LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
Ballymena Borough Council
Promoting Good Race Relations
Mrs Jackie Patton, Community Relations Officer
Ballymena Borough Council
Mrs Ivy Ridge, Ethnic Minority Co-ordinator
Ballymena Inter-Ethnic Forum
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
BALLYMENA BOROUGH COUNCIL
Good Relations Unit Involvement
INTRODUCTION
• Good Relations Strategies : 2001 and 2010
• Project established 2002 through Ballymena Community Forum
• Project Worker and Administrator appointed June 2002
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
• Good Relations Strategy 2001
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Eight Key Good Relations Issues
identified
Cross Community Contact
Cultural Traditions
Ethnic Minorities
Single Identity
Inter-Church Intimidation
Territory Marking
Councillor Relationships
Community Relations Training
• Good Relations Strategy 2010-2012
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Two major themes identified:
Create a Climate for Change
Promote Provision of Shared
Space
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
GOOD RELATIONS VISION
Ballymena is seen as:
“A Shared Space – A Neighbourly Place”
Where…..
• Everyone is free from fear and has the freedom to move, live and
work where they choose
• There is a visible expression of diversity in art, culture, heritage and
sport
• People feel safe and welcome in all areas of the Borough
GOOD RELATIONS MISSION
“Good Relations is at the core of everything we do”
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
INITIAL PROJECT AIMS – 2002
• Conduct baseline study and needs analysis of Ballymena’s Ethnic
Minority Communities
• Provide training and support
• Develop volunteering opportunities
• Develop interpreting and translation support
• Develop an inter-agency approach
• Promote project – leaflet/launch
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS – EARLY DAYS
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Ethnic Minorities Project Leaflet
High profile launch : Dame Joan Harbison, Chief Commissioner Equality
Commission for NI and Mr Mervyn Rankin, Chief Executive, Ballymena
Borough Council
Multi-cultural Events : Ballymena Arts Festival/Community Relations Week
Welcome Pack
Interpreting Project
Community Safety Liaison Officer funded under Peace II : Local Strategy
Partnership
Mayor’s Initiative – 2005
Ballymena Inter-Ethnic Forum – Established
Ballymena Inter-Agency Ethnic Support Group - Established
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
BALLYMENA INTER-AGENCY ETHNIC SUPPORT GROUP MEMBERSHIP
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North Eastern Education and Library Board
Ballymena Job Centre
Ballymena Inter-Ethnic Forum
Victim Support
First-Choice Recruitment Agency
Northern Ireland Housing Executive
Ballymena Borough Council (Good Relations Unit,
Policing and Community Safety Partnership
Mid-Antrim Museums Service
Northern Health and Social Care Trust
Citizens’ Advice
Social Security Agency
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Northern Regional College
Ballymena Inter-church Group
Bahá’í Community
Moy Park Limited
Romanian Self Support Group
Carers Northern Ireland
Ballymena Islamic Cultural Centre
Police Service of Northern Ireland
SureStart
Women’s Aid
Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
BALLYMENA INTER-AGENCY ETHNIC SUPPORT GROUP
• Established in April 2003
• Group of Agencies from the statutory, voluntary and private sectors
• Meet quarterly to address the needs and offer support to members
of the Minority Ethnic Community in Ballymena
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
BALLYMENA INTER-AGENCY ETHNIC SUPPORT GROUP
VISION
Provides information, advice and support to
Ballymena Inter-Ethnic Forum to facilitate the integration
of different ethnic communities and individuals into a
cohesive and safe society in the greater Ballymena area
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
OBJECTIVES
1.
Information/Networking
2.
Advice re Housing, Education, Health and Community Safety etc
3.
Support:
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Attend Monthly Meetings of Ballymena Inter-Ethnic Forum
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Work collaboratively
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
PROJECTS/OUTCOMES
• Working together to develop the Welcome Pack
• Presentations on Ballymena Inter-Agency Ethnic Support Group
as a model of good practice
• Focusing on key areas such a domestic violence
• Business Breakfast promoting anti-racism in the workplace
• Collective responses to Regional Strategy, for example the Racial
Equality Strategy and Cohesion, Sharing and Integration Strategy
• Good relationships between agencies
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
COUNCIL’S CONTRIBUTION
1.
2.
Council staff sit on Ballymena Inter-Agency Ethnic Support Group – core group
and a number of sub-groups
Funding
a) Council part fund Co-ordinator’s post – since 2004
b) Good Relations Budget : last five years : approximately £5,000 per year
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Project based >
- Launch of Programme/Leaflet
- Welcome Pack
- Multi-cultural Events/Ballymena Arts Festival
- Ballymena Inter-Ethnic Forum launch
- Community Relations Week
- Special events for individual minorities
- Bi-lingual Advocacy Project
- Dunclug Outreach Survey/Action Plan
- Friendship Club
3.
Mentoring role – offer advice where appropriate
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
OTHER COUNCIL DEPARTMENTS
1.
Community Safety Partnership : £73,000 : Four year funding
package for Bi-lingual Advocacy Project
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Schools Citizenship Project
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Variety of Projects
2. District Policing Partnership
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Schools Citizenship Project
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Discussion Forum
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Funding : Bi-lingual Advocacy Project
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Funding of a Variety of Safety Publications
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Driving without Insurance
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
RECOGNITION OF WORK
 BIEF : Winners – Department of Justice Community Safety Award
2010 and Good Relations Award – Runner Up
 Ballymena Borough Council : 2010 Association for Public Service
Excellence : Award for Best Employee and Equality Initiative – Good
Relations Unit
 Northern Ireland Local Government Association : 2011 : Officer of the
Year Shortlisted Finalist
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
Ivy Ridge
Ballymena Inter-Ethnic Forum
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
OUR VISION
To be a key partner in building a culturally diverse
community where everyone is safe, welcomed, valued
and empowered
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
BALLYMENA INTER-ETHNIC FORUM BOARD
BIEF Board comprises of seven members from Ethnic Minority
communities and five from the majority community
 Opportunity to have direct links to Ethnic Minority communities
 Opportunity to encourage members to participate in community
events
 Opportunity to work through Neighbourhood Watch and Community
leaders
 Opportunity to encourage Ethnic Minority communities to participate
in consultations – CSI, Race Relations Strategy, IEF etc
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
BALLYMENA INTER-ETHNIC FORUM TEAM
 Ethnic Minorities Project Manager, Administrative and Finance
Officer
 Three Bi-Lingual Advocates : Polish, Slovakian and Romanian
 Strong team of committed volunteers
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
BALLYMENA INTER-ETHNIC FORUM CORE FUNDERS
 OFMDFM
 Ballymena Borough Council
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
BI-LINGUAL ADVOCACY PROJECT FUNDERS
 Community Safety Partnership
 OFMDFM
 Ballymena Borough Council’s Good Relations Unit
 District Policing Partnership
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
BIEF PROJECT FUNDERS

Ballymena Borough Council’s Good Relations Unit

Community Relations Council

Arts Council

Peace III

Arts/Development Officer of Ballymena Borough Council and
The Braid Arts Centre
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
ESTIMATED BME POPULATION
Polish
Czech/Slovakian
Romanian
Traveller
Chinese
Indian
Sudanese
Pakistani
Ukrainian
Filipino
Lithuanian
Bulgarian
African/Jamaican
Portuguese
Iranian
Japanese
1,600
600
400
200
80
60
45
40
30
30
30
25
20
20
20
12
ESTIMATED TOTAL
3,212
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
STRATEGIC AIMS 2011-2014
 To promote Equality of Opportunity – through information, training,
advocacy and bi-lingual support
 To Value Diversity – to engage in programmes that increase awareness,
understanding and respect for diversity
 To Promote Integration through partnership working and service provision
 To Provide Leadership through Sustainability and Good Governance
 To promote health and well being
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
CHANGING ROLE
Ten years on, there has been a significant shift of focus from
sign-posting to providing holistic support to integrate
Ethnic Minority communities into the Borough of Ballymena
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS IN
BALLYMENA BOROUGH
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‘Interweaving Communities’ Art Project
‘New beginnings’
‘Dancing across the cultures’
Shared Future Concert
Waveney Youth Centre Genocide/Holocaust Workshops
‘Peace in the Park’
Lord Mayor’s Parade in Belfast
‘Cultural Fusions ‘My Treasures’
‘Tandoori & Champ’ Food Fair
Lambeg meets the Dhol’ Night
Ballykeel Street Art Project
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
CR Week
Launch
“Interweaving
Communities”
‘New
Beginnings’
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
‘Tandoori and Champ’ Food Fair
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
‘Lambeg Meets the Dhol’ Night
Ballykeel Street Art Project
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
HEALTH AND WELLBEING PROJECTS
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Outdoor Activity Sessions
Dunclug Health and Wellbeing Fair
Dunclug ‘Good Neighbour’ Event
Volunteer Celebration Event
Ballymena Friendship Club
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
BALLYMENA FRIENDSHIP CLUB
 Launched in June 2011
 Over 135 members – 20/25 per night, peaks to 60 during events
 Events held at least once a month
 Polish classes
 English classes provided by Volunteers
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
SCHOOL PROJECTS
International Children’s Day
‘Looking Back, Looking Forward’ - Youth Conferences
Cultural Diversity Programmes
– With Local Schools and Youth Groups
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
‘Looking Back, Looking Forward’
Youth Conferences
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY STRATEGY LAUNCH
Thursday 19 April 2012
HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE
FUTURE FOCUS
 Continue work in Community Integration
 To continue promoting learning of English
 Supporting mental health and wellbeing
 Supporting families with children
 Supporting young people
 Supporting victims of Domestic Violence/ Racial Abuse and Alcohol Abuse