Community Relations

Community Relations work is about:

Diversity

Encouraging respect for and expression of the range of identities represented by the youth of Northern Ireland, and those who work with them in the youth sector. Diversity should be a source of celebration and interest, not fear and suspicion. It is about moving beyond the 'neutral' environment, to one where diversity is valued and is used creatively.

Equity

A commitment to fairness, including the redressing of any identified undesirable or inequitable balance. In terms of this proposal this would include addressing of the allocation of resources, involvement in structures of power, and levels of participation of young people and staff from the two main (and other) communities. Whilst in the Northern Ireland context the main issue in the area of equity is inequity on the basis of someone's religious and political beliefs, the youth sector also addresses equity issues in relation to gender, (dis)ability, social marginalisation, ethnicity, age and sexual orientation. On a wider level, the youth sector needs to adopt a human rights culture, which alerts young people and staff to their rights and the responsibilities that go with them.

Interdependence

The youth sector provides the opportunity for young people from the two main traditions (as well as those from a range of other traditions) to meet and develop relationships. It also provides the same opportunity for adults in a range of roles from volunteer to chief executive, a members of small local committees, to members of public boards. Interdependence is about recognizing and exploring the ways in which our individual paths are intertwined. It is also about building new relationships between various people and groups who make up the population of these islands.

Sectarianism

Sectarianism is prejudice or discrimination based on religion or cultural association (i.e. discrimination shown by Catholic and Protestant groups in Northern Ireland towards each other).

Single Identity/Capacity Building

In Northern Ireland, it is now accepted that some groups need to do preliminary work within their cultural/religious grouping before doing community relations work with a group from a different community.