About the programme

Racism is Wrong

The "Racism is Wrong" campaign aims to raise awareness of racism as an ongoing issue in the Southern Partnership area which covers Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Louth, Monaghan and Newry and Mourne. The campaign has three distinct themes.

1. Recruitment and enlisting of Challenge for Change Champions. The champions are empathetic, passionate and engaging individuals of good reputation who will have the ability through their endorsement and actions to begin a process which will influence attitudinal change within the target area.
2. The development of a cluster-wide and cross-border anti-racism publicity campaign to challenge prejudiced attitudes and behaviours. The campaign is needed to expose racism, change hearts and minds and to create an environment where people challenge their own prejudices, attitudes and behaviours.
3. The campaign also includes the delivery of a co-ordinated programme of events during Race Equality Month 2010. The events will encourage participation and will not only challenge prejudices but encourage, enthuse and inspire members of the BME communities so that they will feel more confident and able to play a full part in their local communities.

Challenge of Change

The overall aim of the Challenge of Change priority is to:

‘Facilitate greater involvement of people from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Communities in civic, community and political life, and increase community cohesion’.

Through this priority the Southern Partnership has committed to achieving the following by December 2010:

• To develop and deliver needs-based and capacity building training for indigenous and BME communities
• To establish cross-cluster/border networking groups
• To develop and deliver projects which address integration
• To organise events addressing racism
• To provide resources for providing advice support and signposting to BME residents

The Peace III Southern Partnership recognises that racism is a growing issue across the cluster area and wishes to build on the numerous projects undertaken through the Good Relations Strategies, Community Safety Partnerships and Peace II funding in addressing racism. The Challenge of Change priority will explore good practice and fill the current gaps within service provision in addition to the possibility of ongoing cross-border work being adopted across the cluster area.