We are very pleased to announce that CAIN has received a grant of 40,000 Euros from the Reconciliation / Anti-Sectarianism Fund based within the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade. This will allow us to digitise a range of records from the National Archives, Ireland records that related to the Troubles. These will then be made publicly available on CAIN.

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The Sport and Social Exclusion in Northern Ireland (SESNI) project was launched on 13 November 2012. This 30-month research project, led by Professor Owen Hargie and Dr Ian Somerville (University of Ulster) is funded by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. The project will chart current attitudes to exclusion/inclusion in the context of sport across Northern Ireland, using both quantitative and qualitative methods to determine the nature, form and intensity of these attitudes. As part of this work, a module of questions will be included in the 2013 Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey.

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ARK runs 3 annual surveys recording the attitudes of the public to key social issues. Two of these surveys are currently collecting public opinion:

• The Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey (a survey of adults aged 18+) includes questions on community relation, minority ethnic groups, equality issues and autism.
• The Young Life and Times survey of 16 year olds, is also focusing on community relations, as well as shared education, diversity and a range of other topics suggested by last year's respondents. This year marks YLT's 10th anniversary!

If you are asked to participate in either of these surveys, please take part - your views are important!

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Since 2008, the Kids' Life and Times (KLT) Survey has been monitoring attitudes among children in P7 (10-11 year olds) to issues that affect them. After five years of running KLT, we are now trying to get a better understanding of how the survey data are being used. For example, we know that schools find the results useful in a pastoral care context. We are also interested in the utilisation of KLT data as policy indicators. If you use KLT, or have any suggestions about the survey, please get in touch with us - you can find contact details on the KLT website.

The results of the most recent survey will be launched soon - so please check the KLT website!

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The ARK in Schools project provides Northern Ireland-specific educational materials for schools, organisations working with young people and for young people themselves. Two new resources have been added:

• A resource pack focusing on Older People, explores the demographic, economic and social implications of our ageing population.
• An ARK event in November 2012 gave Relationships and Sexuality Education teachers and sex education providers an opportunity to learn about some of the most innovative sex education programmes and projects currently available in Northern Ireland. Presentations and resources from this event are now available on ARK in Schools.

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ARK will co-host two seminars in early 2013.
Cultures of worklessness: popular myth or miserable reality?
On Tuesday 29 January, Professor Tracy Shildrick (Teeside University) will examine the idea that intergenerational 'cultures of worklessness' exist in some families, influencing patterns of worklessness in the UK. This seminar is co-hosted with School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work, Queen's University Belfast

The Role of Heritage in Post-conflict Reconstruction: Reflecting on the translation of research into policy statements and the implications
On Tuesday 12 March, Marie Louise Stig Sørensen (University of Cambridge) will outline the role of heritage in post-conflict reconstruction efforts, and identify the challenges encountered when attempting to translate research into policy statements and recommendations. This seminar is co-hosted with INCORE, University of Ulster

Both seminars will be held NICVA, 61 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast, from 12:00-13:00, followed by a sandwich lunch. Everyone is welcome, and the seminars are free. However, places must be booked by email info@ark.ac.uk, or by telephone 028 7167 5513

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ARK produces a range of publications, including Research Updates and fact sheets. Most of these are available online. For a full list of publications, as well as links, visit our Publications page.

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ARK is a joint initiative between Queen's University and the University of Ulster, and began in 2000. Our mission is to make social science knowledge on Northern Ireland easily accessible to the widest possible audience. Most of our dissemination is via our website at www.ark.ac.uk, which is divided into four main areas:

• Surveys
• Conflict, Politics and Elections
• Policy, Research and Resources
• Outreach, Dissemination and Training - including publications and events

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