Background to the Research
- Single-identity work, which
entails addressing community relations at an intra-community level,
is proffered by community relations professionals as an alternative
to contact, where contact is either not possible or likely to be ineffective.
The aim of this research is to focus on single identity work and to
comment on its contribution to the process of improving community
relations in NI. Specific objectives are as follows:
- to construct a typology
of single-identity projects which reflects the content and scope
of work undertaken;
- to examine factors which
enable or inhibit single identity groups to engage in contact
as perceived by community relations practitioners who fund/facilitate
single identity projects;
- to suggest ways in which
community relations practitioners can maximise the potential of
single identity work;
- to highlight good practice
and to offer recommendations to funders.
Research Approach
- Qualitative data gathered through 7 in-depth,
semi-structured interviews with key actors responsible for funding
single identity projects.
- Case studies of 4 single identity projects
selected on the advice and guidance of the CRC. These were: the Archway
Project (Derry); the Ulster/Scots Project (Ards); the Newtownabbey
Community Relations Group and Armagh Inter-Churches Project. These
projects were seen as broadly representative of different approaches
to single identity community relations in NI.
- The focus group method was used as a means
of engaging participants and facilitators in an informal discussion
about project aims, implementation issues and outcomes. In all, 16
project participants took part in focus group sessions across the
four cases.
- A questionnaire, containing open-ended
questions, to facilitators of single identity projects identified
by CRC and Community Relations Officer's in District Councils to elicit
information on the range and scope of activity undertaken and views
on potential for success. Nineteen projects were identified and questionnaires
were returned from ten.
- A questionnaire, containing open-ended
questions, to the director of the CRC aimed at gathering information
on the implications of single-identity work for different approaches
to community relations.
Main Findings
- Projects which currently make the most
contribution to the achievement of community relations objectives
through intra-community work are in the category of concurrent single
identity/cross-community relations. This approach maximises the potential
of intra-community work by providing a 'safe retreat' for the discussion
of contentious issues and an imperative for community relations (the
commitment to a concurrent cross-community agenda).
- The challenge for funders is to recognise
the potential for concurrent single-identity cross-community work
either within a district or between like-minded groups in different
areas of NI. The programme-driven approach suggested by some respondents
is a mechanism through which this can be achieved. Its focus is the
co-ordination of all local-level resources in an effort to achieve
the broader objectives of community relations and community development.
- If the programme-driven approach is seen
as a viable alternative to the current 'one-off' approach to funding,
then there are implications for participating groups. Specifically,
that they have a clear commitment to mutual understanding, manifest
in short, medium and long-term targets, for the work they undertake.
This can be more difficult for some types of single-identity community
relations work than others.
- Against the background of a programme-driven
approach, the real value of personal development single-identity work
lies in the early stages of a programme. It can allow community groups,
intent on the achievement of community relations objectives, the space
to reflect on and explore the reasons for their involvement, and time
to focus on expected outcomes.
- Facilitation is the key to single identity
work which can contribute towards an achievement of mutual respect
and an increased awareness of diverse cultural traditions. A pre-requisite,
however, is that facilitators are sufficiently skilled and confident
in their own ability to constructively address problems of prejudice,
stereotypes and division, through the personal experiences of participants.
The skills required are often those of stress and trauma counselling,
in addition to mediation and the ability to locate negative experiences
within the broader context of the NI conflict.
- Most groups make applications for single-identity
community relations funding with the aim of undertaking 'own' culture
validation work. Supporting such work, however, has serious opportunity
costs for community relations practitioners with limited funding resources.
The challenge for funders is to convince groups of the value of the
concurrent approach. In some cases, this may be a matter of persuading
groups to embrace a more comprehensive community relations agenda.
If this is done sensitively, then the perceived threat of such work
for groups can be minimised.
- Critical incident, political and some
cultural traditions single-identity work have least potential to achieve
community relations objectives. In all of these cases, the priority
is with intra-community development and there is very little incentive
to understand or engage with the 'other community'.
Recommendations
- Single-identity work has the potential
both to reduce sectarian attitudes and to generate divisions. Thus
funders should consider endorsing a more proactive, programme driven
approach, which will, by definition, exclude those groups which seek
funding for projects unlikely to contribute towards the achievement
of improved community relations in NI.
- Groups should be encouraged where possible
to 'twin' with other community groups in their district which have
similar interests but which represent different religious, political
and cultural persuasions. This can facilitate the concurrent approach
to identity work.
- Where twinning is not possible, funding
should be conditional on a group's willingness to support objectives
which emphasise respect for cultural diversity and to engage in cross-community
contact in the longer term.
- Groups should be monitored on a frequent
basis so that assessors can note whether targets and objectives are
being met and how groups are progressing towards mutual respect, tolerance
and cross-community contact.
- Training should be provided for community
relations practitioners and or/funders to clarify how a more proactive
approach (which aims to both draw on and co-ordinate existing local
level resources) can contribute towards the achievement of community
relations. Good practice within CRC, as an Intermediary Funding Body
for the dissemination of monies under the European Special Support
Sub-programme 6, could provide the foundation for such training.
- Facilitation is a key element of successful
single-identity work; it is therefore essential that facilitators
undergo specific training to enable them to assist groups in moving
onwards from personal development to achieve community developments.
- Due to time and resource constraints this
research presents only a partial examination of single-identity work
in NI. A more comprehensive audit is needed to assess the full extent
of the single identity approach in NI and an evaluation of its contribution
to community relations objectives. Allied to this, a forum should
be established for the dissemination of good practice in single-identity
community relations work.
- The researchers recommend the term 'intra-community
relations work' as an alternative to 'single-identity work'. It is
believed that this term more accurately describes the nature of the
work being undertaken. 'Identity' is complex and multifaceted and
the term 'single identity' disguises the multi-dimensional characteristic
of cultural identity.
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