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16 November 2005

The Live Issues conference, held at the Canal Court Hotel in Newry,sought to challenge the perception that 'the other' community getseverything when it comes to funding and resources.

PRESS RELEASE

16 November 2005

Community Relations Conference

The Community Relations Council (CRC) today (16 November) held a

major peacebuilding conference attended by 150 community relations

practitioners active largely in the voluntary and community sector in

Northern Ireland.

The Live Issues conference, held at the Canal Court Hotel in Newry,

sought to challenge the perception that 'the other' community gets

everything when it comes to funding and resources. Guest speakers

included Briege Gadd, Board member of the Big Lottery, Kat Healy,

Community Fund for NI, David Stevens, Council member of CRC, Eddie

McVeigh, EU Commisssion, Shaun Henry, EU Special Programme body,

and Billy Gamble from OFMDFM.

Introducing the Conference, which also saw the launch of the Council's

Annual Report, Chief Executive Dr Duncan Morrow said:

“We need to move away from attitudes such as 'How much did our

community get?' and 'How much did they get?' and start focussing on

what is being done with the money.”

He continued:

“Over £3 million was spent on policing the Whiterock parade. In contrast

just over £1million (£1.3m) was spent by CRC in corefunding community

relations work over a year-long period, equivalent to spending £1.16 per

person per year in Northern Ireland, the price of a single bus fare from a

segregated bus stop.”

“Community Relations is about working for a future with others”, said Dr

 Morrow.

 Referring to the Government's Shared Future policy he added:

“ Government needs to move from rhetoric to action.”

The conference also contained workshop sessions on

·        Challenges for young men in a post conflict society,

·        The moral framework required for a Shared Society,

·        Is apartheid benign?

·        Ethnic minority integration and local communities, and

·        The role of economic development in contributing to peace and reconciliation.

For further information contact

Ray Mullan, Community Relations Council tel. 90-227500.

  Note for Editors:

In its 2004-05 Annual Report (available on request) the Community

Relations Council reported the award last year of 674 grants to the value

of £4.5 million (including victim support work). In addition the Council

supported 68 projects under measure 2.1 of the EU Peace II programme,

worth approx. £3 annually. Details of these will be available next week

from the CRC website www.nicrc.org.uk