The PEACE Programmes Learning Platform Level 1

This project is a unique initiative to promote good relations in the social housing sector in Northern Ireland and the border regions. In NI, despite progress in many areas of peace building, housing remains one of the main areas of segregation with 90% segregated along religious grounds. This project is the first regional response to addressing religious, cultural and ethnic division in social housing in NI and the border region. Partners: The partners in this project include four of N. Ireland's largest housing associations (Choice, Clanmil, Apex, Fold) and their sister organisations in ROI. The lead partner is the umbrella group for NI housing associations and TIDES is the specialist good relations practitioner. The partners have come together because of their combined scale and regional spread, their desire to promote good relations and their experience of good relations work. Area: 40 housing schemes will take part in the project involving thousands of tenants directly and indirectly. Project Design: The project will contribute to the core outputs of the programme, namely: An increase in the percentage of people who think relations between Protestants and Catholics are better than they were five years ago from 45% to 52%; An increase in the percentage of people who think relations between Protestants and Catholics will be better in five years' time from 40% to 48%; An increase in the percentage of people who know quite a bit about the culture of some minority ethnic communities from 30% to 38%. This will be achieved by a coordinated programme of activities over three years which will link social housing projects from Protestant, Catholic and mixed social housing communities in Northern Ireland and cross-border communities to address common issues. This approach will build coalitions of interest, joint working practices, capacity and understanding between people who currently have little or no interaction with the other's respective communities, perceiving them as the other side. The project will aim to ensure that any tenants groups, informal and formal, currently existing or any established as part of the project, will remain in existence after the project's lifetime which will ensure a legacy and continuity of the project. As part of the funding for this project we are seeking support for an evaluation which will assess not just the effectiveness of the project but to inform through learning the future work of the entire sector. This project will involve ethnic minorities by having them share their unique experiences, background and culture within a social housing setting through a series of events and activities. The Project model will encompass five individual but interlinked areas of activity as outlined below: Stage 1: Community Audit; Stage 2: Community Capacity Building; Stage 3: Cross Community / Cross Border Community Skills Workshops; Stage 4: Tenants taking part in accredited and non-accredited training days; Stage 5: Bringing the Learning Back. The SMART activity targets of this project are based on achieving the results indicators of the Programme and will be delivered through direct contact with community activities and events in NI and border regions. Strategy Policy and Context: The project complements the policies of governments in NI and ROI in relation to equality and good relations. The Republic of Ireland's Programme for Government is similar in sentiment to that of Northern Ireland. Where the NI Executive focuses on working towards a shared society the ROI places a strong emphasises on the need for equality to be a cornerstone of its democracy. Need and Demand: Within social housing, 90% of estates are single identity (NIHE: 2010) despite the fact that 71% of people have indicated they would prefer to live in a mixed-religion neighbourhood. The number of people from ethnic groups now living in Northern Ireland and border regions has also increased in recent years. The continued division and, on occasion, unrest highlights the need to improve relations. The political uncertainty at the Stormont Assembly perhaps also reinforces the need for grassroots good relations initiatives. The demand for this project is evidenced by consultation with tenants and from the positive reaction to our work in some areas already with good relations under the TBUC scheme. Options: This project was selected from a number of other options and was considered the best option to deliver a regional project which has the potential to inform practice in the wider housing movement. Budget and Finance Projections: The proposed budget has been produced as the minimum needed to deliver the project and is based on a rigorous assessment of costs. The lead partner will conform with best practice in relation to financial controls and the housing association partners have committed additional resources and cashflow for the project. Risk Management: The project partners conducted a risk management exercise and are content that identified risks can be managed. Horizontal Principles: The project aligns with the Horizontal Principles of the Programme and with similar sustainable development polices at government level in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Management Arrangements: Led by Project Coordinator at NIFHA, the project will be overseen by a steering committee and programme board and will adhere to the highest standards of governance. The partners are each employing authorities for project staff. Communications and Marketing Plan: The Communications Plan will be used as an overarching framework which will guide the project team associated with the on the ground delivery of the project as well as the wider six project partner consortium who are supporting it.