Press Releases

Annual Report 2006

19th December 2006

19 December 2006

Annual Report published

The Community Relations Council has published its Annual Report for the year 2005-06. According to Duncan Morrow, the Council's Chief Executive, “While it is clear that there can be no long term sustainable reconciliation without real political decisions and agreement, the Community Relations Council's work in 2005-06 shows how much can be done in advance of such decisions.”

More than 700 projects (749), including work with victims and survivors, were directly funded by the Council during 2005-06, totalling £4.7 million. A further 62 projects in pursuit of 'reconciliation for sustainable peace' were funded through the EU Peace II extension programme.

“All of our grant schemes now receive many more applications for support than we have resources to meet them. In many ways this is a healthy development. But as A Shared Future takes root it will be important to ensure that the values of equity, diversity and interdependence shape resource allocation throughout government, including culture, arts and leisure, community development, urban and rural regeneration, and education and youth.. In the interim the credibility of A Shared Future will depend on its clear prioritization as part of the government's comprehensive spending review.”

Duncan Morrow adds: “In the year since the publication of A Shared Future we have been reminded of two things above all: the distance that still has to be travelled to make mutual trust a practical reality, and the degree of change which will be required to establish a new norm of partnership and engagement. However, the fact that government accepts that the promotion of sharing over separation is an area for practical public action in so many areas of policy is a huge breakthrough.”

Printed copies of the Community Relations Council Annual Report for 2005-06 and a supplementary report containing Accounts and Grant Awards can be obtained on request from the Council at 90-227500 or email info@nicrc.org.uk. Copies are also downloadable from the CRC website www.nicrc.org.uk