Good Relations

Good Relations promotes respect, equality and tolerance between different people who live in the same place. In society, people might have different religious beliefs, political opinions, ethnicity, age, marital status or sexual orientation. 

Together: Building a United Community Strategy

Our Good Relations department published "Together: Building a United Community" Strategy which reflects the government's commitment to improving community relations and creating a more united and shared society.

The strategy explains how government, community and individuals will work together to build a united community and achieve change with the following priorities:

  • children and young people
  • our shared community
  • our safe community
  • our cultural expression


Shared Voices Programme

What is the Shared Voices programme?
The Shared Voices programme was developed with the assistance of First and Second generation ethnic volunteers and is aimed primarily at raising awareness of the diversity within our society.
 
What is the aim of the Shared Voices programme?
The Shared Voices programme aims to assist Good Relations and work towards making Ards and North Down Borough a shared and safe place for all.
 
Who is the programme for?
The programme is aimed primarily at for young people from P5 upwards primarily in a school environment and during 30 minute periods but can be adapted to be delivered within a community setting, to smaller groups and to different age groups. Times can be adjusted to what is available.
 
How can the Shared Voices programme help me?
This programme has been developed to raise awareness of the diversity in our society. The purpose of this programme is to challenge preconceived perceptions and myths that wider society may have towards ethnic minority groups. The programme will address these preconceptions through facts, figures, real life stories and interactive activities.
 
If you would like to deliver the Shared Voices programme in your school or community group we have developed a toolkit to enable you. The toolkit is available to download here. If you require assistance please email us goodrelations@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk or call the team and we would be happy to help.



Good Relations Grant Programme 2019 - NOW CLOSED

Applications are currently closed for the Good Relations Grant Programme.  For further information on this programme please contact Donna Mackey on 0300 013 3333 ext 40245. 

Language
If you require information from this website in another language please contact Shirley Poxon on 0300 013 3333 (or 07718 159 275 sms text only) or email shirley.poxon@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

Useful Information

Places of Worship

The Good Relations Team has collated the following information re: places of worship across the Ards and North Down Borough area.

Places of Worship - North Down

Places of Worship - Newtownards

Places of Worship - Peninsula

Places of Worship - Comber/Ballygowan

Stronger Together EU Settlement Scheme Support Project

Tuesday 30th June 2020 marked ‘a year to go’ until the deadline for applications to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS).  EU/EEA citizens living in UK must apply to the Scheme to secure their immigration status post-Brexit and protect their rights here.

The Stronger Together Consortium has been funded by the Home Office to provide help and support to vulnerable EU citizens with this process since April 2019. To date, the Consortium has assisted 25,000 people in making an application out of a total of 58,600 applications made in Northern Ireland up to April 2020.  However many, including those most vulnerable, have not yet applied. Find out more at:

https://www.strongertogetherni.org/immigration/eu-settlement-scheme-support-project/

Information about the Settlement Scheme is available HERE in EU languages

Downloadable information and publicity materials to raise awareness about the Scheme and ‘how to’ guides are available in English HERE 

Stronger Together EUSS partner organisations work across Northern Ireland. They provide free bilingual and local support, as well as specialised immigration advice within established and trusted ethnic minority support organisations in applying to the Scheme. They also provide assistance in accessing other public & community services.

Contact on 02887750211 from Monday to Friday, emailing euss@strongertogetherni.org, info@strongertogetherni.org  or by contacting individual partners (details for ANDBC area below)

YMCA NorthDown

10-12 High Street, Bangor, County Down BT20 5AY
Area covered: Bangor, Newtownards, Downpatrick & Lisburn

Languages: Latvian, Russian, Polish

julija@northdownymca.org and kinga@northdownymca.org

Ph: 028 9145 4290

Community