Focus Group Consultations for CAN PEACE III Phase II

The CAN PEACE III Partnership is currently consulting on the development of a Phase II Plan for its Peace III programme. The CAN Partnership is very eager to ensure that it hears the voices and views of all sections of the community specially those representing the target groups of the Peace Programme.

 

Blu Zebra, the consultancy developing the new Strategy and Action Plan for Phase II on behalf of the CAN Partnership – is holding a series of consultation sessions on Monday 19th July and Tuesday 20th July 2010. We would be very keen to see as many people as possible attending these sessions.

 

Please feel free to attend whichever is most convenient to you in terms of time or location.

 

Date	Time	Location
Mon 19th July	3:00pm-4:00pm	Dobbs Room, Carrickfergus Townhall	Youth Groups
Mon 19th July	4:00pm-5:00pm	Dobbs Room, Carrickfergus Townhall	Community Groups
Tues 20th July	10:30am-11:30am	Bobbin Room, Mossley Mill, Newtownabbey	Youth Groups
Tues 20th July	12:30pm-1:30pm	Bobbin Room, Mossley Mill, Newtownabbey	Community Groups
Tues 20th July	2:00pm-3:00pm	Winstone Suite, Antrim Civic Centre	Youth Groups
Tues 20th July	3:00pm-4:00pm	Winstone Suite, Antrim Civic Centre	Rural Groups
Tues 20th July	5:00pm-6:00pm	Winstone Suite, Antrim Civic Centre	Community Groups

 

If you are unable to attend this meeting but are keen to make a submission, we have an on line survey which you can complete by clicking the following link http://surveymonkey.com/s/CANPeaceIIIProgramme2011-2013.

 

May we reassure you that any information you provide will be treated confidentially by the external consultants and will be used in a non-attributable way to inform and shape the development of the new Action Plan for the Phase II of the CAN Peace III Programme.

 

 

---

 

Opportunity for the Community to Engage

People from the Carrickfergus, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council areas are soon to have the opportunity to engage with one another on a range of challenging issues. As a part of its Peace III Strategy & Action Plan, the CAN Peace III Partnership has commissioned Holywell Consultancy to develop and deliver the Dialogue and Civic Leadership Programme. The Programme is part financed by the EU’s PEACE III Programme managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by the CAN (Carrickfergus, Antrim and Newtownabbey) Peace III Partnership.

 

This programme has a number of key elements that will encourage dialogue to take place within and between local communities from the three council areas. The Dialogue and Civic Leadership Programme is focused on improving the confidence and empowering communities to deal with the challenges of sectarianism and racism.

 

The Programme will have four key strands:

• Stand Alone Dialogue Sessions – Dialogue sessions held throughout the Council areas. The sessions will be open to the public and will encourage increased dialogue among the communities and three Boroughs.
• Area Development Programme Sessions – Dialogue sessions held in the Peace III priority target areas (Bawnmore/Longlands, Rathcoole, Glenfield/Castlemara, Woodburn/Clipperstown/Sunnylands, Toome & Randalstown and the Stiles Way Axis). These sessions will use community dialogue to address the unique issues and challenges within these areas.
• Sustained Dialogue Programme – A sustained dialogue process amongst community leaders and stakeholders.
• Publication of a booklet outlining the work and process of the Dialogue and Civic Leadership Programme

 

The Stand Alone Dialogue Sessions and Area Development Programme Sessions will be open, public sessions. The Sustained Dialogue Programme will consist of a core group of participants committed to participating in the process from start to end.

 

21 participants throughout the Boroughs of Carrickfergus, Antrim and Newtownabbey will participate in the sustained dialogue programme. It is hoped that the participants will be a mix of community activists, church representatives, elected representatives and other key community leaders and stakeholders.

 

Sam Crowe, Chairperson of the CAN Peace III Partnership, stated, “The Dialogue and Civic Leadership Programme, particularly the Sustained Dialogue Programme, is a key element of the CAN Peace III Strategy & Action Plan. We are excited to see the community fully engage with what we think will be a challenging programme.”

 

It is hoped long-lasting relationships will be established through the Sustained Dialogue Programme allowing community dialogue to become a common tool for addressing sectarianism and racism. A serious of engagements are currently underway with community leaders to ensure that the programme addresses the issues of most importance to the community.

 

Holywell Consultancy is currently looking for people interested in participating in the Sustained Dialogue Programme. Participants should be committed to participating in the residential and monthly dialogue sessions. An expression of interest form can either be downloaded or completed from the Holywell Consultancy website, www.holywellconsultancy.com. For more information, please contact us at 028 7126 7997 or info@holywellconsultancy.com.

 

 

---

 

 

Peace III Programme 2011 – 2013

Although it may seem it is only getting started, the current phase of Peace III funding ends in early 2011. The Partnership is now commencing consultation for the second round of funding for 2011-2013. The programme continues to focus on challenging sectarianism and racism and on building relationships at a local level.

 

Therese Hogg and Ann McGeeny from Blu Zebra will be managing the consultation process for the Partnership which will include a number of public consultation events and targeted focus groups.

 

To ensure that the action plan for the second phase reflects the needs of local communities in regard to these issues, it is vital that the community and voluntary sector take the opportunity to inform its development.

 

Dates for Consultation events are as follows:

Monday 28th June 7.00pm The Dobbs Room, Carrickfergus Townhall

Tuesday 29th June 7.00pm The Winstone Suite, Antrim Civic Centre

Thursday 1st July 7.00pm The Spinning Room, Mossley Mill, Newtownabbey

 

If you wish to attend any of these events, please register with peaceIIIinfo@newtownabbey.gov.uk

 

Alternatively, please complete our online consultation survey which is available at www.newtownabbey.gov.uk/community/peace3phase2.asp

 

---

 

Watch out for Peace III featuring in the forthcoming issue of Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Community Newsreel magazine. This will feature recent activities and successes of Peace III and projects funded by Peace III throughout the CAN cluster area. The magazine will be available in early June.

 

---

 

Addressing Perceptions Programme

The Ulster People’s College is running a programme of public events and tailored workshops on our Hidden Histories. Workshops will cover topics relating to:

 

• Symbols & Traditions
• Conflict and Commemoration
• Parades, Bonfires and Interfaces
• Immigration & Diversity

 

For more information or to register your interest, please contact Paul Donnelly on 028 9033 0131 or paul@upclearn.org

 

For more information on the Addressing Perceptions programme, please click here

 

---

 

Play Fair Programme – Arts Element

What are your experiences of being a member of a minority community living and working among a majority from the ’other side’? Are you aware of unwritten rules and limits? Does your name or where you went to school become an issue for yourself or others? How do you deal with these thorny issues of politics, religion or even sport? Do you feel more at ease with your ’own sort’? When is it best to keep your head down, play along and say nothing? Can we find ways to change all this?

 

If any of this sounds familiar we want to hear your experiences, stories and thoughts and would like you to join us in the creation of an innovative theatre production exploring the effects and consequences of ’silent sectarianism’. For more information, or to register, contact Karen McFarlane or Fintan Brady on 028 9031 0900 or partisanproductions@hotmail.com

 

For more information on the Play Fair programme, please click here

 

---