Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - Council Minutes

15 June 2006

Minutes of the Communications Committee

Thursday 15 June 2006

Present: Maureen Hetherington, Pol O Muiri, Robin Wilson, Maureen Mackin

In Attendance: Ray Mullan, Ellana Tomasso, Jacqueline Irwin, Maurna Crozier,

1 Apologies

Michael Wardlow, Frances McCandless

2 Minutes

The minutes from the previous meeting were agreed.

3 Matters Arising

There was some discussion around the fact that it had not been possible to plan a seminar for journalists with Kenan Malik on multiculturalism after his attendance at CRC’s Shared Future conference.

4 Publications Grant Scheme

Four grant offers have been made this financial year.

Three further applications have been received and are being processed.

An application has been made for a Polish magazine – it was decided by the Committee that the decision should be around the community relations content and not the fact that it is in Polish. However, it was felt that the Committee needed to discuss a language policy as soon as possible. Other ways of disseminating information such as via a website where the cost would be minimal was also discussed. Mr Mullan was due to meet the group.

It was felt that there was a need to look at other organisations responsibility in terms of funding non-English publications.

The publications grant scheme for 2005 – 2006 was targeted in part at training and educational resources. It was decided that resources detailing models of good practice in community relations work would be apt.

Mr Mullan agreed to produce a paper for the Committee on the way forward for good practice resources.

5 Research Journal – Shared Space

The second issue of the research journal Shared Space was published in May. The third issue is planned for dissemination in the autumn. The Committee was given a list of potential authors for the next issue.

The plan for the research journal in the longer term is to create an editorial advisory panel of academics who are interested and have expertise in community relations issues. Content was also discussed and Mr O Muiri suggested that book reviews should be included in future issues which would give the publication a higher profile. It would also strengthen the relationship between the Universities and CRC.

6 Review of Community Relations Week

A review of the week has been carried out by JPR. 150 events took place during the week. Public sector have been very keen to get involved and this year two political parties ran events during the week – SDLP and UUP.

A gig in the park type event was discussed and it was felt that a think tank should be set up with a possible date of 2008 for this event. Possibility of mirror events in each of the six counties. A number of organisations were mooted as possible advisors/partners such as NI Music Industry Commission, Beat Initiative and theWest Belfast Festival.

Mr Mullan was asked to produce a concept paper for this event.

7 Communications Strategy

Shared Future themed papers have been published. Media champions have been lined up but briefing notes are required. Ian Shuttleworth and Brendan Murtagh are to be asked to be available for the media on the issue of residential segregation. Other CR practitioners could be asked to write or talk about their experiences in working in community relations. There is a need to have more specific themes and be more focused on the strategy.

Mr Mullan was asked to produce a spreadsheet of possible media champions and contact details for the next meeting.

8 Date of Next Meeting

21 September

7 December