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30 June 2010

Hundreds Gather at Stormont in support of Community Relations

An estimated two hundred Community Relations workers, participants, educationalists, MLAs, activists, parents, young adults and children gathered on the steps of Stormont today (Tuesday 29 June) to show support for Community Relations projects in light of recent announcements about funding cuts. The rally highlighted what organisers say is the ongoing need for Community Relations work in what is still a divided Northern Ireland society.

The rally was organised and attended by a number of groups such as CRIS, Public Achievement, YMCA, Speedwell Trust, TIDES, Save the Child, SELB and Holy Cross Nursery School to name but a few.

The Department of Education introduced a 70% cut to an already depleted Budget in March of this year much to the outrage of Community Relations practitioners, schools, education boards and communities throughout the province. This cut has resulted in wide-ranging job losses across the community relations sector and has left schools and communities without provision to engage in community relations and cross community work. Rally organisers said the event at Stormont was an opportunity for all affected to highlight the importance of the work in realising a shared future for Northern Ireland.

A number of MLAs across all parties came out in support of the cause at the rally, calling on the Department of Education to rethink the funding cuts decision, which community relations groups have criticised as “unsupported and untimely”.

Sean Pettis from Community Relations charity Public Achievement said: "Not a day goes by in our work when we aren’t met with the need to tackle division in our society. For us, young people continue to be at the forefront of building a more shared and democratic future and are often much further ahead in this process than adults. Today’s rally sent a clear message to Government that they need to invest in community relations work, not just within the Department of Education but across all departments. Sectarianism is a societal problem and will require a societal solution – this requires proper resourcing”

Anna Lo MLA said: "It is only a small amount of money per pupil, but the money is well spent in promoting Community Relations, which is one of the main aims of the Programme for Government which Caitriona Ruane signed up to.

"The huge cut is going to decimate the expertise that has been built up over the years in the school system and the voluntary sector. It is vital that our children and young people have the opportunity to develop understanding of different cultural traditions."

Dawn Purvis MLA said: “Community relations initiatives are key to transforming the cycle of violence which dominated our recent past.  In Northern Ireland, we continue to live in segregated communities, with our young people attending separate schools, using separate leisure centres, playing on separate playgrounds, even riding separate buses on the same public transport system.

“Mutual respect and parity of esteem do not come from separation.  Mutual respect and parity of esteem come from understanding.  Understanding comes from exposure, knowledge, and experience; it comes from integration.”

Conall McDevitt MLA said: “Cross-community work pays multiple dividends in hard cash saved as we gradually reduce the impact of division and sectarian violence. Any money actually saved in cuts will end up being paid out many times over on the policing and justice budget.

 “Those uniquely placed to provide hands-on leadership in the work of achieving a shared society must be afforded every opportunity to do so.  These cuts must be reversed if Sinn Fein and the DUP are to prove they are serious about tackling division.”

Representatives of the groups organising the rally said they hoped it would put further pressure on the Executive and the Department Of Education to take its role in promoting a Shared Future seriously, by working alongside and supporting grass roots organisations and schools who are making real steps towards a shared future.

For further media information contact David Price on 07756396005

Event Details – Pictures of the Rally are attached. For more pictures contact Paul Smyth @ paul@publicachievement.com<mailto:paul@publicachievement.com> or on 07905823898 www.publicachievement.com<http://www.publicachievement.com/>