Welcome to your charity or non - profit making organisations website

Diversity Challenges is a company limited by guarantee (NI50064) and is recognised by the Inland Revenue as a charity Ref NoXR74395 It was founded in 2001 to facilitate change in a number of Cultural groups in Ireland
It has received funding from a number of bodies, trusts and agencies.

Diversity Challenges has received support from PEACE III for The Way We Were Project and the Community Relations Council & International Coalition of Sites of Conscience  for After Conflict Experiences.

Another project is  Storytelling to Promote Intergenerational Reconciliation And Learning SPIRAL

Diversity Challenges in partnership Netwell Centre, Dundalk Institute of Technology has received funding from Co Louth Peace and Reconciliation Partnership for support under the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation 2007-2013.

More information on these projects can be found in the  projects section.

Diversity Challenges  has the following:

Vision
A society in which people understand, and take responsibility for, the shared and distinctive traditions of all communities.

Mission
To assist culturally specific groups in integrating community relations principles and considerations within all aspects of their work.

Description of work

Target key culturally specific groups within Ireland, with greatest impact on community life.
Identify influential individuals within each organisation who are driving change (or wish to drive change)  towards a fuller and more constructive role in a diverse society.
Support the individuals through consultancy, coaching, training, networking and practical assistance to develop and implement change strategies within their organisations.
  Training, e.g. community development, good relations, essential skills, drama, musical skills
  Community audits,
  Facilitate the development of family friendly events at parades and demonstrations leading to change in the nature of parading and reducing tension.

Help society to deal with the past conflict  to remember and change to a more peaceful time when are at peace with ourselves.

 Use the experience gained in the project to develop and publish good practice models for international circulation  Provide consultancy and training support on the use of the best practice models to agencies in other countries facing similar challenges

 

Diversity Challenges

Contact us

E mail w.o.m.glen@btinternet.com

Target Groups

Diversity Challenges targets its work with the following groups

1.Loyal Orders:

  Apprentice Boys of Derry
  Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland
  Royal Black Preceptory
  Independent Loyal Orange Institution

2.Protestant Cultural Groups

  Bands
  Others

3.Gealic Athletic Association

4.Ancient Order of Hibernians

5.Community Restorative Justice

6.Catholic Cultural Groups

 

7. Former Members of Security Forces

Regular British and Irish Army, UDR/RIR, Police RUC and RUCR Gardi In Project 'After Conflict experiences. For Details go to Projects Page

 

Evaluation

Diversity Challenges was independently evaluated in spring 2004 by a team led by Dr. Neil Jarman Institute of Conflict Research assisted by Dr. Brandon Hamber of The Office of Psychosocial Issues (OPSI) and Ms. Ruth Moore. This evaluation recognised the progress that had been made and recommended that the work of Diversity Challenges continue:

It is recommended that Diversity Challenges continue:

1. Focused work with key culturally specific groupings, as this remains an under-resourced area. A solid foundation for future work has been built; in particular with the Target groups which have been engaged to date.

2. Supporting group activity through the Development Fund, especially that which clearly meets outcomes objectives and the groups which demonstrate an awareness and potential to lead processes of internally-driven change and diversity over time;

3. Supporting key activities such as those which demonstrate civic responsibility and ability to address the diversity impacts of cultural specific activity; and community development work with target groups that demonstrates an awareness and potential to lead to processes of internally-driven change over time;

4. Ring-fencing technical support monies for the provision of specialist technical and professional expertise to be imparted through Consultants;

5. Deepening the relationships built with culturally-specific groups and build on the partnership dimension of the work already set up, and


Copy of the evaluation can be found on the Evaluation Page

Illustration is From Community Relations Council Annual Report 1996