Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - News - Housing Executive Winners of the 2009 Good Relations Projects Awards

09 June 2009

At the start of May The Housing Executive celebrated Community Relations Week by hosting an event to mark the achievements of five community groups across Northern Ireland.

The Good Relations Awards scheme is funded jointly by the Housing Executive and the Community Relations Council. The awards were designed to provide community groups with the opportunity to practically bring to life the principles of the Housing Executive’s Good Relations policy.

The Housing Executive has selected a winner from each area of Northern Ireland and for each theme of our Community Relations work. Each of the winning groups will receive an award of £2,000 funded jointly by the Housing Executive and the Community Relations Council.

Commenting at the awards ceremony, Brian Holmes Director of Supporting Communities NI said:

“I have had the opportunity to see the good relations work undertaken in Housing Executive estates and have nothing but admiration for the groups and volunteers who undertook the projects. It was difficult to pick out only five winners as all of the projects put forward could be held up as good practice, however, I am very confident the projects supported by this year’s awards will help make a very real difference within the relevant areas.”

Jennifer Hawthorne, Head of the Housing Executive’s Community Cohesion Unit said:

“The Housing Executive is very proud to support progressive communities who work to help improve community relations in their areas. This work is almost always provided by volunteers who give tirelessly of their time to make their estates better places to live and we are delighted to be able to recognise their invaluable contribution with these annual awards.”

This is the Third year of the 2009 Good Relations Projects Awards which is jointly run by the Housing Executive and Community Relations Council.
The Award winners are:

Bloomfield Community Association, Bangor; to raise awareness /knowledge of our three shop proprietors; their culture and traditions, reducing anti social behavior and building better relationships
The Glens Community Association and Bovalley Community Association, Limavady, Co Londonderry: to improve relationships between the youth of these two areas by participating in a fly fishing programme
The La project Unit, Armagh: to increase respect for difference and promote community pride and good relations in the Lisanally and Alexander Estates
Rasharkin Community Association, Ballymoney; to improve the relationships between the pupils in the two local primary schools to develop respect for older people and a sense of belonging to a shared community.
Ravenlink Women’s Group, Belfast: to encourage mutual understanding between black and minority ethnic communities and our indigenous cultures. To improve relationships between children young people and their parents.