Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - News

08 December 2010

Rural Community Network will launch the Rural Enabler Programme for Co Armagh on 16 December 2010 from 12.30pm to 3.00pm in The Meeting Place, 16-18 Church Street, Poyntzpass. The keynote speaker at the event will be Tony McCusker, Chair of the Community Relations Council. If you are interested in attending, please contact Rainer by 10 December 2010 on 078 0876 0528 or email rainer@ruralcommunitynetwork.org

The programme, funded at £2.7 million, is a unique twelve county approach to supporting rural communities at local level to identify and tackle the fears of reconciliation and anti-racism work supported at a regional level by the Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (DARD), the Department of Community, Equality & Rural Affairs (DCE&RA), Irish Rural Link (IRL) and Rural Community Network (RCN) as the lead organisation. The Programme is funded under PEACE III through the Special EU Programmes Body.

Michael Hughes, Chief Executive Officer of RCN, told us 'The Rural Enabler Programme provides new opportunities for rural communities to deal with past division and create a new inclusive society which is welcoming and encourages everyone to participate, contribute and benefit.’ Michael continued

'The programme presents real opportunities for rural communities across County Armagh to develop their skills in addressing the lasting issues of sectarianism and racism which continue to limit the development of our rural areas.’

Rainer Pagel, Rural Enabler (Armagh)) explained 'The launch of the County Armagh Rural Enabler Programme gives community groups and individuals, as well as other relevant organisations, the opportunity to learn about the Programme. It will also highlight to those attending how we, as Enablers, can apply and resource community development approaches to those attending how we, as Enablers, can apply and resource community development approaches to support community groups on the ground.’

The Programme will encourage peace building and social inclusion processes within a rural context, with a focus on what has been and continues to be divisive rather than on polite avoidance of the difficult issues.

If you are interested in attending, please contact Rainer by 10 December 2010 on 078 0876 0528 or email rainer@ruralcommunitynetwork.org

Community Relations Council

Building Peace Locally in Co Armagh