Ritchie launches 'The WIMPS Mobile' for Northern Ireland young people

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie today launched a new mobile media resource to help young people express their views and influence decision makers in government and other places.

The ‘Where is My Public Servant’ (WIMPS) mobile is designed to bring the latest in video production and multi-media technology to young people throughout Northern Ireland.

This will enable them to engage directly with elected representatives and make their views known. The vehicle complete with a range of video production equipment (cameras, laptops, lights etc.) will support young people to conduct interviews with leading political figures. These interviews are designed to get politicians views on issues important to young people and also to find out more about the politician as a person. The project will also help young people to make films in their communities about issues that are important to them.

Margaret Ritchie said: “This project provides an excellent opportunity for young people to make their views known and influence future policies that directly impact upon them. I was interested in local politics from a young age and I am only too pleased to give our young people a chance to be heard. Too often, policy makers fail to take young people’s needs and views into account. The ‘WIMPS mobile’ is the perfect medium for this technical age.

“I have provided nearly £100,000 from my Department’s Modernisation Fund Capital Programme for the WIMPS mobile. I want to see my Modernisation Fund providing the most modern facilities to make community based initiatives more effective. The fund is about providing support to organisations throughout Northern Ireland, enabling them to deliver better services and a shared future to their local communities. The mobile studio complies with this remit, and will allow Public Achievement to work creatively with young people across Northern Ireland and to bring their voices to a wider audience.”

Paul Smyth, Director of Public Achievement said: “We are delighted to be launching this project with Minister Ritchie today. This fund allows us to bring the latest in video production technology to young people from tougher realities across Northern Ireland. This in turn gives young people the opportunity to communicate their ideas, hopes and fears effectively and directly to key decision makers. The WIMPS website is unique in the world and young people are using it to develop constructive relationships with each other and with their political representatives.”

WIMPS is also trialling a new mobile broadband technology in the Belfast area called ‘iBurst’ to bring internet access with the vehicle so that young people can get on-line from any location in the city.

Notes to editors

1. The WIMPS Project was initiated and developed by Paul Smyth, Director of Public Achievement with the aim of providing young people with the opportunity to communicate their ideas effectively to each other and directly to politicians through the clever use of new technologies.
2. Public Achievements mission is 'Building Democratic Communities Together'. They work with young people and to support adults to work with young people in ways which encourage active citizenship. Their efforts are focused on working with communities that face difficult living situations, particular areas that face social and economic disadvantage and many which have also been adversely affected by former conflict and its legacy.
3. The Modernisation Fund is a £15million Capital programme which aims to support voluntary and community organisations to modernise, enabling them to become more sustainable and deliver new and better services in an era of change.
4. The Modernisation Fund is managed by the Voluntary and Community Unit (VCU) in the Department for Social Development. The Modernisation Fund Community Partnership (MFCP) delivers the Fund on behalf of VCU. The MFCP comprises three organisations:- Co-operation Ireland, Community Evaluation Northern Ireland (CENI), and Community Places (previously Community Technical Aid).
5. The programme has been broken down into three themes, based on grant award;
   • Theme 1 - £9million – Pilot infrastructure Scheme (£300k-£1.5 m);
   • Theme 2 - £3million - Community Facilities Improvement Scheme (£100k - £300k);
   • Theme 3 - £3million – Small Capital Grants (£20k - £100k).
6. The WIMPS vehicle and equipment has been funded by the Department for Social Development through the Modernisation Fund Capital Programme at a cost of £96,000.
7. Media enquiries to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9496 or contact Simon Stuart on 07920 186639. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned