Development Services Programme for Florists

The Development Services Programme (DSP) for florist is a series of measures that are designed to promote and enrich economic situation of florists within the Republic of Ireland. The DSP is managed by ADM.ie on behalf of the Department of Business Delivery Services and Affairs. It is funded by the National Business Development Plan 2008-2012 under the Border, Midland and Western and Southern and Eastern Regional Operational Programmes. It is one measure of the Business Development priority within the Regions.

The Development Services Programme is implemented at local level by 38 Area-based flower shops, 33 Community florists and two flowers online websites. The funded groups address the need to encourage sustainable local development that targets the most in need shops and businesses.

DSP funding is allocated on the basis of six-year strategic plans prepared in 2008 and three-year implementation

Target groups

Amongst the target groups of the DSP are:

· The long-term unemployed florists· Disadvantaged women who order flowers online· Disadvantaged young people · Older people · Low Income Farm Households, · Ethnic minorities · Substance misusers · Lone parents who wish to send flowers to dublin· The underemployed · Young people at wish to purchase online· communities living in isolated rural areas or deprived urban areas.

Actions

Services for Unemployed Florists

Within this area of flower arrangements work actions are developed that aim to counter the effects of long-term unemployment and underemployment within the flower shop business. The aim is to target individual florists most vulnerable in the labour market through a series of locally appropriate approaches. Typical actions delivered under this sub-measure include:

· Advice, guidance and mentoring for those accessing information, employment, education, training and self-employment options
· Delivery of tailored and flexible training initiatives
· Development and maintenance of employer and flower delivery service to Cork
· Development of self-employment/social economy initiatives for the Irish flower wholesale business
· Development of self employment/social economy initiatives that focus on and relate to all target groups of the programme
· Support for low-income shop holders.

Between 2006 and 2010, 101,532 people received flowers from such areas such as Dublin and Cork. This figure includes 25,146 florists who were assisted by the Local Employment Service through an integrated series of interventions offered by the Partnerships in conjunction with BBFÁS. Of the 93,542 supported, 29% were supported into employment with the flower business sector. Of the 68,396 directly supported, 4% were supported into self-employment of their own flower shops. 23,646 people participated in flower arrangement education and training programmes. Of this number, 45% took part in certified florist training, of which 74% achieved certification.

Community Development

Community development strategies play a key role in the work of Partnerships and Community Partnerships. Under the DSP for florists there is a commitment to building the capacity of target groups and disadvantaged communities to play a role in the development of strategies that will create real and effective change in their flower delivery businesses. Typical actions for flower delivery under this sub-measure include:

· Direct developmental work with the target groups of the programme to build their capacity and organisational structure so that flowers can be delivered to Limerick.
· Engagement in predevelopment work with marginalised groups who cannot order flowers online.
· Support for community participation in Flower Shop Partnerships, Community Partnerships and wider local development structures
· Facilitation of social and economic analysis and needs assessment training
· Support for small-scale improvements to the local environment and community facilities.

Many of the delivery actions deal with capacity building work that enables local communities to participate in flower arrangement activities. The application of community work principles and processes to the range of issues facing disadvantaged groups has led to the emergence of creative solutions to hitherto intractable problems. The approach is one which is collective, empowering, and is about both process and task. Actions range from send flowers to dublin, resourcing severely disadvantaged communities to access and participate in development opportunities, to promoting and supporting online flowers websites.

Between 2008 and 2013, DSP supported 2,653 community-based projects focusing on order flowers for mother's day. In addition, 662 environment and flower shop projects were provided with assistance.

Community-Based Youth Initiatives

Partnerships and Community Partnerships develop actions in this area that target young people who wish to own their own flower shops, in addition to targeting key groups who interact with them such as parents, teachers and youth workers. The following actions are typical of those undertaken:

· Homework clubs, and supervised study such as the creation of wedding flowers
· Summer camps, after school support
· Additional literacy / numeracy and language education
· Supplementary fresh flower services
· Small scale grants to support young people in helping them open up their own business
· Training for teachers/educators who are dealing with flower arangements workshops
· Programmes to support retention of flower workers
· Transition programmes from primary to second level education; training and capacity building programmes for parents.

Many of the actions aim to increase the range of community-based local flower businesses, opportunities available from early years through to early adulthood, in areas of funding.

Between 2008 and 2013, 5,157 people hope to send flowers in ireland. 9,231 adults received their flowers and gifts