The Executive Office (TEO) Communities in Transition (CIT): Addressing Exploitation Programme in the North Belfast CIT Area

The Executive Office (TEO) is seeking to establish a Contract for the provision of an Addressing Exploitation programme within the North Belfast CIT Area; this relates to New Lodge and Greater Ardoyne (maps of the designated areas are attached at Annex A of the Specification). This programme will facilitate building a resilient community through a participatory community approach, advocating collaboration with statutory, community and voluntary bodies responsible for maintaining safety in our communities, to increase the number of individuals and organisations working to create safe communities and improve the capabilities of those already working to create safe communities.

The core purpose of this programme is multi-fold:

• To raise awareness and educate the community on the various forms of exploitation which may be impacting on their community (this includes sexual, child criminal and monetary);
• To build trust and understanding between the communities and statutory agencies (primarily response services) working in this field, with the aim of encouraging meaningful relationships so they can work better together to eliminate/minimise exploitation in their community;
• To encourage / empower communities to take a proactive role in improving community safety in their area; and
• Support those who are victims of exploitation and reduce the number of people who are vulnerable to paramilitary influence and control

The Contractor must not be delivering general community safety activities as part of this programme, activities must be clearly linked to addressing exploitation issues which have arisen as a result of living in a community with high levels of paramilitary activity, criminality and organised crime and, to the Benefits Framework (as listed at paragraph 6.6 of the Specification). This should take into account the aims of the CIT Project and the overall Executive Action Plan on Tackling Paramilitary Activity, Criminality and Organised Crime.