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02 December 2010

The North Down YMCA is undertaking a piece of research supported by the EU’s PEACE III Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body and delivered by the North Down, Ards, & Down PEACE III Partnership which aims to: (1) assess the needs of minority ethnic communities living locally; (2) explore mechanisms for meeting these needs and (3) establish the rationale for coordinating this work through a partnership based facility, similar in nature to those currently in operation in other areas of Northern Ireland.

This research was undertaken because there was a widespread perception that the numbers of minority ethnic communities living in North Down were increasing rapidly and there were no definitive up to date statistics to support this, or no audit material to illustrate what the needs of these constituency groups might be.  As a result, the YMCA research, working alongside the North Down Borough Council’s Minority Ethnic Community Audit also being supported by the EU’s PEACE III Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body and delivered by the North Down, Ards, & Down PEACE III Partnership, across the cluster, to produce as detailed a picture as possible on the numbers of minority ethnic groups living in the Harbour Ward, and on their specific needs.

The conference, which takes place on January 31^st from 9.30 a.m. – 2.00 p.m. at the Marine Court Hotel in Bangor, will provide an opportunity to present the YMCA research and to explore the wider issues around integration into society.  As such, the objectives of the conference are:

·        To increase public awareness of minority ethnic issues.

·        To raise awareness of the range and scope of integration challenges.

·        To provide a networking opportunity for groups and agencies providing services to minority ethnic communities.

·        To explore the potential for partnership working in addressing the issues around integration work.

The conference will be opened by Duncan Morrow, CRC, and the keynote address will be delivered by Neil Jarman from the Institute for Conflict Research. Ken Fraser from the Equality Unit will make the closing comments.  A panel discussion on Hate Crime will also be included in the conference and this will be chaired by Jane Morrice, Deputy Commissioner, Equality Commission.

For further details on the conference, please email Elaine@northdownymca.org or contact Elaine on 07714660506.