Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - News

09 March 2011

Co-operation Ireland’s Community History and Cultural Heritage Programme

Who Do We Think We Areis a new community history and cultural heritage programme based in Co. Louth and its neighbouring counties in Northern Ireland. Co-operation Ireland is currently recruiting two communities to pilot this project and invite your community to submit an expression of interest.

The programme will work two communities in an exploration of their identity, culture and heritage. Through a locality based training programme, each community will be able to avail of a series of workshops addressing the following themes:

-Personal and cultural identity;

-Genealogical research

-Community history

-Stories and experiences of new immigrant communities

Participating communities will also receive I.T training in designing a project website

These workshops will be locality based although the project will encourage and support the development of cross-border links and communication

“Who Do We Think We Are?” has a whole-community intergenerational focus and it is hoped to involve both a school group and a local community group or interest group from each locality. The groups will engage in a parallel series of workshops. Communication and co-operation is encouraged throughout and the use of I.T as a research and communication tool will be supported.

Along with this professionally delivered and locally-based training package, the communities involved in the “Who Do We Think We Are?” pilot programme will be invited to represent their community at a showcase event. Furthermore communities involved can also avail of a local area grant to facilitate the following aspects of programme delivery:

- Training Programme Venue and Catering Costs

- Programme Steering Panel Development and Maintenance Costs

- Purchase of Materials towards showcasing project findings and achievements

“Who Do We Think Are?” will run until the end of May 2011. Interested communities are advised to submit the attached Expression of Interest Form no later than Friday 25 March 2011. As this is a pilot project, spaces are extremely limited. However all groups returning an Expression of Interest Form will be retained on file in the event that further funding is obtained in future with which to further develop and expand the project.

What if I have any questions?

All enquiries regarding the “Who Do We Think We Are?” Project should be directed to Michelle Menice at Co-operation Ireland

Michelle Menice, “Who Do We Think We Are?” Project Manager,

Co-operation Ireland, Unit 5 Weavers Court Business Park, Linfield Road, Belfast BT12 5GH

Or by e-mail atmichelle@cooperationireland.org

Or by phone: 0044 +28 9089 1007/ 07738313964

“Who Do We Think We Are?”

Co-operation Ireland’s Community History and Cultural Heritage Programme

Expression of Interest Form For Interested Communities

Section 1: About You (contact person/persons for the project)Ideally we would like a locally-based community/interest group and local school to each nominate a contact representative

Contact Name 1

Contact Name 2

Contact Number and E-mail address:

Position in the Community/ Group/ School:

Section 1: About Your Community

Please describe your community in general eg, population size, urban/rural, physical location etc

Please outline what group/ individuals would be involved in the “Who Do We Think You Are?” Programme in your community. (Provide names, addresses and telephone numbers for any specific community groups or schools involved)

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why do you want your community to take part in the “Who Do We Think We Are? Project?

Please use the space below if there is any further information you would like to add