Waterside Neighbourhood Partnership launch ' Out and About' project

Waterside Neighbourhood Partnership have launched the 'Out and About' project. This is a project supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), funded under the theme of Celebrating Cultural Diversity, and it is funded through Derry City and Strabane District Council’s PEACEPLUS Local Co-Designed Action Plan. 

The aim of the Celebrating Cultural Diversity theme is to recognize the existence of a variety of cultural or ethnic groups within our communities and to increase the understanding of and respect for all cultural identities. 

The project comprises of 2 strands. Strand 1 of the programme will provide training and mentoring for members of the Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community to become freelance arts facilitators trained and equipped to use art as a tool to promote cultural diversity awareness, tackle racism and to increase the understanding and respect of differing cultural identities. 

Strand 1 will focus on exploring individual and collective cultural identity through arts exploration and how this can be enveloped into facilitation style and delivery approach.

Through piloting these workshops, further exploration and conversation around cultural identity will be encouraged among workshop participants, breaking down barriers, stigma and allowing space for meaningful and transformative dialogue leading to attitudinal and behavioural change, potentially from a young age. 

'OUT AND ABOUT' LAUNCH . . . . . .The Deputy Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Darren Guy pictured at Wednesday's Waterside Neighbourhood Partnership's 'Out and About' launch in the Waterside Shared Village. The project is supported by PEACEPLUS, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) through Derry City and Strabane District Council. Included are Niamh Webster, Project Co-Ordinator, Sue Divin, Programme Manager, PeacePlus team, DCSDC, Zoe McSparron and Aoife Boyle, Fuse Group, Alison Wallace, Strategy Manager, WNP and some of the adults and children who took part in the event. (Photos: Jim McCafferty Photography)

Strand 2 will bring together representatives of the BAME sector and the wider CNR/PUL communities to develop and deliver a programme of activities that recognises the existence of a variety of cultural and ethnic groups within our communities.

The programme of activities will allow residents from diverse backgrounds to connect and help them understand and enjoy culture, history heritage both within and outside our City and District and to have fun and build lasting relationships leading to improved understanding and respect for differing cultural identities. 

An event to launch the project took place on Wednesday, February 19 at Waterside Shared Village from 7-9pm with the Deputy Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Darren Guy in attendance. The event included a DJ, Henna hand art, a collaborative drawing workshop from FUSE Arts, and food from Sandy’s African Food Hub. 

 “We’re delighted that the PEACEPLUS Local Action Plan for Derry City and Strabane District Council was able to fund the Out and About project,” said Sue Divin, DCSD Council PEACE Manager.

“During our Co-design process, we listened clearly to what individuals and representatives from our local Black and Minority Ethnic communities were saying about their priorities relevant to PEACE.

IN PICTURES: 'Out and About' project launch by Waterside Neighbourhood Partnership

"There was huge interest in a project which, instead of raising awareness about BAME culture and identity in our more traditional communities, turned that on its head and allowed minority ethnic communities to understand local British, Irish and Northern Irish culture, history, politics and places. In a nutshell, that’s what this project is all about.”

Alison Wallace, Strategy Manager for Waterside Neighbourhood Partnership has said of the project: "We are delighted to be delivering such an important project which will bring together people from a diverse range of ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds with a shared purpose of exploring our culture, history and heritage.”