Welcome to Good Relations Week 2024
Welcome to Good Relations Week 2024 organised by the Community Relations Council (CRC) and taking place from 16th to 22nd September. GR Week 2024 has a programme packed with events focused on cooperation, inclusivity, learning and fun. The programme includes workshops, lectures, panel discussions, talks, podcasts, films, storytelling, exhibitions, music and dance. We hope there is something in the programme for everyone whether it be an in-person, online or digital event.
Good Relations Week promotes the importance of building and maintaining good community relations. During the week we celebrate all aspects of our culture, heritage, and cultural diversity. Our theme this year is ‘Embracing ‘Opportunity’ and we are focusing on the power of new beginnings, collaboration, and seizing the opportunities for transformative action to deliver positive community relations and promote cultural diversity across the region.
Good Relations Week 2024 is designed to highlight the importance of local people and organisations seizing the opportunities that are before us now to work collaboratively towards a shared and better future for everyone. The week is always an opportunity for statutory bodies, businesses, local councils, wider community groups, and voluntary organisations to showcase the positive work going on throughout the year to support mutual understanding and positive relationships across the community. We also hope the week will inspire new projects and attract a new generation of peacebuilders to work for understanding, respect and engagement across our culturally diverse society to tackle sectarianism and racism.
The week will give us all the chance to consider how far we have come and what changes still need to be made to support shared and sustainable communities. The theme this year invites us to be architects of that change, whoever we are and whatever we do in our daily lives. Two years ago, we focused on linking good relations to the wider social benefits set out in the United Nations goals on sustainability. We explored the environment as a theme that integrates well with good relations work because it is both a shared concern for all sections of society and a shared opportunity to work together for the greater good. There are so many other issues in daily life that give us that same opportunity. In our daily life, we need to think about how we can use the opportunities that come our way to make a positive impact on how we live well together here. We should not wait for a better time or someone else to do this work; it will take all of us to achieve a safe, shared and sustainable future.
We are grateful to our Steering Group for GR Week 24: The Executive Office, Department for Justice, Education Authority NI, Libraries NI, Belfast Health & Social Care Trust, Northern Ireland Environment Link, The Nerve Centre, Volunteer Now, Mencap NI, Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, Community Relations in Schools, Northern Ireland Local Government Association, Rural Community Network , Belfast Asian Women , Disability Action and Sustainable NI.
Thanks to everyone who has organised an event and everyone who will participate in Good Relations Week 2024. If you are not already involved, we would love you to be part of the week. You can find more information about Good Relations Week 2024 here: www.goodrelationsweek.com.
We look forward to seeing you at Good Relations Week 2024.