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Community Relations Council’s Strategic Plan 2001-2004
The Community Relations Council, formed in 1990, is a non-governmental, not-for-profit
organisation and a registered charity. It works in partnership with others to promote
community relations aims.
Mission: Enabling change towards a society free from sectarianism
Vision: A pluralist society characterised by equity, respect for diversity, and
interdependence.
Principles: The Council’s work is founded on the inextricably linked principles of
Equity, Diversity and Interdependence.
Equity is a commitment at all levels of society to ensuring equality of access to resources,
structures and decision making processes and the adoption of actions to secure and maintain
these objectives.
Respect for Diversity affirms the value which can be derived from the existence,
understanding and acceptance of difference (whether expressed through religious, ethnic or
political background).
Interdependence requires a recognition by different interest or identity groupings of their
obligations and commitments to others and of the interconnectedness of
individual/community experiences and ambitions.
A number of critical assumptions have been made in compiling this strategic plan. They are
listed as Appendix 1. CRC has further examined its key stakeholders and has listed these as
Appendix 2.
Strategic Aims
Aim 1
To support local people in building a shared, inclusive and peaceful society where there is co-
operation and respect for diversity.
Aim 2
To assist Northern Ireland Communities in working through and beyond the legacies of the
troubles.
Aim 3
To identify and develop new approaches to peace-building and reconciliation, working in
partnership with people and organisations across Northern Ireland.
Aim 4
To promote the mainstreaming of community relations work at both community and
institutional level.
Aim 5
To manage the grant aiding activities and other services of the Community Relations Council
in an effective, efficient and economical way.
Aim 1
To support local people in building a shared, inclusive and peaceful society where there
is co-operation and respect for diversity.
No Objectives Outputs
1 To assist the development of community Groups/agencies engaged including inter-
relations work and the management of agency steering groups.
conflict in areas which have experienced
high levels of violence and polarization. Policies developed.
Development support work in interface
areas, and areas which exhibit signs of
future direct community violence.
Grant aiding.
Provide training through sponsored
organisations to enhance skills, confidence
and expertise
2 To provide financial and other assistance Promote and manage grant schemes in
to groups and organisations wishing to accordance with agreed criteria.
develop shared responses to issues of
common concern.
3 To assist the development of cross- Fund community relations development
community structures and relationships work.
which will more effectively address
cultural, religious and political Work in partnership with CROs and other
differences. agencies.
4 To extend the number, range and Engage new groups.
effectiveness of groups and individuals
involved in community relations work, Extend the boundaries of some existing
including those engaged in single- groups.
identity activities.
Increase and monitor the number of
individuals involved in community relations
work.
Organise seminars.
Promote CRC’s focus/position on single
identity work.
Monitor and evaluate financial awards to
ensure continued compatibility and
compliance with programme objectives.
Monitor, identify and address new
constituencies.
5 To promote the activities and values of Meet with opinion formers.
CRC with key opinion formers.
Media output.
Speaking engagements.
Consultation with policy makers, funders
and Government bodies.
To provide information on community
relations programmes to decision making
bodies in respect of their provision of
services.
6 To develop, make available and The production and dissemination of
disseminate information and resource relevant resource material.
materials which will be useful to those
wishing to become more fully involved The maintenance and development of the
in community relations work. Community Relations Council’s reference
library, resource centre and web-site.
Provide supportive training resource
material.
Research the relationship between
community relations and community
development work.
To work with agencies and other groups so
that they can develop resource materials,
exhibitions and lectures.
Sponsored organisations encouraged to
document their work as models of good
community relations practice for wider
dissemination.
Support and promote research leading to
new resources.
7 To provide information, advice and Advise grant applicants of relevant
support to grant recipients so as to assist possibilities to support their community
them in addressing communal divisions. relations practice
8 To assist sponsored projects in Establish Diversity Challenges.
acknowledging the diversity of local
communities and to ensure programme Engage organisations.
activities contribute to an increased
understanding of one’s own culture and Consult with local community and
other traditions. voluntary groups to identify and advise on
the development of community relations
initiatives and programmes.
Produce materials that encourage
pluralism and challenge stereotyping.
Aim 2
To assist Northern Ireland communities in working through and beyond the
legacies of the troubles.
No Objectives Outputs
1 To facilitate an examination of the need To engage with the ‘Healing Through
for a ‘truth finding process’ as part of Remembering Project’ and disseminate its
healing and reconciliation between local findings.
communities.
Facilitate work that centres on a healing
process.
Provision of financial resources to victim
support groups.
2 To provide appropriate financial support Investigate and if applicable administer a
and advice (having regard to all other grant aiding scheme tailored for
provision in this area) to groups wishing victims/survivors of the Troubles. Launch,
to explore the events and consequences develop and resource staff for the
of the Troubles period and to facilitate implementation of the scheme.
debate.
Work with NIVT as a partner in
administering Peace II funds to support
victims work.
Provide financial support to groups
working on reconciliation themes.
Provision of grant aid and advice for
cultural and historical projects.
3 To promote models of healing both Provision of advice, development support
within and between communities which and financial assistance.
are facilitative of a healing and
reconciliation process. Identify and develop models of good
practice.
4 To develop and distribute information on Production and dissemination of relevant
Victims Support work and related literature.
materials on the causes and effects of
community division.
5 To assist people in examining the Provision of advice and information,
complexities of the past. financial support and the sharing of good
practice.
Provide grants and resources which help
groups explore local history and culture.
Aim 3
To identify and develop new approaches to peace-building and reconciliation,
working in partnership with people and organisations across Northern Ireland.
No Objectives Outputs
1 To facilitate information sharing and Disseminate best practice literature.
exchange between groups involved in
community relations work and to assist Run information sharing seminars.
them in the identification and
dissemination of best practice Develop information sharing networks.
Provide training opportunities to facilitate
and encourage collaboration between
sponsored organisations.
Sponsored organisations encouraged to
document practice and learning and
disseminate to a wider audience.
Facilitate a greater knowledge of different
approaches and methods in community
relations work.
Organise seminars and exhibitions that
promote models of good practice.
Work in partnership with CROs and other
agencies.
2 To assist the development of area-based Continued engagement in interface areas
strategies for dealing with issues of with statutory and NGO sector bodies.
communal division, working in
partnership with other agencies and Promote, develop and manage Creating
organisations. Common Ground Consortium programmes.
3 To work collaboratively with groups and Grant aid awarded to agencies able to
organisations throughout Northern facilitate the development and production
Ireland in developing new and of resource materials.
innovative resource materials on
community relations themes.
4 To identify and develop research projects Develop community relations and
on issues of community division and community development research.
diversity as they affect NI communities.
Provide assistance to sponsored
organisations in their research projects.
RUC/PSNI research development.
Develop e-conferencing research proposal.
Commission evaluation of Mobile Phone
Networks operating across Northern
Ireland.
Manage and promote research award
scheme.
Aim 4
To promote the mainstreaming of community relations work at both community
and institutional level.
No Objectives Outputs
1 To assist the development of Community Assist with the development and
Relations Policies as part of the NI implementation of community relations
Executive’s Programme for Government strategies
2001 – 2004.
Adoption of community relations policies
by government departments.
Target provision of grant aid to those
agencies impacting in this area.
2 To facilitate the acquisition and Grant aid programme development work.
development of skills which will assist
local communities and organisations in Provide funding for groups to develop
more effectively managing community, skills/capacity building.
political or religious differences.
Target funding to groups with a
community/ educational outreach remit.
Grant aiding and seminars.
3 To assist the development of cross- Fund community relations development
community structures and relationships work.
that will allow for substantive,
meaningful and sustainable co-operation Organisation of seminars.
across community divides.
Support work within interface areas.
Meaningful contact through application of
grant scheme criteria.
4 To assist organisations and community Organise seminars
groups in prioritising activities which
will mainstream and integrate Produce practice based guides and other
community relations principles and resource materials.
practices within all aspects of their
work. Conduct community relations training and
information seminars for clergy, lay and
church based workers.
5 To provide financial support and advice Administration of CRC programmes and
to projects in the public, private and grant aiding schemes
voluntary sectors which will aim to assist
them in more effectively responding to Provision of advice and resources across a
issues of community division and range of different sectors.
diversity.
6 To work in partnership with public sector Formation of partnerships.
organisations in the development and
promotion of section 75(2) of the Effect the implementation of the promotion
Northern Ireland Act 1998 (………the of good relations in Government
promotion of good relations). Departments and designated bodies.
Production of resources targeted at specific
constituencies.
7 To develop and distribute resource Production and dissemination of relevant
materials and models of good practice on resource material.
mainstreaming community relations
work. Development and disseminate relevant
good practice materials.
Aim 5
To manage the grant aiding activities and other services of the Community
Relations Council in an effective, efficient and economical way.
No Objectives Outputs
1 To implement coherent and effective Produce Strategic Plan 2001 – 2004 and
strategic and operational planning manage its implementation.
processes throughout the Community
Relations Council. Implement and manage operational
planning.
2 To provide the necessary financial Employ CRC resources in an accountable
information and administrative support and transparent fashion which demonstrate
to all Council work areas. economy, efficiency and effectiveness
throughout.
3 To develop and effectively administer Review and evaluate grant aiding schemes.
grant schemes which will make a
practical/positive contribution to Develop and implement evaluation and
community life and relations in Northern monitoring structures.
Ireland, and to review the operation and
effectiveness of sponsored activities on Provide an effective and efficient service
an ongoing basis. to all grant applicants and recipients.
Provide technical assistance and advice to
groups as required.
Develop a monitoring and evaluation
mechanism.
Involve advisory groups in resource
development.
4 To provide developmental support and Provide advice and developmental support.
advice to both applicants and grant
recipients in ensuring that their projects Identification of other funding sources, if
effectively address issues of community more appropriate, for non-community
relations. relations work.
5 To provide all practicable support to Provision of assistance and review of
grant recipients across the lifetime of needs to support grant applicants.
funding awards, and to identify and
action any learning or support needs. Programme staff available and accessible
to grant recipients.
Support provided in response to identified
need throughout the grant aiding period.
6 To implement the requirements of the Implement the Community Relations
Northern Ireland Act 1998 relating to Council’s Equality Scheme.
Equality as defined in sections 75(1) and
75(2).
7 To implement New TSN as it relates to Produce and manage new TSN action
the Community Relations Council. plans.
Monitor range of stakeholders and identify
appropriate new constituencies.
8 To provide appropriate and up to date Upgrade and manage ICT systems.
information technology facilities and
training to accommodate effective and
efficient working practices.
9 To review, update and implement the Conduct best value review of CRC (20%
policies, operations and practices of the per year).
Community Relations Council in
accordance with Best Value principles. Review performance indicators.
Develop and update policies and
procedures.
Implement effective Human Resource
Management.
Implement effective training programmes
for staff and members.
IIP accreditation.
10 To develop and make widely available a Production and dissemination of corporate
range of promotional and informational Council literature.
materials on the role, activities and
benefits of the Council’s work. Maintenance and development of
Community Relations Resource Centre and
website.
Maintenance of a media profile for the
Council and its work.
Development and promotion of the
Council’s corporate image.
Development of advertising and marketing
opportunities for the Council and its work.
Information seminars.
Appendix 1:
Critical Assumptions:
Current levels of funding for CRC to continue.
CRC to operate under the remit of OFMDFM.
Government will be committed to a strategy for community relations, as part of the
Programme for Government.
There will be a continuation of low-level violence.
Polarisation between communities will remain in the short-term.
New European Peace and Reconciliation money:
CRC will be the lead agency for community relations work as an IFB
Equality Commission:
CRC will take a leading role in assisting public bodies to meet their requirement to
promote “good relations”.
CRC will embrace the Modernising Government agenda and all current legislative
requirements.
CRC’s work will be informed by the need to be responsive (rather than reactive) to
developments in the external environment over the next three years.
Appendix 2:
Key Stakeholders
[Definition:
CRC Council members
CRC Advisory groups
CRC staff
NI Government (Ministers, officials)
MLA s
NI Assembly Committees
Equality Commission
Human Rights Commission
Public bodies
District Councils
European Commission
CRC partner organisations
CRC-funded groups
Trade unions
Churches
CRC will keep this list of key stakeholders under review in the course of 2001-2004 and may
add to or subtract from it as the Strategic Plan develops.
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