Cochrane Backs Community Relations Week

Alliance East Belfast MLA Judith Cochrane helped launch Community Relations Week 2013 organised by the Community Relations Council at an event in Parliament Buildings. She is pictured with fellow Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle far left and Gabriel Makamanzi, who sang on behalf of the Northern Ireland Community for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (NICRAS).

Community Relations Week takes place from May 20 – May 26 with over 180 events across Northern Ireland on the theme Expressing Identity – Addressing Division.

Urging people to get involved, Judith Cochrane said: “Community Relations Week is a great opportunity to actively challenge the division in our society. It encourages us to realise that community and voluntary organisations in partnership with government, can learn the skills necessary to build relationships and hope for the future.”

Event organisers who spoke at the launch included representatives from Forthspring Inter Community Group, Youth Action NI, the Northern Ireland Community for Refugees and Asylum Seekers, Cultúrlann and Shankill Women’s Centre.

A full listing of Community Relations Week events can be found at www.nicrc.org.uk and printed programmes can be obtained from local libraries.

ENDS