The Northern Ireland Health Minister met with the Ukrainians in NI Community Group to hear about the charity’s work and the positive experiences of the Ukrainian people living here. The charity thanked the Minster for the support provided by the Department to the Ukrainian community in NI.
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The Community Sport Network’s ‘ enjoyed a ‘ ‘ at the The Prom Café after the session today in Larne thanks to Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland
The catch up and chat at these sessions are just as valuable as the exercise they provide!
Thanks to Halifax for their funding of the programme this past year.
Alex Norris MP Visits Nerve Centre to Discuss Community Ownership Fund
This Good Relations Week, we welcomed Alex Norris MP, the Minister for Democracy and Local Growth, along with representatives from the community and arts sectors, to discuss the Community Ownership Fund (COF).
The Community Ownership Fund, a UK government initiative, aims to empower local communities by providing the means to take ownership of cherished local assets and amenities at risk of closure. This £150 million fund has been instrumental in supporting various projects across Northern Ireland, helping to preserve and enhance vital community spaces.
During his visit, Mr Norris had the opportunity to hear first-hand accounts from several beneficiaries of the fund, including Nerve Centre and community groups from Derry, Antrim, Tyrone, Fermanagh, and Belfast. They shared their experiences, highlighting the positive impact the funding has had on their local areas and the important difference it has made to their work. Projects ranged from saving historic buildings and repurposing decommissioned PSNI stations, to refurbishing cultural facilities to ensure they remain in community use. These stories showcased the fund’s crucial role in fostering community resilience and pride
Nerve Centre, known for its innovative approach to creative technologies and community engagement, provided an ideal backdrop for these discussions. Its own success story of community-driven initiatives resonated with the themes of the Community Ownership Fund. The Fund is supporting Nerve Centre in repurposing its Magazine Studios building to drive creative and cultural development in the city, in a radically changed post-Covid context.
Mr Norris expressed his admiration for the creativity and dedication demonstrated by Northern Irish communities in utilising the fund. He emphasised the importance of such initiatives in strengthening local ties and preserving cultural heritage, particularly in a region with a rich and complex history.
It is important to acknowledge milestones in the story of peace. Join us as we reflect on what has been achieved and what lessons we need to keep learning.
On 31st August 1994 the IRA announced their ceasefire. This was closely followed by the Combined Loyalist Military Command announcing their ceasefire on 13th October 1994.
Whilst these ceasefires did not completely end all tensions, they marked a crucial step in Northern Ireland’s progress towards reconciliation and it is important to reflect on our journey.
Now, we are reaching a moment 30 years on from these ceasefires. Good Relations week occurs between these two dates and the theme for 2024 is ‘OpportUNITY’. This evening will provide an opportunity to consider the initial factors that contributed towards these ceasefires as well as some of the evolving community dynamics that are still contributing towards ongoing violence.
A variety of schools have participated in lessons around these themes and will bring their learning which will be displayed in the ‘causeway of peace’.
With an opportuntiy to enjoy the display of the schools’ work
Moderator for the evening: Jude Mitchell (nee Hill)
Jude Mitchell is a journalist with over 15 years broadcast experience who currently works in the third sector. She is a podcast coach and hosts her own podcast, Peace by Piece, which explores post conflict conversations. Jude is passionate about amplifying voices that often don’t get heard and encouraging authentic community conversations.
Topics will include: factors that contributed to the ceasefires, changing dynamics in paramilitary activity, developing a vision of a peaceful society and loosening the grip of paramilitarism and criminality
Panel Members:
- Stephen Hughes (St Peter’s Immaculata Youth Centre)
- Detective Chief Superintendent Emma Neil
- Councillor Seanna Walsh (Sinn Fein)
- William Hutchinson (PUP)
Summing up:
Debbie Watters (Northern Ireland Alternatives)
Join us to explore together the journey towards the ceasefires, celebrate the progress made, and reflect on the continuing challenges. Engage with insightful speakers, creative responses from young people in some of our schools, and participate in thought-provoking discussions. Connect with like-minded individuals passionate about peacebuilding and reconciliation.
To mark Good Relations Week and its theme of ‘OpportUNITY’, Csilla Toldy and Esther Bloch (Sekules) tell the powerful story of the Sekules family, who came to settle in Northern Ireland in 1947.
The family was Jewish and had to flee their native Vienna when Germany invaded Austria. They ended up living for many years in Soviet detention camps in Kazakhstan before coming to Northern Ireland. In 1950, Edith and her husband Kurt established a successful knitting factory in Kilkeel, which at times employed over 100 women.
Csilla, whose book Enemy Alien was based on the early life of Walter Sekules (Edith and Kurt’s son, and Esther, the youngest daughter of the family, come together to tell the family’s extraordinary story.
This project is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
TIDES are based in 174 Trust as one of many smaller charitable organisations supporting and enriching the local and regional community. TIDES want to build more robust relationships with other charities to ensure we are working more collaboratively to build sustainable and peaceful communities.
This event provides an OportUNITY for all tenants to meet, share about their organisations, discuss issues within community and how we could address these issues as a collective.
This is an evening event with Martin Palmer & John McLenaghan, Deputy President of the Ulster Farmers’ Union, moderated by Louise Cullen, aiming to engage both rural and urban communities.
The focus is on amplifying voices from the agricultural sector, particularly farmers’ concerns regarding land stewardship amidst the intensifying challenges of climate change. Given the pressing crisis concerning Lough Neagh, it will be a chance to benefit from Martin’s expertise in environmental issues, especially their intersections with faith, morality, and social responsibility. He will offer insights from his involvement with FaithInvest, which empowers faith-based groups and asset owners to align their investments with their principles. The evening promises to be an enriching exploration of critical topics at the intersection of faith, environmentalism, and societal action.
Belfast Trust is proud to offer Cultural Competence Training for Staff, an interactive session designed to enhance understanding and skills in delivering health and social care within our increasingly diverse society.
Aligned with the theme of ‘OpportUNiTY’, this training provides a crucial opportunity for staff to deepen their cultural competence. By exploring effective strategies for engaging with diverse communities, participants will be better equipped to provide inclusive and sensitive care. This training underscores the importance of adapting to the needs of a varied population, fostering an environment of respect and understanding.
Join us to build skills that are essential for supporting all individuals and promoting equitable care, ensuring that every person receives the high-quality service they deserve.
Roma Awareness Workshop: Understanding and Embracing Diversity
Join us for Roma Awareness, an engaging and interactive workshop designed for those with little or no prior knowledge of Roma communities. This session provides a valuable opportunity to deepen your understanding of Roma history, culture, and the everyday experiences of Roma people.
In alignment with this year’s theme of ‘OpportUNiTY’, this workshop aims to challenge and debunk commonly held stereotypes by offering an insightful exploration of Roma heritage. By fostering a more nuanced understanding of Roma culture, the workshop creates opportunities for greater empathy, inclusion, and respect.
Discover how learning about diverse cultures and histories can bridge gaps, promote mutual understanding, and enhance our collective community experience. Don’t miss this chance to engage with and appreciate the rich cultural tapestry of the Roma people.
| This one–day event addresses the issues of Peace and Justice and the interconnectedness with the planet. How do we save our world (the earth) for future generations? Come and be inspired to do your bit. Places are limited so book early to reserve your place!
Speakers: Martin Palmer is a theologian, author, broadcaster and environmentalist, international specialist on all major faiths, religious traditions and cultures. He is Secretary General of the Alliance of Religions and Conservation, (ARC) and has worked with the World Wildlife Fund for Nature. He is Founding President of Faith Invest. John Barry, Professor of Green Political Economy and Co–director of the Centre for Sustainability, Equality and Climate Action at Queens University. John is a father and recovering politician, author and researcher. He also co–chairs the Belfast Climate Commission. Rick Battarbee, Emeritus Professor of Environmental Change at UCL. He is a freshwater ecologist and specialises in lake sediments, the impact of nutrient pollution and climate change on lake ecosystems. Rick’s research career started at NUU Research station at Ballyronan on Lough Neagh in the late 1960’s when pollution was an issue then. He has been actively involved in his local community environment and in setting up a citizen science project to measure water pollution along the river Wharfe in Yorkshire. Other contributors include: Reamai Mathers on Sustainable farming – a local Co Antrim Farmer Stephanie Heckman on UN Climate process – graphic recorder and visual facilitator Rosamund Bennett Chief – Executive Christian Aid Ireland |