Community Relations Council

Policy Development Programme

The Policy Development Programme was established in March 2002 to support three of Council's five key strategic aims

1. Support local people in building a shared, inclusive and peaceful society where there is co-operation and respect for diversity;

2. Identify and develop new approaches to peace-building and reconciliation, working in partnership with people and organisations across Northern Ireland; and
3. Promote mainstreaming of community relations work at both community and institutional levels. 

The programme's objectives include:

• developing, reviewing and implementing the Council's policies in relation to NI government departments, statutory bodies and other major institutions;
• identifying new and emerging external policies relevant to good community relations and developing Council's input to this area of work;
• assisting relevant organisations in the development and implementation of their Good Relations duties under Section 75(2) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998;
• organising conferences, seminars and workshops to foster debate about the development and practice of good community relations work;
• developing partnerships with relevant bodies and groups to optimise mainstreaming of good community relations policies and practices;
• representing Council externally at public events, including seminars and conferences, and providing guidance to key stakeholders; and
• distilling and promoting good practice.

The Programme is overseen by a Policy Development Committee. The Committee's roles and responsibilities are to:

• advise and support Council staff in their management of the Programme's work;
• share information and provide guidance on strategies and developments for the Programme's work;
• respond to Council staff's proposals and recommendations as the Committee decides; and
• where necessary to participate in and/or identify suitable participants for working groups to manage the Programme's work.

The Policy & Communications Committee's membership:

Council members: Tony McCusker, Jonny Byrne (Chair) ,Billy Gamble, Leon Litvack, Katie Hanlon, Robin Morton, Silvia Gordon, Hazel Francey,Hassan Mansour Communications Sub Committee: Jim Deery Robin Morton (Chair) Leon Litvack Katie Hanlon, Tony Kennedy

Co-opted group members: as and when required.

Programme staff:

Ms Dympna McGlade, Director

Gemma Attwood, Policy Development Officer

Bebhinn McKinley, Policy Officer

Grace Hamilton, Administrative Officer

The Programme is responsible for a number of areas of work.

• Policy development
• Liaison with public authorities on the 'Good Relations' duty
• Partnership with North Belfast Community Action Unit

Recent and planned activities within each of these areas of work are

Policy Development

Fields, flags and future sharing: an overview of the rural perspectives of community relations

To view the papers click here

Response to Consultations

The Policy & Development Programme also respond to consultations, to view responses click here

'A Shared Future'

The Programme was actively involved in facilitating responses from organisations, groups and individuals on 'A Shared Future - a consultation paper in improving relations in Northern Ireland' (January 2003). The consultation period ended on 30th September 2003. The Council's own response was published in August 2003. Copies are available on request from the Council's offices at 6 Murray Street, Belfast, BT1 6DN Telephone 028 9022 7500

To Read Assembly Updates and Q & As relating to community relations click here

Conferences

“Expressing Identity- Addressing Division” - 20th May, 2013, Everglades Hotel, Derry - Londonderry

This year’s Community Relations Council’s annual Policy Conference will harness the energy of Derry/Londonderry’s City of Culture celebrations to examine cultural identity issues in a society that is still dealing with the legacy of the past. For further information click here

At the CRC Policy Conference 'Sharing over Separation' on 27th April 2012 recommendations
were presented - these are available in pdf format  by clicking on the above link.

Transformation to a Shared Society Conference was held on 1st May 2007, click here to access the conference report.

The Business of Peace - Working for a better future: Community Relations, Stability and the Economy Conference held on 30th April, 2009 in Corr's Corner, Newtownabbey. Click here to download the conference report.
Breaking Barriers Through Youth Work - Conference held on Tuesday 27th April 2010, W5, Odyssey.

Click here to download the full conference report.

Click here to download the Executive summary.

Shared Housing Seminar held on Wednesday 9 March 2011, Farset International, Belfast

Click here to download the report

Reconciling the Books: The Case for Sharing CRC conference 2011 video footage http://www.youtube.com/user/CRCNI
Presentation by the first key note speaker, Mark Magill of Oxford Economics, at May’s CRC Policy Conference. Click here

The Race Equality Strategy Consultation Document

Council considered the Race Equality strategy consultation document and submitted a detailed response to it. This was prepared in tandem with Council's response to the 'A Shared Future' consultation paper. It is Council's view that policies emanating from each of these consultations must take full account of the other. Council is determined to play an active and energetic role as a member of the Race Forum to ensure that the agreed race equality strategy delivers positive benefits to all Northern Ireland's minority ethnic citizens.

Other policy work

The Programme is also developing options for Council policies on flags and emblems, language and identity, the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy and Council's role with ex-prisoners' groups and loyalist paramilitaries.

The 'Good Relations' duty

Programme staff prepared a CRC's Good Relations Framework. The Framework document is an approach to the implementation of Statutory Duty 2 from Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. Section 75(2) requires public authorities in carrying out their functions to have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations.

Programme staff are available to advise and facilitate - using approved, trained consultants - the promotion of good relations in public authorities, the community/voluntary sectors and in other organisations.

Partnership with North Belfast Community Action Group

Council are working in partnership with the North Belfast Community Action Unit to develop and deliver a community relations strategy for North Belfast.

Further Information on North Belfast

Hazelwood Community Partnership

In the interests of transparency Hazelwood Community Partnership have asked that their Terms of Reference and Committee Minutes are posted on our web page to view these CLICK HERE.

Statement of Commitment to Good Relations

During Community Relations Week in May 2007 12 voluntary and community groups agreed to participate in a half-day session to develop a Statement of Commitment to Good Relations unique to their organisation.  The session was supported by the Community Relations Council (CRC), Omagh District Council and Omagh Local Strategy Partnership.  It was facilitated by Rubicon Consulting.

To view the Statement click here.