Background to the Research

• Existing research suggests that over a third of children and young people in NI have experienced threats due to their community background. Engaging with young people has been seen as one way of improving community relations and creating a 'culture of tolerance' for the future.
• This report presents the findings from the 'Voices Behind the Statistics' project, which was designed to complement the 2003 YLT survey, and which aimed to facilitate an environment for young people to openly discuss the impact of the past and their visions for the future.
  

Research Approach

• The project involved 194 16 and 17 year olds from 11 post-primary schools in four areas of NI. Talkshops were used; the material for discussion was based on the results of the 2003 YLT survey.
• Three phases were involved. In the first phase, three schools from each of the four areas in NI were invited to take part in the project. In the second phase, student representatives from all three schools in two of the areas met in 'Combined Talkshops', to discuss their views and experiences. In the third phase six students, who had taken part in the first two phases, met with the researchers to help analyse the data and identify main findings.
• The project aimed to highlight to what extent the young people's views and attitudes towards community relations and sectarianism differ depending on their different backgrounds.
  

Main Findings

• The majority of respondents felt that it was important to know one's identity. National and religious identities were the most controversial issue discussed.
• The issue of a united Ireland caused intense discussion, both within and between groups of young people with the same socio-religious backgrounds. Only a minority felt that being 'Northern Irish' would solve the divide in national identity.
• Family, peer groups, school and the media were acknowledged as the key agents of socialisation, and as having the biggest impact on the formation of attitudes towards others. Many participants were critical of the negative impact that parents/other adults had on their formation of attitudes towards other groups.
• The majority felt that schools should be integrated (although not forced), to allow young people to mix from an early age.
• Culture and heritage were believed to exert a strong impact on attitudes to community relations and sectarianism. Events such as the 12th July and St. Patrick's day were of symbolic importance for the majority of participants when they defined their national or religious identity. Territorialism, boundaries and markers of identity were closely related to these events.
• Much debate arose over the issue of flying of flags, with young people from neither community conceding to the argument of the other.
• Sport was discussed both as a way of segregating and integrating young people.
• The role played by politicians and political parties in NI was strongly criticised, with politics being the second most frequently cited reason given for wanting to leave the country.
• Institutional reforms following the Good Friday Agreement, in particular the reform of the police force, were passionately discussed. Catholics were more likely to say this reform had not gone far enough, while Protestants were more likely to argue that the reforms had gone too far. There were also differences of views within socio-religious groups.
• The issue of paramilitaries was often the first thing thought of in relation to NI community relations. The 'influence and say of paramilitaries' was the most cited reason for wanting to leave NI. The majority of participants agreed that paramilitaries were too influential, which was detrimental for the Peace Process.
• Very little evidence was found in Talkshops of a significant urban-rural divide, with regard to sectarianism and community relations.
• In terms of improving cross-community relations, some young people were pessimistic. However, most reported having informal contact with young people from community backgrounds different to their own.
• The ability to compromise was highlighted as essential, although the 'Compromise Exercise' revealed that young people would find this difficult.
• Changes needed to improve community relations were identified. These included more formally integrated schools and more informal mixing between schools, more cross-community contact schemes, better facilities and activates (non-sectarian), the banning of territorial markers, help for people to accept compromise, and the involvement of young people in interactive and participatory Talkshops.

Conclusions

• Feedback suggests the project was a positive learning experience for the majority of participants.
• Talkshops appear to have the potential to at least start to generate change and new thinking about community relations. Actively engaging with young people, and openly discussing sensitive and controversial issues, rather than avoiding them, has to be seen as a way forward in addressing community relations and sectarianism in NI.