Latest News
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has received funding from SEUPB to deliver the PEACE IV Programme throughout the Council area, one project in particular is aimed at involving the main "Community and Cultural Institutions” in the Causeway Coast and Glens area with the GAA envisaged as being one of the main players.
We are hosting an information evening in the Sheskburn Centre, Ballycastle on Wednesday 29th March at 7pm, we would appreciate it if you could spread the word to your relevant Camogie clubs also. To reserve a space at the information session, please contact me by e-mail or on the telephone details below.
In order to give you an overview of what we’ll discuss, please see below.
What do we need?
- A willingness to participate on a cross-community basis with other main cultural and community institutions such as "the bands” from both Communities, the AOH, the Orange Orders, Apprentice Boys etc. It will be the case that they’ll be
drawn from a wide geographical area across the Causeway Coast and Glen’s area
- Willingness to participate in facilitated discussion and group sessions
What are the benefits?
- Raised profile of the club
- Dispel myths associated with these institutions
- Advance the development of cross community relations in the local area
- Significant resource allocation divided between all of the participating clubs
- Shared learning and understanding without the dilution or neutralising of identities
Possible Projects and Activities
1. Cross Community Inter-Organisation Dialogue Programme (3 Stages)
|
Stage 1 Understanding Ourselves - Series of single-identity dialogue sessions - At these sessions you will be asked who are we and what (and why) you do what you do in our institution? How do you think you are perceived by others; how do you want to be perceived by others? - Communication of who you are – how effective is this and how can this be improved? - Understanding others - Myth busting activities and sessions – who are they and why do they do what they do; what sorts of things do we want to find out about others?
|
|
Stage 2 Capacity building phase around building skills in leadership in a shared society: - Exploration of different cultures, traditions and beliefs - Recognising and addressing prejudice, sectarianism and racism - Developing Facilitative Leadership skills development within institutions - Developing Facilitative dialogue skills within institutions
|
|
Stage 3 Shared Dialogue - Series of joint cross community sessions (Fully facilitated)
- An ongoing programme of regular evening events at which the institutions come together to informally meet each other and give short, informative talks on themes discussed in their Stage 1 and 2 elements. Time is allocated for audience questions and for the speakers to mingle with the audience and continue discussion informally at separate tables. - The room where it will take place will be laid out in a number of tables with 4 chairs per table and perhaps 10 or 12 tables where people can meet each other and ask questions in short 10-15 minute sessions before moving on to the next small group of people that they may wish to meet and engage with. - Over several sessions, people will start to recognise each other and break down barriers and start building connections that they otherwise would not have made before. This can have significant benefits in terms of people from a parading perspective meeting someone else involved with a residents group meeting informally to discuss parading issues, having taken part in a more informal gathering where they got to know the real person as opposed to the institution based person.
|
2. Joint cross border residentials/study trips/visits
In cross community cohorts linked to local areas, Cross border residentials/study trips/visits to reflect and engage with similar institutions across the border to meet with other institutions in the ROI to explore common themes and to share practice and build relationships. To explore some shared history elements of their culture.
3. Cross institution resource allocation award
To develop and deliver work against allocated resource allocation budgets (could be advocacy documents, local exhibitions on each institution but which are displayed collectively, SROI study of the value of the institution to the local economy, purchase of materials for longer term engagement, employment of a contract worker to deliver key messages to a wider group of people about the institution etc.) This will have a cross community and cross institution element embedded in it.
4. Cultural Tourism project
Activities and support to develop cultural activities that promote festivals in the Borough to a wider audience ensuring a local experiential tourism link and an increased respect and diversity for all cultures and traditions linked to these festivals. Include heritage led shared history elements in this
5. Projects offering practical support and training (delivered on a Cross Community Basis) on issues like:
- Organising events
- Fundraising
- Organisational Governance and Finance
- Health and well-being of members
- Growth of organisation
- Self-promotion and media training
- Leadership training and mentoring
6. Projects to set up Mediation forums
- Established to address and lessen tensions in flash point areas in the Borough. These will be designed in partnership with the institutions and local communities and supported in terms of engagement by them. These will be fully facilitated but participation from all groups will be necessary.
7. Projects to explore sustainability and shared usage around existing buildings
- Focusing on how the organisations can use their buildings more effectively on a cross-community basis. Projects established on a cross community basis to look at how to make existing buildings like Orange Halls, Ulster Scots centres, GAA halls and grounds, Band Halls, Irish culture hubs and Irish Medium schools, BME centres more open and welcoming to all without stripping them of their cultural identity.
- Can these buildings be made to feel like welcoming spaces where culture and history is told in sensitive manner and to explore where shared services could be delivered in particular in isolated rural communities?
- Projects will also challenge perceptions of barriers to using different community facilities
I’d encourage the clubs to give this their consideration, I believe that their input would be invaluable and that the participants would gain much from the experience.
We will strive to address any queries or concerns on the night and look forward to welcoming you,
Regards,
Peace IV
Tel: 02870 347130
