Good Relations
What's New?
Information about new and current programmes will feature on this page.Check out the drop down menu at the bottom of the page for information on recent/past programmes.
For more information or to register your place on any of the programmes please email goodrelations@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk
UPCOMING PROGRAMMES
International Women's Day Programme - March 2022
Ards and North Down Good Relations would like to invite you to take part in our International Women’s Day programme online on:
- Monday 7th March 10-12.30pm
- Monday 14th March 10-12.30pm
The online programme has been developed based on the theme for International Women's Day 2022 – ‘Break the Bias’. The programme will explore inequalities that affect women in Northern Ireland today. We will also focus on celebrating women's achievement in relation to challenging bias and forging equality.
Interested? Register at goodrelations@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk
What Does the Data Tell Us? - March 2022
We live in the post-truth age. Much of what we hear is based upon opinion but is it always based on verifiable data? Across these 4 workshops we look at data that relates to themes such as the Protocol, constitutional opinions and also legacy. We will talk about how data is created, how questions are designed and how to read data. One thing we usually do find is that there is more consensus than we think.
This programme will run from Monday 14 to Thursday 17 March 2022 from 7pm to 8.30pm on Zoom.
- Workshop 1: The Constitutional and Identity Question
- Workshop 2: Legacy
- Workshop 3: THe Protocol
- Workshop 4: Voting Intentions
For a more detailed breakdown of what is covered in each workshop, please check out the drop-down menu below. Interested? Please register at goodrelations@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk
Exploring Complex Issues - February/March 2022
Good Relations at Ards and North Down Borough Council invites you to join them online for a series of workshops on complex issues.
Starting on Tuesday 22nd February 7-9pm and the programme will run for 5 consecutive weeks.
- Week 1: Flags & Emblems
- Week 2: Territorial markings
- Week 3: Memorials
- Week 4: Sharing out History
- Week 5 Dealing with the Past
It is important that we acknowledge honour & commemorate the sacrifices made in pursuit of freedom, explore the issues of division and try to deal with the legacy of such a tumultuous era in our shared history.
Places are numbered and participants are asked to register for the full course.
To register please email goodrelations@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk
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 - **Volunteer Opportunity**
We are currently recruiting Volunteers for our Shared Voices programme. Are you an immigrant to Northern Ireland or come from a different heritage? Would you like to share your story? Please visit Volunteer Now for more information on this great volunteering opportunity. You can learn more about the Shared Voices Programme below.
What is the Shared Voices programme?
The Shared Voices programme was developed with the assistance of First and Second generation immigrant 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 immigrant 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.
Audio Art Project Helps Syrian Community Share Sound Memories of Home
The Syria-Sound of Memory project, recently launched by Terra Nova Productions, was funded by Ards and North Down Borough Council’s Good Relations and the NI Executive Office. The project's aim was to work together with families arriving in the borough through the Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme.
Syria-Sound of Memory uses music and sounds to recreate a lost audio world and bring alive memories of one perfect happy day in the city of Homs, Syria. The project was created with a script developed by our artistic director Andrea Montgomery, and a soundscape from composer Nicky Boyle and international audio artist Jeph Venger as well as input from participants (members of the Syrian community or those with connections to Syria) who recorded snatches of conversation and sounds on smartphones.
Working entirely via zoom, the project included support from Arabic/ English translator Ramy Aguib who helped artists and participants build new ways to try to understand each other as well as shape a work of art in each other’s unknown languages.
Syria-Sound of Memory will immerse listeners in a 14 minute audio experience including Arabic, framed in English, recorded by local participants, to help them understand what they are listening to. Through 5 pieces of original music and sounds, listeners will be transported to the city of Homs, Syria where they will visit the Khalid al ibn-Wallid Mosque gardens over the course of a single day (a popular beauty spot enjoyed by citizens of all religions before the war), stories of family, celebration and past joy taking place on the first day of Eid, a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan.
You can listen to Syria Sound of Memory here: https://youtu.be/6RJaOv8Hm0A