Good Relations

To celebrate Good Relations Week 2020 we have made this compilation of some of the programmes run by the Good Relations team in Ards and North Down over the past few years. Watch it on YouTube at https://youtu.be/5ak_9tNR1q4 

We hope you like it: everything is GRand! 

Find more online events and digital content showcasing 30 years of peace building and cultural diversity in Northern Ireland at www.goodrelationsweek.com from 14th to 21st September 2020

About 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.

Useful Information

Virtual Living History - a look at migration to and from Ireland, past and present (Oct-Dec 2020)

The Good Relations team invites you participate in its latest online programme: ‘Virtual Living History’ 

Virtual tours and speakers will guide you through an 8 week programme on migration to and from Ireland, past and present.  

Each online session will be followed by facilitated discussion on how migration has affected our society today. 

Programme is available on: 

Tuesday 6th, 13th 20th October, 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th November and 1st December 10am – 12.30pm 

Or 

Thursday 8th, 15th, 22nd October, 5th 12th, 19th, 26th November and 3rd December 6.30pm – 9.00pm 

As places are limited it is advisable to register for the 8 online sessions.   

Please email goodrelations@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk with your chosen day. 

Information for signing in to Zoom will be sent closer to the time. 

Online Event Series - Life for Women 100 Years Ago (August 2020)

Starting in August 2020, a number of weekly online workshops will explore what life was like for women on the Island of Ireland 100 years ago.

Facilitated by Finola Hunt of Education Matters, each 2 hour workshop (with 30 minute break) will introduce participants to the social and economic conditions for women, women’s involvement in the suffrage movement, women’s involvement in political issues and key characters from that period.

  • Tuesday 11 August
  • Tuesday 18 August
  •  Tuesday 25 August
  • Tuesday 1 September
  • Tuesday 8 September

All workshops will run from 11am to 1pm.

To register your interest, please contact the Good Relations team with your details: goodrelations@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk as soon as possible.

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

Places of Worship in Ards and North Down

The Good Relations team have collated information about places of worship in the ARds and North Down Borough area.

Places of Worship Newtownards

Places of Worship Comber and Ballygowan area

Places of Worship North Down

Places of Worship Peninsula

Community