Forewords

Foreword

Resilience can be defined as coping with extreme challenges but not be overwhelmed by them. To do so brilliantly, reflecting beyond that strength into areas of creativity and connection, was the explicit ambition of the Brilliant Resilience programme. Having consulted with our partner organisation, the Rural Housing Association, for over a year, we were delighted that this creative vision gained funding support from the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland. It meant that at the point where our communities were beginning to tentatively emerge from lockdown, with all its isolation and disconnection, that we could share a creative path to reducing anxiety and support ways to wellbeing and reengagement.

Community arts are best placed to serve that ambition and need, being exclusively focused on the context and aspiration of local community groups. CAP, and our partners, have achieved positive feedback in surveying of the groups and their participants when asked about the reduction of isolation and the sense of pride in their areas and 96% noted that they felt even more resilient as a result of the programme.

But, beyond all these benefits, the principle focus of the work is the making of art. The creativity of our groups, supported by the skill and generosity of our artist-facilitators, has been nurtured to create a wealth of texts, images and artefacts – all brimming with personality and created by participants themselves. The arts can take our lived experience and transform it into an expression of something deeper and more connected. And in so doing, creativity revitalises us to withstand challenges and find new ways to move forward. Well done to all involved as we commend your ‘Brilliant Resilience’.

Conor Shields, CEO, Community Arts Partnership

Foreword

As an organisation focused on the provision of social housing in rural communities across Northern Ireland, we at Rural Housing Association have an appreciation of the challenges faced by many living in rural areas. Not only do we work to reduce levels of housing stress across rural communities, but we also work with rural residents to build vibrant and connected communities through the delivery of community-led, grassroots initiatives.

Since the Emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, we have witnessed first-hand the devastating impact of the virus on rural communities, with lockdowns and social distancing measures further compounding feelings of social isolation and loneliness, particularly amongst older adults.

To help tackle the issue of social isolation and loneliness, that has become even more prevalent in rural communities following the pandemic, Rural Housing Association partnered with Community Arts Partnership to design an arts-based project focused on reconnecting rural residents across Fermanagh. Our Brilliant Resilience project, which uses the mediums of photography, crochet and storytelling to bring people together, has extended far beyond our tenants and has helped connect over 200 local residents across Fermanagh. Despite the challenges of the ongoing pandemic, the Brilliant Resilience project achieved its aim of building more resilient and thriving communities with participants indicating they felt more resilient after taking part in the project, an outstanding achievement against the backdrop of a global pandemic.

The Brilliant Resilience project is not only a celebration of the resilience of Fermanagh people, but it also showcases the beauty of the Fermanagh landscape as seen through the eyes of its residents. The images taken by local people capture the charm of the Fermanagh landscape and is a reminder of the beauty we can find on our doorsteps.

As CEO of Rural Housing Association, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to The Prince’s Countryside Fund and the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, for the funding provided to enable us to run the Brilliant Resilience project in Fermanagh. This project has helped reconnect rural communities after an extremely challenging period of lockdown restrictions, when many living in rural areas were impacted by feelings of social isolation and loneliness. By bringing people together again we can help build resilience and create more connected and vibrant rural communities.

Stephen Fisher CEO, Rural Housing Association