Sharing over Separation

27th April 2006

Sharing over separation

The government and the Community Relations Council will today (Thursday April 27) be presented with 90 ideas for government to consider in the implementation of its Shared Future policy.

The proposals developed by a panel of experts and practitioners in the field of community and race relations were commissioned by the Community Relations Council (CRC). The ideas will be discussed at the 'Sharing Over Separation' policy conference organised as part of CRC's Community Relations Week (April 24-30). The event takes place at Grosvenor House on Belfast's Glengall Street.

The 90 recommendations focus on key policy areas including mixed housing, race relations, shared education, young people, interfaces, community development, flags and emblems and outline approaches to monitoring and evaluating progress in these areas.

CRC chief executive, Duncan Morrow, says that all nine government departments in Northern Ireland must be enthusiastic 'champions' of the government's community relations strategy.

“Last year the government published A Shared Future, its policy and strategic framework for good relations in Northern Ireland, and it is vitally important that the commitment given in this document to building a peaceful, inclusive, prosperous, stable and shared society is followed through into practice,” he says. “The recommendations that CRC is presenting today are intended to help government turn the rhetoric in the document into reality and take practical steps towards a truly shared society.”

The theme of 'Sharing over Separation' is carried forward with the keynote speaker, Kenan Malik, an independent writer, lecturer and broadcaster who has debated widely on issues such as 'Does multiculturalism work?', 'Who owns culture?' and 'What should integration mean in Britain today'.   Kenan says that 'A truly plural society would be one in which citizens have full freedom to pursue their different values or practices in private, while in the public sphere all citizens would be treated as political equals whatever their private beliefs'.

Duncan Morrow says that “The recommendations cover areas that we believe are central to the creation of a shared future including the need to provide opportunities for mixed housing,  shared education, addressing issues at interfaces, dealing with contentious flags and sectional symbols, improving race relations and working with our young people to build trust, respect and tolerance,”.

Dr Morrow acknowledged the contribution made by the voluntary and community sector to help deliver a shared future and called for joined up Government policy leading to joined up resources for work on the ground.

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“Building a shared future in Northern Ireland is a challenge for all of us and not just government, but it is vital that adequate resources are provided to allow the actions from the A Shared Future document to be delivered at grass-roots level,” he continues. “And this is one of the recommendations that we are strongly making to the government.”

“Another key recommendation is the recognition that problems of community division exist in not just working class, segregated communities, but also in the minds of many people throughout the region irrespective of class or creed and some of whom are in positions of power and influence,” he says.

Other key recommendations being presented by CRC include:

·               A cross-sectoral rationalisation of the schools estate. The Strategic Education Review (Bain Review) must ensure increased partnership and collaboration between sectors and schools of different types as well as developing new types of shared and jointly managed schools. One possible option is for the education sectors to reach an agreement on amalgamating schools, where local support can be guaranteed and when the conditions are appropriate. Consideration must also be given to learning partnership models, federations and the sharing of resources. In order for this to properly imbed the Department of Education needs to assume the strategic role for the schools estate indicated under the Review of Public Administration (RPA) as soon as possible. There is a substantive risk that rationalisation will lead to a slimmer but continuing segregated schools estate. DE must ensure that this does not happen and that ASF principles are at the core of the rationalisation process.

·               Resources should be made available to develop local environments in a way that improves community relations and reduces a sense of territory

·               The flying of official flags at district councils and the funding of all festivals should be in line with the idea of civic shared public space.

·               The comprehensive mapping of housing estates across Northern Ireland to fit them into three categories:

o        Those estates already integrated: good channels of communications with tenants/residents should be developed to ensure that they do not become segregated. Close monitoring required.

o        Those estates where a strategic approach to integration could be implemented. (For example where there is a positive response to integration): an estate strategy team should be set up to work towards encouraging further integration.

o        Those where integration would prove extremely difficult: these should be monitored closely and close links established through community groups. “Softening” approaches should be introduced through building new smaller developments at interface areas/peacewalls. Open spaces should be utilised as much as possible and environmentally friendly schemes should be encouraged. Community representatives should be encouraged to work alongside those from the opposite community.

·               Non contentious areas for new developments of mixed housing developments should be identified.

·               An aggressive and inventive media campaign aimed at young people, made with the help of young people, should be developed and delivered.

·               With regard to interfaces, there should be a commitment to building no more physical barriers.

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Media contact:

Chris Harrison Dorothy Hawe or Kathryn Adnerson, JPR: 028 9076 4959, 077 6641 7550 or chris.harrison@jprni.com

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