Good Relations

Good Relations Programme

The Good Relations Programme exists to support and encourage the development of Good Relations work. The Programme is aimed at raising of Good Relations issues and creates opportunities for such issues to be addressed as part of everyday life in the area. The programme is delivered through department led initiatives and a grant aid scheme.

Supporting Good Relations Work

Good Relations work is about finding new ways to deal with old problems. It is often slow, difficult work measured only in small steps with long term goals. However, the work is necessary and achievements are attainable. The Good Relations Programme exists to support community groups begin the process of exploring their own environment, to build relationships of trust. This support is often advice, information, educational and financial.

Advice and Information

The Good Relations department has a number of resources available for researching and developing projects or a programme of activity. Such as guidelines for developing policies, community audits, neutral venues. Information on the Community Relations Council and other funding bodies.

Education

From time to time the Council organise training/learning events to promote the awareness of Good Relations issues and to develop skills to deal with them.

The following time line gives an indication of the different approaches involved in using training/education to achieve Good Relations goals.

Funding

The grant aid scheme is open to a wide range of locally based groups, such as women's groups, church groups, organisational and groups involved in tackling hard issues. The scheme is aimed primarily at adults, youth groups should apply in the first instance to the Western Education and Library Board for assistance. Groups wishing to apply for the performance of cultural traditions - music, drama, language and history, should make applications to the Council's Cultural Sub-Committee via the Arts & Tourism Department.

Projects should aim to actively promote the development of good relations between Catholics and Protestants and to address issues of cultural diversity.

Single identity work may also receive funding where projects aim to increase confidence levels of one community so that it can subsequently reach out and involve itself in networking and building relationships on a cross-community basis.

Criteria

Applications should include at least one of the following elements:-

  1. Developing opportunities for groups to explore cultural, political, religious and ethnic traditions within their own community, as part of a programme which increases their capacity to develop relationships outside their own tradition.
  2. Developing a programme of cross-community activity.
  3. Bringing together groups from different traditions to work on common issues which will benefit their understanding of each other: such as equality, human rights, justice.
  4. Undertaking a programme of skills training to enable people to understand and deal with issues of cultural difference, prejudice, conflict and other related sensitive issues, either as single identity or cross-community projects.
  5. Assisting with research and/or publication of good practice in CR or cultural diversity work.
  6. Assisting groups in addressing issues of sectarianism or racism within within their organisation or community.
  7. Assisting the formation of programme development through initial seeding support. The seeding grant limit will be £150.

Exclusions

Grants are aimed at specific projects and programmes. Grant aid will not be payable for the following:-

  • retrospective applications
  • ongoing running costs
  • salaries
  • major capital equipment expenditure
  • community holidays
  • travel outside Northern Ireland
  • individuals
  • fund-raising projects
  • charitable schemes
  • Trips which are not part of a developmental programme.

Additional Requirements

  1. A maximum of £1000 may be awarded per project, with priority given to new developing projects.
  2. Grants are discretionary, awarded on a one off basis and are non-recurrent.
  3. Where a project consists of a residential, evidence of costings per head and programme details must be furnished. Facilitators must be approved by Good Relations Officers.
  4. Application for grant aid towards the total cost of project work will be paid on proof of additional funding being secured.
  5. Grants may be awarded to fund specific parts of a project/programme, e.g. the community relations training element.
  6. Grants will normally be paid into a bank account.
  7. All applications must be made on the official form provided. It is advisable to allow, at least six weeks for the processing of grants, to allow adequate time to consider the application.

Application Process

  • A public call for applications will appear in the local newspapers during May/June each year.


  • Applications forms are available from the Development Department or via the Council's web site.

Further Information:

For further information on how to get involved in good relations work, or to discuss ideas or projects, please contact the Good Relations Officers at;

Omagh District Council
The Grange
Mountjoy Road
Omagh
BT79 7BL

Telephone: 028 82245321
Fax: 028 8224 3888
Email: christine.rodgers@omagh.gov.uk

 

Click here to view the 'Good Relations Strategy - Platform for Cohesion' | document