A Word From NIFHA CEO, Seamus Leheny

Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations, CEO Seamus Leheny outlines the important role of housing associations in delivering positive good relations work in Northern Ireland. Housing for All & shared schemes help break down barriers & tackle social issues. 

Ards and North Down Borough Council – Good Relations Week 2023 – Shared History

The Ards and North Down Borough Council’s Good Relation’s Shared history programme –

A shared history programme exploring the history of Londonderry/Derry. Four cross community trips to “The Siege Museum” and the “Museum of Free Derry”.

Participants learn about both the Siege of Londonderry/Derry, the formation of the Apprentice Boys and Bloody Sunday, formation of The Bloody Sunday Trust and the ongoing search for justice with a facilitated tour and seminar.

Between the visits to the Museums, we will have two online seminars from the facilitators of the Museums, allowing participants to gain more knowledge and ask questions.

Seminars are delivered on Zoom @ 7pm

Tuesday 19th September – William Moore – Past Governor and current General Secretary of the Apprentice Boys

Wednesday 20th September – John Kelly – Relation, campaigner and facilitator for The Bloody Sunday Trust.

Online Quiz Night

Join Reclaim the Agenda and Here NI for an online quiz night.

No team needed, join in from your sofa and get your brain in gear! A mixture of general knowledge questions and some themed around good relations and ‘together’. Prizes to be won.

Email Danielle for the link to join on danielle@reclaimtheagenda.org.

ChangeMaker Podcast

Today’s workplaces are more diverse than ever, and it’s common to work with people from many different places and backgrounds. This has opened many new opportunities, but it has also created many challenges. This is why Wheelworks Arts has developed the ChangeMaker programme, addressing equality, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.

The lead artist in the ChangeMaker programme, Lesley Cherry, was also involved in Good Relations Work in East Belfast, helping to transform some of the paramilitary murals there into pieces of public art.

In this fascinating episode of the WheelWorks Creative Works Podcast, Lesley shares her recollections of the project and her challenges and achievements.

Financial Wellbeing & the Cost of Living Impact, Kith & Kin

Allstate NI is hosting an online event which will focus on the impact of the cost of living.

There will be a focus on how to save money on shopping, the cheapest fuel options, how to cut your outgoings and maximise your income, saving on bills and renegotiating bills. This event will take place on the 22nd September at 10am and is only open to Allstate NI employees.

There will also be standard advice on Pensions, Debt, Mortgages, Insurance, Credit Scores & Savings.

 

Tackling Gender Based Violence – what can the workplace do?

Allstate NI has partnered with Women’s Aid Corporate Partnership to host a Tackling Gender Based Violence (GBV) – ‘what can the workplace do?’ event taking place on the 29th September.

This session will be facilitated by Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland and will outline current developments in this sector including the context and extent of the problem locally within NI.

This event will look at workplace responses to the issue of tackling GBV and gender inequality and how organisations can lead by example.

It should be noted that this is a closed event for Women’s Aid & Allstate NI.

 

Pride in Our Families Story Time

On the 21st September at 6.30pm HERe NI is holding an online story time event for children and families.

This event will include a range of inclusive books which will showcase lots of types of families and their stories.

This will be an online session on Zoom.

Please contact grainne.gibson@hereni.org for the zoom link in advance.

Your Assembly, Your Say! – How to get your voice heard at the Northern Ireland Assembly

The event will provide an insight into how to engage with the Assembly and its processes. The training is aimed at those from an ethnic minority background who want to gain a greater understanding of the political process and how they can get involved.

The topics covered include:

  • Who represents you?
  • How laws are made
  • How to have your say and get involved

There will be opportunities to ask questions along the way.

This session will be hosted on Zoom. Haven’t used Zoom before? Don’t worry! The Engagement Team will be on hand to support you joining the event. To register email maire.mccotter@stepni.org. After you have registered, we will be in touch with more details.

Londonderry Bands Forum Podcast

For Good Relations Week 2022 Londonderry Bands Forum are hosting a podcast ‘An Outside Perspective’ with their coordinator Stephen Porter in conversation with PHD student Sean French from Cambridge University.

This podcast will talk about Sean French’s experience over the past year as an ‘outsider’ to the Northern Ireland and will gain his perspective on its marching band culture, parading on the 12th July, Apprentice Boys Parade in the summer of 2022 and competing in Pipe Band Competitions.

 

Parading in Londonderry Podcast

Londonderry Bands Forum pride themselves on promoting the Flute, Accordion, Brass and Pipe Band scene in the Londonderry area.

This podcast will look back at the history of parading in Londonderry and how from the mid 1990s there has been a period of dialogue, which has led to some of the most successful parades in Northern Ireland from the mid 1990s onwards. There will also be conversations of how the Maiden City Accord came about.