We asked the PPN Representatives some questions about themselves, their organisations and the PPN – here are the answers!
What is your organisation’s name?
– Terenure Community Support & Integration (I am also a member of Voice of Vision Impairment, but I am was nominated as a Rep from TCSI)
Why did your organisation join the PPN?
– To become familiar with other projects going on in the Dublin City are: To try and establish useful contacts.
Why did you become a representative / join the PPN Secretariat?
– I want to try and facilitate in the process of making changes in Dublin City Council both in terms of environmental issues and in the case of influencing policy so that there outcomes include visually impaired people, instead of excluding, which is what usually what happens.
What would you like to achieve in your role as rep/ Sec member?
– I would like to have influence on policy that actually has a noticeable outcome!
How do you report back to your organisation with updates on PPN proceedings?
– At the moment, with great difficulty as there is no linkage group despite there having been previous efforts to put one in place. But there has been a lot of confusion about the role of linkage groups which I think is now being much better clarified.
What advice would you give other community groups in getting involved with the PPN?
– Have a strong neck if you are going to participate in SPCs, be prepared for challenges, manage your expectations, don’t give up but you will enjoy yourself along the way!
Tell us an interesting fact about yourself – for example, interesting hobby, sports achievement, whatever is unique to you!
– I went to collect the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award certificate, (which is available to anybody who wants to enter the scheme), this was back in the late 1970’s. There was no problem getting my guide dog into Buckingham Palace but the unique feature was that my then dog, Sherry, was stroked by Prince Philip and he shook my hand.