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Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council Logo

04/09/2019

Good Relations Week launched

Good Relations Week 2019 will be taking place from Monday 16th September to Sunday 22rd September throughout Northern Ireland.

To celebrate the successes of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Good Relations Strategy a range of diverse and multi-cultural events will be taking place across the borough engaging with people who are making a difference in shaping the future of our area.

The theme for Good Relations 2019 is ‘People Making Change for Peace’ and is focused on celebrating seemingly ordinary people who are actually pretty remarkable.

They don’t live their lives in the spotlight with a desire to stand out, but are driven by quite the opposite: a desire to fulfil their peacebuilding passion, embracing the energy that building united communities together gives them.  Celebrating the people and volunteers who never give up and are always determined to go further to build peace in all our local communities.

Speaking at the launch, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Alderman John Smyth said: “As our borough becomes more diverse and we welcome more cultures to our shores it is important to celebrate our very welcoming towns and villages and say thank you to the many volunteers and community leaders who continue to work tirelessly promoting good relations and building a united community.

“I am always humbled by the many community volunteers I meet during my work as Mayor of the borough and have witnessed the continued work they do in their local communities making them so welcoming and vibrant.”  
Community Relations Council Chair, Martin McDonald, said: “This year we have selected the theme ‘People Making Change for Peace’ as we seek to showcase the contribution many thousands of people make to creating and sustaining good relationships across the community.”

“We are delighted to have such strong support from the Good Relations team at Antrim and Newtownabbey Council and a packed programme of over 200 events across Northern Ireland which showcase the fantastic work and the people behind it that is so important to our society,” he adds.

For more information on any of the events running in the Borough during the week, contact
Mark Kent (Good Relations Officer) Tel 028 90340033 or Kathy Wolff (Community Relations Forum) Tel 028 90849314. 
 
Date Event Detail
14th September 2019
 
Times
1.00 – 16.00
Great Glengormley Get Together
Lilian Bland Park
Carmoney Road
Glengormley
BT36 5EZ
A family event bringing people from a range of backgrounds together to enjoy different cultures together in the centre of Glengormley
16th September 2019
 
Times
19.00 – 21.30
 
Wave Goodbye to dinosaurs
 
Baron Hall,
230 Antrim Road
Glengormley
BT36 7QX
A viewing of “Wave Goodbye To The Dinosaurs”, exhibiting the work carried out by The Women’s Coalition during the Peace Talks. The following dialogue will highlight how we can all play a part in making a peaceful, shared society.
18th September 2019
 
Times
19.00 – 21.00
 
(invite only)
Small Worlds – Café Culture
 
Antrim Civic Centre
Steeple Suite
50 Stiles Way
Antrim
BT41 2UB
Café-style event hosted by Belfast Friendship club, providing a safe space for participants to meet people from different backgrounds from around the world, sharing stories and their reasons for coming to Northern Ireland.
18th September 2019
 
Times
 
20.30 – 21.00
 
(invite only)
No Hate Here! Ending Hate Crime in Our Borough
 
Antrim Civic Centre
Steeple Suite
50 Stiles Way
Antrim
BT41 2UB
Cross-community campaign launch, encouraging local businesses and organisations to support victims of hate crime by signposting them to support services, and encouraging reporting to promote peace in our communities
19th September 2019
 
Times
19:00 – 21:00
 
(invite only)
Leading Ladies
 
Linen Suite
Mossley Mill
Newtownabbey
BT36 5QA
Local women will hear from influential females from across Northern Ireland, in a peace-building context, discussing their experiences of impacting change in society
20th September 2019
 
Times
19:00 – 23:00
Come On, On in
 
Baron Hall,
230 Antrim Road
Glengormley
BT36 7QX
Promoting The Barron Hall as a shared space, the whole community are invited for a night of music, stories, supper and friendship. The annual event promotes respect, equality and trust and embracing diversity in all its forms.
 
For a full list of Good Relations Week Events, visit www.goodrelationsweek.com

Good Relations Week is co-ordinated by the Community Relations Council in conjunction with The Executive Office and the Department for Communities.