Good Relations

The Good Relations Team in the Derry City and Strabane District Council primarily works under the good relations legislation from Section 75 (2) of the NI Act 1998. This is about the promotion of Good Relations between people of different religious belief, race or political opinion. The team members work on the delivery of Good Relations projects and initiatives across the Council area including Cultural Diversity, Challenging Sectarianism and Racism, Dealing with the Past, Shared Space/Contested Space, Interfaces, Bonfires and Alternatives, as well as work with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities.

The work of the Good Relations Team is aligned with the objectives of the “Together: Building a United Community” strategy (T:BUC) launched in 2013 by The Executive Office (TEO)

The T:BUC Four key Strategic Priorities are:

Our Children and Young People
Our Shared Community
Our Safe Community
Our Cultural Expression.

Derry City and Strabane District Council deliver a Good Relations action plan, which sets out local initiatives that will promote Good Relations locally under the four key priorities identified in the T:BUC Strategy. The priorities can be delivered through a number of mechanisms such as Good Relations Grant Aid, partnership projects with local community groups, provision of training courses, workshops delivered in Primary and Post Primary schools, Good Relations Week and delivery of events aimed at promoting good relations

Our Good Relations Programme is 75% part-financed through The Executive Office with the remaining 25% financial commitment being met by the Council

The Strategic and Local Growth Plans is a new process led by Derry City & Strabane District Council in conjunction with partners and communities to develop and implement a shared, long-term vision to improve the social, economic and environmental well-being of the Derry City & Strabane District area. Eight Local Growth Plans have also been developed for Strabane Town and the seven District Electoral Areas (Ballyarnett, Derg, Faughan, Foyleside, Sperrin, The Moor and Waterside). The four GRO’s in DCSDC have two areas each to develop GR projects and deal with/resolve any issues highlighted and also deliver district wide initiatives from the action plan.