Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - Council Minutes

04 October 2007

Communications Committee Minutes

4 October 2007

Present: Maureen Hetherington, Michael Wardlow, Robin Wilson

In Attendance: Ray Mullan, Duncan Morrow, Ellana Tomasso

1 Apologies

Frances McCandless, Maureen Mackin

2 Minutes

The minutes of previous meeting were agreed without amendment.

3 Matters Arising

It was noted that Maureen Mackin wished to end her membership of the Committee due to her changed work circumstances which meant that she could not undertake to attend future committee meetings. It was pointed out that new co-options were not possible at present since membership of all Council committees were under review.

CR Award

The Award Panel had felt that there was a need to change the nomination process for the CR Award. The nomination form should contain the name of the nominee and a short paragraph on why they should be considered for the award. Referees will also be asked for. If there are more than a certain number of nominations, shortlisting should take place.

Gig in the Park

Ray Mullan and Maureen Mackin held a meeting about the Gig in the Park at the end of June resulting in the suggestion that an independent evaluation of the proposal should be commissioned. Subsequently it was decided that as the Inter Education and Library Board panel were planning a major youth event that will be the launch event in CR Week 2008, consideration of this proposal could be deferred for the moment.

Media Grant

The My Day film project has been completed and is being put on C2K for primary schools. The tender for the follow-up project to My Day for teenagers has been issued and applications need to be in by Halloween.

4 Publications Grant Scheme

The Grant Scheme is fully committed for this financial year. New applications, however, are still being sent in. Three grants have been paid out so far this year and a further five have been offered.

5 CRC Publications

Shared Space 4 was published in June. Research is still continuing to come out of the EU Programme but will not be available until May 2008. The next edition of Shared Space could include some work from Magee College’s Centre for Irish Cultural Heritage. PhD students are working on research on Minority Ethnic Groups in Northern Ireland which could be included. An interesting article on Flags had been produced by the NI Life and Times Survey that also could be included in Shared Space. It was suggested that Shared Space could be themed in future e.g. faith-based community initiatives. Robin Wilson suggested that Lizanne Dowds be contacted to see if she would do a distillation of the 2006 survey.

Peace II Programme Research publication is awaiting an introduction from the EU programme Director. It was also suggested that summary papers would be very useful for flagging up issues on certain themes e.g. interfaces.

CRC Annual Report with print designers at the moment.

Strategic Plan is to be considered at the next Council meeting.

6 CR Week

Ray Mullan has arranged a CRO Forum to reflect on this year’s CR Week and plan for 2008. A new CRC post has been advertised for a Liaison Officer between CROs, CRC and CRU which could result in a more joined up approach.

An Inter Education Board Youth Event is to take place at Stormont on the first Saturday of CR Week. There may be a pre-launch on the Friday before. Ray Mullan is keeping in touch with Sinead McShane who will help to organise the event with young people.

The Policy Conference will again take place during CR Week with the theme of ‘Ten years after the Agreement – Reconciliation Postponed?’

CR Week next year will be themed on Moving Forward (exact wording to be determined).

7 Engaging the Media

An article by Duncan Morrow had appeared in the Belfast Telegraph entitled “Shared Future or Scared Future”. House Magazine were also interested in running the article.

The Committee agreed that there was a need to promote a clear commitment in the Programme for Government for A Shared Future.

Press coverage, for upcoming conferences, is being organised and possible interviews with the keynote speakers being arranged.

8 One Small Step and Advertising and Marketing

The One Small Step Campaign are re-launching their campaign.

Ray Mullan is working with One Small Step to promote a more joined up approach between OSS and CRC.

Promotional materials are being organised by Patricia O’Neill, e.g. pens, carrier bags. Patricia O’Neill has also been liaising with Nil by Mouth to re-produce their posters. The posters could possibly be used as advertising in external outside venues if CRC funding were available. Ray Mullan to examine cost options.

9 AOB

There was no other business

10 Date of Next Meeting

18 December 2007 at 10.30 am