ONSIDE is Back: Introducing ONSIDE Evolution

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A group of participants in the first ONSIDE Project

Following the remarkable success of the original ONSIDE project back in 2022, we are thrilled to announce ONSIDE Evolution starting later this year!

For those who may not be familiar, ONSIDE (Outreach, Navigation, Social Inclusion and Digital Engagement) was a transformative cross-border initiative that supported over 2,000 disabled people across Northern Ireland and the border regions, helping to reduce social isolation through community connections and digital skills training. The project left a lasting impact on the lives of participants, many of whom described the experience as genuinely life-changing.

Now, thanks to a €8,661,034 investment from the PEACEPLUS Fund, that work is set to continue and grow. ONSIDE Evolution will reach 5,800 beneficiaries across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland, more than doubling the reach of the original programme.

What Will ONSIDE Evolution Deliver?

Led by Disability Action NI, and delivered in partnership with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, the Independent Living Movement Ireland, and Supporting Communities, the project will tackle social and digital exclusion among disabled people and carers. Participants can expect:

  • A holistic baseline assessment with motivational interviewing and goal setting

  • A six-week digital inclusion training programme, with refresher options

  • A six-week Active Citizenship course

  • Access to technology to enhance social connectedness

  • Participation in co-designed Active Citizenship and Disability Networks

A new and exciting addition to this phase is a dedicated focus on carers, with 2,000 carers receiving training to better support disabled people in living independently and participating actively in society. The project will also create lasting Active Citizenship and Disability Networks, providing a sustainable legacy of peer support and community representation long after the project concludes.

We're Hiring!

Supporting Communities is currently recruiting for seven new roles to deliver our strand of this exciting joint project. This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of something with a proven, powerful track record of impact.

If you're passionate about digital inclusion, community development, and making a real difference to people's lives, we'd love to hear from you.

Check out our job listings and share the new roles with anyone who should be a part of this project!

ONSIDE Evolution is coming. We can't wait to get started!