Latino America Unida

Latinoamérica Unida (LAU) is the Latin American Community and Cultural Association for Northern Ireland. We were formally established after a public meeting of the Latin American community on the 25 November 2000.

The impetus came after a report published by the Multi-Cultural Resource Centre, called ‘Latinoamérica Está’ or ‘Latin America is here’, profiled the Latin American community and identified considerable disadvantage.

Since then, LAU has concentrated on tackling the issues of the report, as well as those subsequently identified by the community. We exist specifically for the benefit of the Latin American community, the only organisation to do so in Northern Ireland.

Our main aims are to provide support and assistance to members of the rapidly growing Latin American community in Northern Ireland by providing advice, information, cultural activities and training opportunities.

The organisation also promotes good relations between the Latin American community and its neighbours through events and activities that raise awareness and promote cultural diversity, such as our well attended film events in partnership with Cineversity at the University of Ulster.

The organisation became an employer on the 19 May 2003 and now has two part time staff: myself as project co-ordinator and Gabriella Barrionuevo as finance and administration assistant.

Despite the fact that many of its members are spread georgraphically, LAU is beginning to build a Latin American community. We now estimate that the population is in excess of 500 and increasing. Our events are well attended and advice and outreach services are popular.

Our main project is a two year support project for Spanish-speaking Latin Americans, funded by the Community Fund. The project aims to:

• provide advice and support on employment and accessing services, and to raise issues with service providers. For example, we recently secured the commitment of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) that they will provide the driving theory test in Spanish and Portuguese
• support isolated members of the community, for example by organising visits by volunteers and arranging activities for parents
• promote good relations, equality of opportunity, eliminate racism and raise awareness.

LAU has previously received a Community Fund small grant, funding from the Equality Commission, a Grundvig award from the British Council, assistance from the Multi-Cultural Resource Centre Active Citizenship Project / Healthy Living monies and , recently, from the Charities Aid Foundation.

We produce a quarterly newsletter and send regular mail shots that publicise meetings and events. To receive our literature, or to find out more about us, you can contact us at:

Latinoamerica Unida
Philip House 123-137
Belfast BT15 1AB
info@latinoamericaunida.org.uk
028 9031 9963
028 9031 2216