Community Relations Council

Opening Spaces Belfast

A Learning Exchange for Open Space Practitioners

Connswater Community Centre

Friday 24th – Sunday 26th April

Fri  2pm - 7pm, Sat 9.30am - 7pm, Sun 9.30am -1pm

Alex Craig openingspacesbelfast@googlemail.com

The Learning Exchange training course, delivered by Jo Toepfer an experienced trainer from Germany, is aimed at people engaged in community work who have had previous contact with Open Space as a method. Booking essential.

Linfield Ladies’ Football Club

Football Weekend with Celtic and Rangers

Farset International and East Belfast Stadium

Friday 24th – Sunday 26th April

Time TBC

Alfie McCrory 078 4914 4387

A ladies under 17 team from across Northern Ireland will be hosting a return meeting with under 17 ladies’ teams from Rangers and Celtic Football Clubs. In addition to the football the players will be taking part in anti-sectarianism training sessions run by the IFA’s ‘Football for All’ staff.

Youth Initiatives

Culture Crosslinks Snippets Showdown

The Black Box, Cathedral Quarter

Sunday 26th (Youth Event) – Monday 27th April

7.30pm

Lynda Whinnery 028 9030 1174

This is a showcase of the work young people in the Crosslinks project have produced over the past 14 weeks. The 14-20 year olds from Chinese, Catholic and Protestant communities will perform dances, dramas and songs and display their art projects.

Irish School of Ecumenics

CONNECT meeting on Positive Citizenship

The Long Gallery Stormont

Monday 27th April

10am – 1pm

Eileen Gallagher 028 6632 8210

Participants will have an opportunity to listen to input from Duncan Morrow and Dr. Johnston McMaster on this topic and there will be a question and answer session.

Public Achievement

Away from Violence

Cathcart Room (G13) Queen’s University School of Education

Monday 27th April

10am – 11.30am

Liz Nelson 028 9044 2813 liz@publicachievement.com

This event will highlight the work of Public Achievement’s ‘Away from Violence’ and ‘Breaking the Cycle’ projects (funded by IFI and the Department of Education), and the impact of these projects on young people from across Northern Ireland. 

Elmgrove Primary School and University of Ulster

Future Projections Elmgrove

Elmgrove Primary School

Beersbridge Road

Monday 27th April – Friday 1st May

Evenings

Davy Bates 078 7775 6987

Future Projections will use art and visual projections, created by participants from Elmgrove Community Group to explore diversity. The artwork will be projected onto the school exterior. 

Belfast Education and Library Board

Community Relations Photographic Exhibition

Finaghy Youth Centre

59-73 Finaghy Road South

Monday 27th - Tuesday 28th April

2 pm – 9 pm

Geraldine McGreevy 028 9056 4059

James McCaughan 028 9061 1532

The exhibition highlights the community relations practice of young people from youth groups across the city, who have participated in community relations programmes since 2008.  

Alliance Party South Belfast

Surgery to promote Community Relations

88 University Street

Monday 27th April – Friday 1st May

9am - 5pm

Catherine or Anna 028 9033 0811

A special week long surgery for those involved in community relations, needing assistance or information from Anna Lo MLA.

Voluntary Service Bureau (VSB)

International Women Photography Exhibition

VSB, 34 Shaftesbury Square

Monday 27th April – Friday 1st May

10am – 4pm

Skye Bompas 078 1559 1173

An exhibition by South African photographer Skye Bompas. In partnership with the Equality Commission Northern Ireland, the exhibition highlights the lives of ten women representing different cultures living in Northern Ireland. www.skyebompas.com

Healing Through Remembering

Day of Private Reflection 2009 Launch

17A Ormeau Avenue

Tuesday 28th April

10:30am

Kate Turner 028 9023 8844

www.dayofreflection.com

An event to launch Healing Through Remembering’s third annual Day of Private Reflection on 21st June 2009.

Edgehill Theological College Reconciliation Programme

Exploring Forgiveness through Drama

Edgehill Theological College

9 Lennoxvale (off Malone Road)

Tuesday 28th April

4.30pm

Scott Boldt 028 9068 6933

This is open to anyone wishing to explore the concept of forgiveness through the use of drama games and general discussion. The event will be adapting ‘Theatre of the Oppressed’ techniques alongside other creative approaches. 

Belfast City Council

Race and Shared Future/Cohesion

Sharing and Integration Seminars

Place of Event TBC

Tuesday 28th, Thursday 30th April

12 noon – 2pm

Anne Deighan 028 9027 0465

An opportunity for staff to hear from minority ethnic communities on living in Belfast (Tuesday) and to hear from Belfast City Councillors on Good Relations issues (Thursday). There will be opportunities for questions. This is an internal event.

Irish School of Ecumenics

Reconciliation Studies Open House and Lecture by Brian Lennon SJ

Tuesday 28th April

Irish School of Ecumenics, 683 Antrim Road, Belfast

5.00 pm

Overview of Masters in Reconciliation Studies. Including a tour of the building and teaching facilities with a question and answer session with lecturers and students.

The lecture will follow at 7 pm by Brian Lennon SJ - 'So You Can't forgive - Moving towards Freedom'.

RSVP to reconsec@tcd.ie by Friday 24th April.

Future Voices (follow-on group from the Spirit of Enniskillen)

Future Voices Showcase

The Gordon Wilson Centre,

97 Malone Avenue

Wednesday 29th April

7pm - 9 pm

Roisin Brennan 028 9066 2926

Future Voices brings youth from all backgrounds together to discuss issues relevant to young people growing up in Northern Ireland. At the showcase they will reflect on their work in the past year, discuss what they have learned and take questions.

Beyond Skin

Film ‘What about me?’

Blick Shared Studios, Belfast

Tuesday 28th April

Time 7.30pm

Register attendance events@blickstudios.org

Screening of the 1 Giant Leap production and broadcasts with local groups and organisations on Homely Planet radio www.1glni.net and www.homelyplanet.org

Education and Library Boards Inter-Board Youth Service

Launch of the Youth Service Community Relations Support Scheme, on Community Relations Education Northern Ireland website

Belfast Castle

Wednesday 29th April

11am – 12.30pm

Geraldine McGreevy 028 9056 4059

The youth service section of the website www.creni.org has been designed to provide youth workers and youth organisations with a wide range of up-to-date information and resources on the development of community relations practice in youth organisations.

Irish Association for Social Cultural and Economic Relations

Seminar to Evaluate NI Assembly Progress in Economic and Social Development

This event has been postponed

Professor Pauline Murphy 028 9066 2852

The event will open with a presentation by a panel of politicians from all parties and Irish Association invitees. A question and answer session will follow to evaluate progress in government and joint executive work to achieve shared policies and practices.

Peacelines

(Forgiveness education project)

‘The Shape of our Anger’ A Talk and Exhibition

Irish School of Ecumenics

Wednesday 29th April

1pm - 3pm TBC

Padraig O Tuama 028 9581 3001

Following a talk on anger and forgiveness, which includes a photographic exhibition of clay pieces depicting ‘the shape of our anger’ designed by past participants, people can use clay to shape their own anger. Also on show will be information and art called ‘Forgiveness in the Sacred Text’ by members of Christian and Muslim faith communities.

Northern Light Review

Community Relations and Economic Crisis Opportunity or Threat? 

Place of Event: Spires Conference Centre, Fisherwick Place, Belfast

Wednesday 29th April

12 noon – 2pm

Annika Nestius-Brown 028 4461 5715

A lunchtime panel discussion on the relevance of community relations to business. It includes a mix of people from business, the voluntary sector and politics from inside and outside Northern Ireland.

Lowe/St Michael’s Friendship Group

Ceilidh Dance and Supper

Balmoral Hotel, Blacks Road, Belfast

29^th April

8pm

James Burnett 07872899845 / 028 9068 3060

This is an event celebrating the shared work of Lowe Memorial Presbyterian Church, Finaghy and St Michael’s Catholic Parish. Having just finished an Aplha Course together the churches are about to begin a new programme. The celebration event aims to provide fun for everyone attending with a Ceilidh and food.

The Community Foundation for NI

Relaunch of One Small Step Grant Fund

Ravenhill Rugby Ground

Thursday 30th April

2pm

Sharon Killen 028 9024 5927

A photocall to relaunch the One Small Step grant fund with invited participants.

The Beat

Belfast Carnival Centre Open Day 

11 - 47 Boyd Street

Thursday 30th April 

2pm – 4pm

Eileen Branagh 028 9043 4767

The Belfast Carnival is an inclusive, celebratory art form that brings people together in shared creativity. The open day is an opportunity for individuals and groups to visit the centre and discuss any aspect of Carnival with Beat staff. 

LINC Resource Centre

‘Women in Conflict’

St Kevin’s Hall, North Queen Street

Thursday 30th April

12 noon

Syd Trotter 028 9074 4020

Launch of a report and presentation of findings following work carried out with four women’s groups from Londonderry, Newtownards, Cliftonville/Ardoyne and Greencastle.

Peace Players International

Twinning

Queens PEC

Thursday 30th April

10am - 11:30am

Will Maloney 028 9024 0550

Twinning brings children together from a Catholic and Protestant school, to explore differences, similarities and community relations issues. Sport is incorporated in the programming which serves as a platform for team work and group cohesion. 

Ulster People’s College (UPC)

Race and Ethnicity Training

UPC, 1 Lower Crescent

Thursday 30th April - Friday 1st May

10am – 4pm

Finola Hunt 028 9033 0131

This course is accredited by OCN at level 2 and introduces the evolution of race as a social construct. It also examines issues around migration, including workers and asylum seekers.

174 Trust

Christian Contribution to Community Relations in Northern Ireland

174 Trust, Duncairn Complex

Friday 1st May

12.30pm

Max Petrushkin 028 9074 7114

The event aims to attract the clergy, church folk and other interested parties keen to explore the contribution by Christian organisations to community relations work in Northern Ireland and, more importantly, the potential of that contribution in the future.

Forthspring Inter Community Group

Launch of Peace Garden

Forthspring, Springfield Road

Friday 1st May

12 noon – 2pm

Maura Moore 028 9031 3945

Forthspring is holding a garden party and barbeque to celebrate the opening of a Peace Garden on its premises. The garden is being created by local people and international volunteers as part of Forthspring’s plans to enhance the facilities it provides to the local community.

Ashton Community Trust- REAL Good Relations Project

Conference on Sectarianism and Racism in North Belfast

NICVA Building Duncairn Gardens

Friday 1st May

10.30am -12.30pm

Jim Deery 028 9074 2255

Discussion on whether things are changing for the better, hosted by BBC’s William Crawley with speakers including  Bernadette McAliskey, Rev John Dunlop, Duncan Morrow CRC and Avila Kilmurray from CFNI. The invited audience will include groups, individuals and politicians.

Mediation Northern Ireland

Certificate Presentation

83 University Street

Friday 1st May

2pm – 3.30pm

M‡ire Patton 028 9043 8614

This is an opportunity to recognise the achievements of newly trained mediators and to discuss the latest developments in the field of mediation.

Women’s Resource and Development Agency

Launch of ‘Common Experiences, Shared Solutions’ Resource Pack

WRDA

6 Mount Charles

Friday 1st May

11am

Liz Curran 028 9023 0212

The resource pack explores identity, the impact of social class and highlights the importance of community development as a tool for social change.

NICVA

Older People’s Parliament

Senate Chamber, Parliament Buildings

Friday 1st May

10.30am

Jonny Currie 028 9087 7777

Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly William Hay MLA will chair a debate on the motion ‘This Assembly believes that older people can play a key role in creating a shared and better future.’ Also contributing will be community and voluntary activists, MLAs, older people’s organisations and older people themselves.

Community Bridges Programme of the International Fund for Ireland (IFI)

Launch of Community Bridges Programme projects

Ballynafeigh Community House

Friday 1st May

Time: 3.00 pm

Joe Hinds 028 9022 7500

A number of new initiatives in cross-border, cross-community and reconciliation work will be presented and formally launched by the International Fund for Ireland, under the auspices of its Community Bridges Programme. 

University of Ulster

‘Whatever You Say, Say Something’

Groundwork NI

63-75 Duncairn Gardens

Saturday 2nd May

10am–5pm

Dr Cherie Driver or Susanne Bosch

028 9026 7321

c.driver@ulster.ac.uk

Community practitioners are invited to discuss and reflect with their peers on approaches to community conflict. This workshop will be a fun, free and creative experience using an exciting facilitation method called Open Space Technology.

Suffolk Lenadoon Interface Group (SLIG)

Debate with Equality Commission NI (ECNI)

ECNI

Shaftesbury Square

Date and Time TBC

Maria Bannon 028 9062 9146

Donal Collins 028 9050 0635

Debate and presentation from SLIG to senior ECNI staff on the SLIG model, as a model for public sector engagement.

Northern Ireland Housing Executive

Launch of Welcome Pack, Good Relations Project Awards 2009 and a ‘Living Library’

Various locations

Throughout CR Week

Linda Hutchinson or Alfred Abolarin

028 9031 8236

These events are for invited audiences drawn from the statutory, voluntary and community sector who have been working in partnership with the Housing Executive to deliver and promote its Good Relations through Housing policy internally and externally.

Open Space workshop

‘WHATEVER YOU SAY, SAY SOMETHING’… APPROACHES TO COMMUNITY CONFLICT IN NORTHERN IRELAND’

Come and contribute to open discussion, dialogue and sharing of ideas about approaches to community conflict in Northern Ireland.

Venue: Groundwork NI 63-75 Duncairn Gardens Belfast BT15 2 GB. 10am–5pm, Saturday 2nd May 2009.

Reservations to c.driver@ulster.ac.uk and/or s.bosch@ulster.ac.uk by 10th April.

The fee for the open space is £20.

Reduced fee for full-time students & unemployed is £15.

The fee includes great food during the day.

It does not cover:

* accommodation

* transport

* travel expenses