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The
success of the
"Integra Programme" also led
to the development of the stand
alone enterprise,
"Shuttle -Knit Limited",
involving Settled people
and Travellers as partners.
The new business was launched
in the County Buildings, Wicklow
in April 2000.
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Wicklow Travellers Group (WTG)
was founded in 1992 to respond
to the accommodation needs of
Travellers on the roadside in County
Wicklow. The groups' core activities
related to supporting a group of 17
Traveller families in securing
accommodation. |
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Since
2001 Shuttle-Knit has been
housed in the Wicklow Traveller
Group building at the top of Crinion
Park in Wicklow Town. There are
four people employed full-time in
the enterprise and with the
assistance of their manager and ongoing support, both
financial and training
from the FAS "Social Economy" Programme it is
taking on contract work
from some of Ireland's top designers.
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Shuttle-Knit
produces and markets
a line of woven accessories including rugs, throws, scarves
and
tablemats in the weaving department.
It also produces capes and jumpers for women in the
knitwear section.
Since 2006 The Project has moved into the digitised embroidery business,
which
is proving quite successful.
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Parallel
with this work, a group of Traveller women began to meet
regularly in a house in Wicklow Town. This group
identified the need for training and development
opportunities for Traveller women in the
area. The plan was to eventually have their
own building and business. A part-time
training programme was organised.
This was further developed into a full-time
two-year training programme under
The E.U. Employment Integra Programme
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Although
not exporting their own
work, it has contact with and
frequent visits from groups of
people from the European Union
and South Africa. Shuttle-Knit also
works closely with and encourages communications with all
the local
schools and other Social Economy
Projects.
THE FUTURE
As other trainees come into the scheme
it is hoped to improve production, have a permanent
retail outlet and move to
larger premises.
Since January 2006 the Project has been funded by
Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
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