Press Releases

Influential Community Worker's Exceptional Achievement Rewarded

1st May 2007

Dr D Wilson, Eamonn McCartan, Chair CRC, Duncan Morrown, CEO CRC

One of Northern Ireland’s most influential community relations activists has been rewarded for his 37-year career at the epicentre of efforts to build a shared future. Dr Derick Wilson, who began his career in 1970 as a youth worker in Sandy Row/Roden Street with the NI Community Relations Commission went on to pioneer the intellectual framework for today’s community relations activity, has today (Tuesday May 1) been presented with the Community Relations Council (CRC) annual award for exceptional contribution.

The award was presented at a CRC event in Belfast’s Stormont Hotel this morning.

Dr Wilson spent eight years with the Corrymeela Centre in Ballycastle between 1977 and 1985, where he worked through some of the most difficult days of the Troubles, including the hunger-strike period and the Anglo-Irish Agreement.

Now a deputy director at the UNESCO Centre at the University of Ulster, he has also been chairman of the Northern Ireland Youth Committee and has been centrally involved in ground-breaking community relations initiatives such as the Understanding Conflict Project and the Future Ways Project. He has also been an Equality Commissioner since 2003.

Community Relations Council Chief Executive, Duncan Morrow, says that no one has been more fundamental to the path community relations activity has taken.

“Having worked at the sharp end of community relations work in some of Belfast’s most troubled areas during the 1970’s and early 1980’s, Derick went on to become the architect of the concept of community relations as we know it today.

“With Corrymeela he was involved in creating and developing dynamic projects to build relationships across the divide, including between the loyalist Rathcoole and republican Twinbrook estates. With the Understanding Conflict Project he helped create the Counteract anti-intimidation initiative and as co-director of the Future Ways Project he created the concept of Equity, Diversity and Interdependence - the absolute intellectual foundation of all community relations work in Northern Ireland,” Dr Morrow continues.

“Derick is a truly deserving recipient of the award and his passion, innovative ideas and determination continue to impact positively on the lives of many today. It is fitting that we present Derick with this award at a time of considerable progress in our community as he more than anyone has helped bring us to the point where a shared future seems genuinely achievable,” he adds.

END

Media contact:

Chris Harrison, JPR: 028 9076 0066, 077 6641 7550 or chris.harrison@jprni.com

Chris Harrison

JPR

242-240 Belmont Road

Belfast

BT4 2 AW

+44 28 9076 0066

+44 77 6641 7550

chris.harrison@jprni.com