Introduction
For over 35 years NICHS has worked hard strengthening any political steps taken towards peace by building better relationships at a grass roots level. In 2007 a new devolved power sharing government was set up in Northern Ireland and the contribution NICHS made in supporting the process to reach such a point cannot be underestimated.

In spite of the hugely positive political moves forward our communities remain marginalised and still bear the scars of division and hatred which are the legacy of so many years of sectarian hostility. It will take many more years before our communities can experience real peace. Hatred is engrained and continues to be passed from generation to generation. NICHS has for many years undertaken the responsibility of supporting communities as they work together to achieve a time where there is an equitable and fair society built on mutual respect, understanding and tolerance. The incredible political developments we have witnessed mean that at long last NICHS' work can really begin.

N ICHS Projects provide the opportunity for young people to confront their feelings and make informed choices. Our programmes give them the confidence and courage to explore options that take them beyond the cultural barriers, of prejudice, discrimination and ultimately violent confrontation that are so established over many years.

NICHS currently works with about 400 young people and over 30 marginalised communities predominately in Northern Ireland but also in the Republic of Ireland and in Great Britain. We run four core Projects which may be with different age groups and may be in different locations but all have the same ultimate aim which is to build positive relationships at an individual level and sustainable partnerships at a community level. It is only by working on the ground can the positive political developments be maintained.

The Projects
Youth Resource Centre Project
NICHS has been based in north Belfast for almost 20 years and for the past 12 years we have been running a programme aimed specifically at those living locally. Over the years of the Troubles about a quarter of all sectarian killings took place in this Projects catchment area which covers a 2-mile radius of our Centre. Few of the young people involved would be from families who have not been touched by personal loss and no community has been spared the consequences of being involved in the conflict.

There is little or no contact between the communities in the area so the feelings of hate and mistrust continue from one generation to the next. This Project helps young people and their communities build positive relationships. Working annually with about 80 new young people, aged 11-18 years, from 8 communities in the area, the programme improves community relations by encouraging young people to develop an understanding of cultural identity while raising awareness around issues of prejudice, justice, rights and equality. The Project enables attitudinal and behavioural change in young people and their communities through mutual understanding and respect for diversity. Opportunities are created for individuals and groups to build relationships within and between their communities and for them to develop. This is achieved through the provision of social, recreational and training aspects within the programme, which increase young people's self-esteem, self-worth and self-belief. Young people become more confident and independent and learn new skills to build their capacity to go beyond cultural and financial constraints improving their prospects for employment.

Following a consultation with young people we are including a Young Leaders Training Programme as part of the Project; the young people clearly stated they wanted more contact over a longer period of time and a tangible way of showing what they had achieved. About twenty young people aged 15-17 years will be involved on each year-long programme; the age range is strict to ensure participants are at a comparable stage of development. Young people will be selected from groups who have already successfully completed a Youth Resource Centre programme. They will have displayed good leadership skills and an appreciation of the theory and importance of improving community relations and a desire to extend their experience of this type of work. The Project aims to train a group of peer educators by means of a progressive and structured programme which aims to furnish them with the skills and expertise to work with younger members on other NICHS Projects in the short term, and other groups and their communities in the longer term.

The Project is made up of 2 residential weekends and a further 15 non-residential workshops. They will take part in the Open College Network Accredited Training Course in Cultural Relations at Level 2. Practical experience of participation in community relations exercises will encourage growth in confidence and self-esteem and support the process of developing facilitation skills.

As part of their programme the Young Leaders will take part in an exchange programme with a similar group of predominately Muslim Youth Action in Blackburn, Lancashire . The aim is to enable these young people to go beyond the exploration of the traditional religious and political differences that have divided us.

Since 1996 the Police have been recording incidents of racially motivated attacks and they have been increasing steadily over the past 10 years. As the situation in Northern Ireland changes and the influx of ethnic minority groups puts a new slant on young people's experiences of cultural identity NICHS has been proactive in developing its work with groups from other cultures and backgrounds.

This exchange helps establish a contact programme that looks not only at the Northern Ireland conflict but issues of racism and negative English/Irish attitudes held by young people. There is a sharing of methodologies and an exchange of resources between the groups involved. We learn from their anti-racist work and they learn from our cross-community work. This allows us to compare and contrast our methods and training. Through various group exercises participants get the chance to talk about how racism and sectarianism affects them as individuals and as members of their groups. The workshops are designed to address issues of stereotyping and wrong information about other groups and promote an awareness and pride in the growing ethnic and cultural diversity in our country.

At the end of the year long programme the young people will be offered the opportunity to take part in NICHS ‘in house' volunteer training. When successfully completed they will be in a position to avail of any volunteering opportunities within the organisation and/or become active peer educators in their own communities. They will continue to be supported by NICHS staff following the process that is already in place for all NICHS volunteers and includes regular team meetings and personal development opportunities for each of our volunteers based on an annual assessment of their needs, the young people will also be involved in this process. Their accredited qualification will provide them with tangible evidence of their achievements, which will also be an invaluable asset as they enter the job market.

Link Project
Our Link Project is our longest established programme. The Project works with 5 cross-community groups of about 24 young people. Each group meet about 20 times and take part in 2 residentials each year. The Project aims to enable young people to create the trust, understanding and tolerance necessary to build sustainable relationships and think creatively and independently about their differences. It gives them the confidence and courage to move outside the perceived security of their own hopelessness, which has been their only experience.

Those involved come from communities that have been left a legacy of social exclusion brought about by blatant sectarianism, intimidation and years of embittered conflict. Not only does the Project create the first opportunity for these young people to meet, it goes much further by building the essential trust to explore similarities and differences and discuss issues of cultural diversity which have a negative effect on their everyday lives. Young people gain new skills, develop existing ones and form relationships based on trust, understanding and respect at the same time as exploring the alternatives to the hatred and bigotry which they have grown up with.

The Project also runs a Young Leaders Training Programme, including an east/west exchange like our Youth Resource Project. This is fulfilling the organisations commitment to promoting an awareness and pride in the growing ethnic and cultural diversity in Northern Ireland.

Community Partnership Project
The NICHS Community Partnership Project is a progressive personal and community development programme. It delivers an Accredited Cultural Relations Training Programme to enhance the skills of community workers and indigenous young leaders to develop sustainable cross-community/cross-border partnerships that peace build at a grass roots level.

The young people who take part in the Community Partnership Project are aged 15-17 years of age and about 80 new young people and 8 marginalised communities, drawn equally from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland , are involved each year. The Programme promotes reconciliation, mutual understanding and respect between Protestant and Catholic young people and their communities in Northern Ireland with young people and their communities in the border counties of the Republic of Ireland . The Community Partnership Project also enables young people and their communities to address social issues such as drug abuse and crime and also encourages individual and community development. The Project aims to develop partnerships with participants and community leaders through a process of cross-community and cross-border contact enabling them to take a leadership role in establishing sustainable and meaningful cross-community and cross-border partnerships.

The work with young people encourages positive relationships at an individual, community and organisational level through the promotion of mutual understanding and respect. The Project also empowers others to facilitate their own cross-community/cross-border and anti-racist work through the provision of training materials and support. The Project creates indigenous leaders who take ownership of their own Project and take responsibility for the programme and future working in partnership.

Community Training Project
This Project has been running since August 2007 following a grant from the Community Fund, Change UR Future Programme. Working in Greater Belfast the Project empowers community workers and young people to facilitate their own cross-community work through the provision of training. The Project takes our Accredited Cultural Relations Training Programme to the community and involves young people least likely to be attracted to the normal sphere of learning and most likely to remain within the perceived safety of their own communities. We are reaching those with the least opportunity to break away from the confines of their communities which is a barrier to their personal development and future prospects.

The Project is aimed at youth groups based in marginalised communities in greater Belfast . These communities are either predominately Catholic or predominately Protestant. As the nature of the conflict has changed the violence has reduced but the divisions remain. The hatred and animosity of the past continues to perpetuate the negative opinions, feelings and values of the present. The ingrained bitterness towards the other tradition has a destructive effect on personal development, self-esteem and confidence. Young people rarely have an opportunity to meet. There are few chances for them to question others' views or perceptions. There is no opportunity to confront the prejudice, distrust and fear of another culture or tradition. This Project works with young people and their community leaders to provide them with the opportunity to develop their understanding and a respect for themselves, for others and for their communities. The Project gives young people the skills and confidence to step outside the confines and perceived safety of their own communities.

The Project aims to dispel fears, address prejudices, develop relationships and help young people and community leaders learn new skills to support them as they aspire to a better future without the constraints and restrictions imposed by living in marginalised communities.

The Project acts as a catalyst in enabling marginalised communities to develop sustainable partnerships by increasing the capacity of young people and community leaders through their participation and ultimate facilitation of Accredited Training Programmes in Cultural Relations. The Project equips them with the skills, confidence, experience and courage to enable their organisations and communities to co-operate long into the future. Long after their engagement on the Project organisations and communities will continue to develop their partnerships. This greatly enhances their recognition of the need for a long-term commitment to one another and that they are interdependent in working towards an inclusive society. It further recognises that in the shorter term while segregation and division remains it is managed in a peaceful way without violent conflict.

All young people undergo Open College Network Level 1 – Introduction to Cultural Relations – training. Young Leaders continue their programme onto Level 2. This training along with advice and support will greatly enhance the sustainability of any cross-community partnership at individual, agency and community level. The capacity for delivering cross-community programmes will be greatly enhanced and community self-esteem will grow alongside belief and confidence in peace-building at a grass-roots level.

We have been allocated a 4 year grant and each year we aim to achieve the following; 40 young people aged 14-16 years will complete a Level 1 Accredited Training Programme in Cultural Relations. Four community leaders and 10 young people aged 16-18 years will complete a Level 2 Accredited Training Programme in Cultural Relations. Four community leaders and 10 young people aged 16-18 years will be trained in the facilitation of the Level 1 programme. In turn each year up to 10 indigenous young people and up to 4 of their community leaders will be furnished with the skills to facilitate the Accredited Cultural Relations Training Programme at Level 1 to an infinite number of people in their own communities and beyond.

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NICHS is a company limited by guarantee and registered in Northern Ireland, Registration Number NI 18372, and has charitable status, Registration Number XN 48644.
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