Citizenship and community relations programme launched

Active Citizenship and Community Relations seminars

A seminar on Public Participation at NICVA on 15 January 2008 (12.30pm – 2.00pm) will be the first in a series of three organised jointly by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and NICVA. It will explore how the conflict in Northern Ireland has affected the extent to which people become more active citizens and the cultural and historical differences in Northern Ireland compared to the rest of the UK.

The series will explore links between a strong and vibrant civil society and the development of improved relations between the two communities in Northern Ireland, including civic participation and volunteerism.

Each seminar will also ask fundamental and difficult questions eg whether or not civil society is sufficiently prepared, resourced and aware of the role it is expected to play. Civil society is not immune from the prejudices and divisions that blight the rest of Northern Ireland society and in some cases it might be said to be exacerbating them. At each of the seminars two leading experts will present their perspectives.

Future seminars, all at NICVA, 12.30pm – 2.00pm, are:

• Volunteering and its unintended consequences, 13 February 2008

This seminar examines the wider, often less tangible impacts of volunteerism, and explores whether it is a route to greater reconciliation and understanding between the two communities.

• Community relations and the voluntary and community sector, 6 March 2008

The voluntary and community sector has made a powerful contribution to the achievement of better relations between the communities but what future capacity does the sector have to deliver on A Shared Future?

Information and registration

Please email knowledgetransfer@esrc.ac.uk to register for one or all of the seminars.

For more information contact Marzena Bien; tel: 017 9341 3137; email: marzena.bien@esrc.ac.uk