The Executive Office’s good relations strategy Together Building a United Community (T:BUC) acknowledges the importance of the voluntary and community sector in contributing to the delivery of its objectives.
Community involvement and the wider benefit that flows from working collectively and in partnership with government is crucial to building a united community. It is also essential to effective delivery of positive change at the local level.
TBUC Engagement Forum - "Sport and Creativity" in Armagh City February 2020
T:BUC Engagement Forum
In order to facilitate a structured and co-ordinated engagement process the T:BUC Engagement Forum was established to support wide stakeholder engagement to influence the effective implementation of the T:BUC strategy which focuses on four priority areas:
- Our Cultural Expression
- Our Children and Young People
- Our Shared Community
- Our Safe Community.
The Forum aims to provide an opportunity for local knowledge, experience and expertise to influence the implementation of the T:BUC Strategy. Through engagement the Forum promotes a more joined up outcome focused response to implementation issues.
Inaugural T:BUC Engagement Forum
The T:BUC Engagement Forum held its inaugural meeting on 10 March 2016 with over 120 community practitioners, policymakers and academics in attendance.
Since then the Forum has met 3 - 4 times a year, focusing at each meeting on a different priority area of T:BUC.
The Forum enables government and its associated bodies to update the sector on progress in implementing T:BUC. It enables the community and voluntary sector to consider T:BUC implementation issues, to identify good practice, and to make practical and innovative recommendations to improved delivery.
Membership
Membership includes community practitioners and representatives from faith groups. as well as business, voluntary and community sector organisations working to improve community relations. It also includes central and local government officials involved in the delivery of T:BUC headlines actions and associated programmes, representatives from T:BUC advisory groups, and other key good relations funders. Formal contributions from academics, government, statutory agencies, and community and voluntary organisations provide the backdrop for workshops and wider discussions.
CRC's Involvement
The Director of Strategic Policy, Equality and Good Relations at The Executive Office (TEO) is Chair of the Forum. The NI Community Relations Council (CRC) co-ordinates the delivery of the meetings of the Forum on behalf of TEO. CRC issues invitations to attend the Forum to a wide audience of stakeholders; it co-ordinates the agenda, speakers and papers for the Forum meetings; and it formally reports the ideas and feedback expressed at the Forum meetings back to government.
Read the Terms of Reference for the T:BUC Engagement Forum.
T:BUC Summary Reports
Listed below are the summary reports for each T:BUC Engagement Forum:
- Summary Reports 2020
- Summary Reports 2019
- Summary Reports 2018
- Summary Reports 2017
- Summary Reports 2016
Further Information
Find out more about T:BUC at The Executive Office
Attend the next T:BUC Engagement Forum
If you would like to attend a future T:BUC Engagement Forum, join our mailing list