Community Relations Council
Equity Diversity Interdependence
Promoting a Peaceful and Fair
Society based on Reconciliation
and Mutual Trust.
September 2006
September 2006
CAJ
CAJ has just sent to the printer a major publication on the topic of equality. Relying entirely on official statistics, the report looks at the issue of equality across Northern Ireland's two religious/political communities, and concludes that , despite many advances, much needs to be done. Employment patterns, the hidden unemployed, housing allocations and waiting times, investment and procurement initiatives all suggest a series of worrying trends that need to be urgently addressed. The report will also critique government responses to date (in particular Targeting Social Need, the Taskforce on Protestant Working Class Communities and Shared Future) which exacerbate rather than undermine community differentials and tensions, and it provides an extensive list of recommendations that need to be urgently set in train.
Since it has a section addressing Shared Future and other such govt measures, it is quite possible that it will be of wider interest to community relations activists.
For further information contact:
(CAJ)45-47 Donegall StreetBelfast BT1 2BRtel: (028) 9096 1122fax:
(028) 9024 6706email:
SAVER/NAVER
SAVER/NAVER's men project is starting again in earnest on Saturday 30th September at 9 am in Bingham house, 43 Main street, Markethill
First Men's breakfast of the year
Programme: A fry then a discussion between all the men announcing this year's programme, speakers etc.
All men welcome as this is not only a group activity but a cross community project
Regional conference: “A Rough Guide to Good Relations” 25th October 2006.
Venue: Radisson Hotel, Limavady.
Date: Wednesday 25th October 2006, 9.30am – 3.15pm
Cost: Free (lunch included)
Booking: In advance on 'First come first served' basis within each council area.
The aims of the conference are:
- To assist community groups to develop community relations or 'good relations' projects.
- To explain what CR / GR work is about and why groups may wish to become involved in it.
- To give creative ideas and real examples of projects.
- To explain how to get funding for Community Relations / Good Relations work.
The conference is particularly aimed at groups interested in developing Good Relations work but with little or no previous experience of it. Groups wishing to further develop existing experience are also welcome to register to attend. Additional details and draft programme outline are attached.
Two follow up visits (9am – 5pm approx) are arranged in the weeks after the conference as follows:
- Visit to Derry City Council area: Tuesday 7th November 2006
- Visit to Coleraine / Ballymoney / Moyle Council areas: Tuesday 14th November
These visits aim to show models of good community relations in practice, increase awareness of relevant opportunities, and assist networking and sharing of ideas. Further details will be available at the conference but groups may register now if they wish. Coach transport will be provided.
The conference has been organised by the Northern Regional Forum of Community Relations Officers (representing Ballymoney, Coleraine, Derry, Limavady, Magherafelt and Moyle district councils). It is funded through the District Council's Community Relations Programme.
Please return your response form as soon as possible and definitely by 30th September 2006.
For further information contact:
Mrs Claire Crawford tel: 028 276 60233
Community Relations Officer
email: claire.crawford@ballymoney.gov.uk
Ballymoney Borough Council
Ballymoney Townhall
1 Townhead Street
BALLYMONEY
BT53 1DZ
ArtsEkta - cultural bonding through the arts
Who are we?
ArtsEkta (which means bonding or unity in Indian language) is the first arts-based organisation to provide a unique display of Indian and other ethnic arts within the North and South of Ireland. It is a cutting-edge, progressive organisation with an international outlook, based in Belfast. It works to enhance the practice, understanding and appreciation of Indian and other ethnic arts across North and South of Ireland within a contemporary artistic, social and educational context. ArtsEkta will be dedicated to strengthening and deepening relationships between all the different cultures through a series of exciting and inspiring arts-based programmes.
Where did we come from?
The concept of ArtsEkta has been derived after members of different communities witnessing a surge of demand across the country for this type of organisation. This has come about due to the rapid change in the make up of our society as the population becomes ever more multi cultural. The members have been working with communities, schools, colleges and public and private sector organisations, delivering a range of educational, promotional and entertainment programmes across North and South of Ireland. The majority of these activities have been aimed at the promotion and edification of Indian and ethnic art forms. The group is dedicated to multi-cultural training and awareness in the arts. The experience of the individual members in the Arts ranges from between three and forty years. By combining these experiences ArtsEkta hopes to release an energetic, fresh and exciting social enterprise into the arts community.
“ArtsEkta will provide services in training, education and community work in an extremely creative manner. It will endeavour towards relevance, openness and excellence in all arts forms. The organisation will pride itself in showcasing innovative projects that will cherish the individual artist and encourage diversity and social inclusion with no sex, age, religious or disability barriers.”
For further information contact:
Nisha Tandon Arts Co-ordinator (Voluntary)
Info @ artsekta.org.uk
www.artsekta.org.uk
Section 75, Policy and Practice for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans People
The Office of the First Minister/Deputy First Minister have commissioned the Institute for Conflict Research (ICR) to conduct research into how statutory bodies considers Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans People (LGBT) issues in the development or policy and practice under Section 75.
The primary aim of this research is to provide a broad evidence base to assist statutory bodies in effectively considering LGBT issues in the development of policy and practice. The research also aims to identify extant barriers, difficulties and challenges experienced amongst LGBT communities with the public sector in relation to accessing goods, facilities and services. Through the research it is also hoped that examples of good or better practice within the public sector will be identified.
This work is ongoing and we have also designed a questionnaire which is available on our web-site www.conflictresearch.org.uk and also in paper format. The research will also involve focus groups and interviews.
The contact person for the research is Ulf Hansson, Research Officer at ICR. He can be contacted at:
Institute for Conflict Research
Unit 14
North City Business Centre
2 Duncairn Gardens
Belfast
BT15 2GG
Tel: +44 (0) 28 90742682
Fax: +44 (0)28 9035 6654
Email: research2@conflictresearch.org.uk
Web: www.conflictresearch.org.uk
EXHIBITION
Tuesday 7 September to Saturday 7 October, 11.00am to 5.00pm, Museum, Ballymoney Town Hall (not open Sundays)
Saved or Lost?: Protestant Evangelism in Ulster since 1790
Revival meetings, street preaching, tract distribution and gospel singing are some of the most distinctive elements of Northern Ireland's public image, but where did this tradition come from and why has it survived for so long? An exhibition of texts, images and objects, developed in cooperation with the Causeway Museum Service, "Saved or Lost?" outlines the growth and spread of evangelistic activity within Ulster's Protestant culture and the often controversial role that it has played in the shaping of contemporary Northern Irish society. Curated by Janice Holmes, lecturer in history at the Coleraine campus, the exhibition will also tour to further venues.
For further information contact:
Ms Janet Mackle
Cultural Development Department
University of Ulster
Cromore Road
Coleraine
Co. Londonderry
BT52 1SA
Tel: 028 7032 4683
Fax: 028 7032 4160
Edgehill Theological College and Mater Dei Institute
Edgehill Theological College and Mater Dei Institute, Dublin are offering a course called Exploring Theology Together, starting in September 2006. The course offers the opportunity to study theology part-time at degree, diploma or certificate level in an inter-church setting and aims to contribute to the movement for reconciliation between Christian traditions.
For further information contact Scott Boldt at 028 9066 5870 or rec@edgehillcollege.org.
The Peace and Reconciliation Group
The Peace and Reconciliation Group will running a number of accredited courses throughout the Autumn, including Introduction to Conflict Resolution and Mediation Skills (OCN Level 2), Intermediate Conflict Resolution and Mediation Skills (OCN Level 3), Advanced Conflict Resolution and Mediation Skills (OCN Level 3), and Exploring Diversity: Facilitating Community Relations Work (OCN Level 3).
Concessionary fees and bursaries are available for individuals and voluntary/community organisations. For further information contact the Peace and Reconciliation Group at 028 7136 9206.
The Belfast Interface Project
The Belfast Interface Project will be holding an event entitled 'Youth Offenders at the Interface – Developing the potential of young people in interface areas' on Friday, 15 September 2006 at the Northern Visions studio, 3rd Floor, 23 Donegall Street, Belfast BT1 2FF. The event will run from 1:00 – 4:00 PM, and will include speakers and times for feedback and discussion.
For more information contact Sam Askin or Marnie Kennedy at 9024 2828 or email info@belfastinterfaceproject.org.
The Irish School of Ecumenics
The Irish School of Ecumenics (ISE) and the Peace People will be holding a course entitled Journeying with Active Nonviolence – 30 Years of Peace Witness. The course will consist of 5 sessions from 28 September to 26 October from 7:30-9:30 PM at the Wellington Park Hotel, Malone Road, Belfast. The course will include a number of speakers and will be chaired by Dr. Johnston McMaster from the Irish School of Ecumenics.
For further details please contact Karen Nicholson at 9077 5010.
ISE will also be holding a Women and Peacebuilding Programme in Dungannon, Armagh and Omagh entitled The Journey from Violence to Active Non-Violence in Northern Ireland: Learning from women's voices and experiences. A number of courses on this theme will be running across the 3 locations from September to December 2006.
For further information please contact Arlene Poole at 9077 0061.
The Social and Policy Research Institute
The Social and Policy Research Institute will be holding a seminar on Friday, 15 September from 10:00 AM – 4:15 PM on the theme of 'Identity it Crisis? Re-Examining Unionism, Loyalism and Protestantism in Northern Ireland'. There is no charge for this event. The number of places available is limited to 40. These will be allocated on a first come basis.
Please respond to Pete Shirlow p.shirlow@ulster.ac.uk no later than the 3rd September.
Centre for Contemporary Christianity
On Saturday, 4 November 2006 the Centre for Contemporary Christianity in Ireland will be holding its annual conference on the theme of From here to eternity – Christian Spirituality for a changing world. The conference will be held at the Armagh City Hotel and the guest speaker for this year's event will be Dr. Marva Dawn.
For further information about the conference please contact the Centre for Contemporary Christianity in Ireland at 9032 5258.
Women Into Politics
On Tuesday, 24 October Women Into Politics will be holding an event called Dis-Assembly, a political dialogue of the Talking and Taking Part Project. The event will take place at The Atrium, Clanmil Housing, Waring Street, Belfast, and will include a frank discussion of issues of democracy and accountability of government in Northern Ireland.
Space for the event is limited, so please contact Susan at Women Into Politics at 028 9024 3363 or development@womenintopolitics.org.
The Community Relations Council
The Community Relations Council will be holding this year's 'Live Issues' conference at the Ramada Hotel, Belfast on Thursday, 23 November from 9.30 AM to 4.00 PM. The event, which is the fourth in a series of annual events, will feature a lively and interactive series of speeches and workshops on salient themes affecting peace-building and reconciliation work in Northern Ireland. Staff are currently finalising the programme and further information will be available soon.
Ulsters Peoples College
Courses in Irish and Local History as part of the Peoples History Initiative.
Course 1 - Introduction to People's History Course
Facilitates participants to learn more about key events in history and dicuss what these events mean for them. They will explore the period from 1886 to 1922.
Course 2 - People's History Course
The Group will pick thems and a time period they wish to explore. They will collect photographs and stories and present the history of their community in exhibition or booklet format. It is accredited at OCN Level 2.
The course are free of charge. For further information please contact:
Karen McCartney - 9033 0131
Email - kmccartney@upclearn.org
New books at the Resource Centre
The Giant's Causeway DVD Stephen Hall £13.99
The Giant's Causeway Activity Book, Stephen Hall £3.50
1690 - A Culture on Parade - Nerve Centre - Free
A Look Around Laganside - A Photographic Essay - John Baucher - £10.00
Belfast and the Irish Language - Four Courts Press £11.50
Sharing Over Separation - CRC £10.00
Breaking Down Barriers - Sectarianism, Unemployment and the Exclusion of Disadvantaged Young People from Northern Ireland Society CRC Free
Role of Ex Combatants on Interfaces - Free
Bordering on Peace - Learning from The Cross-Border Experience of Peace II CRC Free
