Press Release

NILGA Award for Community Relation’s ‘Café Culture’ Conference

23rd February 2010

Derry City Council’s Community Relation Officers are celebrating after an innovative event they jointly organised was successful in Northern Ireland Local Government Association Awards for 2009.

Officers involved in the successful Café Culture Conference. L-R Julie Welsh, Community Development Manager, Coleraine Borough Council, Patricia Cameron, Good Relations Officer Limavady Borough Council, Sean Henry, GRO Magherafelt District Council, Angela Askin, CRO Derry City Council and Karina McCollum, GRO Coleraine Borough Council.

The Community Relations Officers were delighted that their Café Culture Project was the winner in the Best Joint Initiative between Councils award, sponsored by SOLACE NI. The project was organised by Northern Forum of Community Relations Officers, which draws its membership from Community/Good Relations officers from Derry City Council, Coleraine Borough Council, Ballymoney Borough Council, Limavady Borough Council, Magherafelt District Council and Moyle District Council and is supported by OFMDFM. As the event was held in the City Hotel, Derry City Council Community Relations Officers were heavily involved in the organisation, delivery and evaluation of the event and this award is reflective of the effort made by all concerned.

The Café Culture conference took place in September 2009, bringing people together in a relaxed a café style ambience to encourage conversations between individuals from a variety of cultural, racial and political perspectives. The conference offered 11 tables, each with a host who gave an overview of a particular topic or theme. Themes included Travellers, Remembrance, Apprentice Boys, Ancient Order of Hibernians, The Rainbow Project, Migrant Workers, PSNI, ex-combatants and also included a music workshop. Participants visited 6 tables then engaged in conversation on the topic in order to promote understanding and respect for difference.

Feedback from both participants and table hosts was excellent with many attendees saying that they engaged with individuals that they would not normally come into contact with.

The NILGA Awards were introduced in 2008 and reflect a culture of improvement in local government in Northern Ireland, with a series of independent judging panels identifying the finalists and winners for each category. All local councils in Northern Ireland were invited to make a submission for the awards, highlighting the best services, initiatives, staff and councillors from their council. 68 submissions were received across the 10 categories, reflecting the high standard of so many projects and individuals who often go unrecognised in our communities.

Ends

Press Office

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