PRISM – Promoting Reconciliation & Integration through Safe Mediation

Programme 2014 - 2020 Ireland - United Kingdom (PEACE IV)

Description

Description (EN):

The PRISM (Promoting Reconciliation & Integration through Safe Mediation) project brings together the British Red Cross (BRC), ArtsEkta, Corrymeela and the Irish Red Cross (IRC), supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in a historic partnership. The project has pan Ireland aspirations to create, sustain and better understand attitudinal change in a divided society and how to most effectively integrate communities. The specific results we are seeking in the delivery of this project: to reduce negative perceptions of the Catholic and Protestant cultures and increase the knowledge of ethnic minority communities; to develop sustainable pathways for Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Vulnerable Migrants and Catholics and Protestants to integrate within their local communities; to evolve new contact approaches to meet the needs of the changed demographics within N.I and the shifting patterns of identity and culture through increased migration. Activities to support the achievement of these results: Establishment of a research programme to test “contact theory” approaches with “anxious middle groups” from within the Catholic, Protestant and Refugee, Asylum Seeker and Vulnerable Migrant (RASVM) communities.This comprises baseline research to identify “anxious middle” participants, attitudinal change measurements of our mixed model activities in target locations, the collation of case examples and the delivery of cross-border control groups to provide comparative data in non-segregated communities.The research programme will culminate in the production of one robust multi-faceted research document. Implementation and measurement of bespoke 10 week attitudinal change activities in target locations, encompassing recruitment of “anxious middle” participants, delivery of desensitisation activities in a neutral setting, delivery of partnership contact activities supplemented with micro-financed projects at grassroots level. Dissemination of ‘contact’ learning and integrated pathways at local, regional and pan Ireland level, incorporating the showcasing of ‘contact’ stories in local media, dissemination of findings to Good Relations Units, community organisations and other key stakeholders, the delivery of an all-Ireland Conference to examine best practice in attitudinal change and strategic influencing through selected advocacy goals. Regional analysis allowed us to rank council areas in terms of geographic data i.e. appropriate population levels of RASVM, Catholic & Protestant communities for recruitment. Cross-border focus groups facilitated by the IRC will allow us to obtain meaningful comparative data between segregated and non-segregated communities. Within the strategic and policy context this project is committed to and reflective of Section 75 of the N.I. Act 1998.

Achievements (EN):

The PRISM project helped to implement an integration and good relations programme to participants from the Catholic; Protestant; Refugee; Asylum Seekers and Vulnerable Migrant communities across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. Participants engaged in user 'contact models' that explored perceived tension points, identified commonalities and developed integration pathways to ensure the continuation of peace-building activities and multi-cultural promotion, as well as the enhancement of local diversity. Focusing on arts and holistic therapies, participants enjoyed activities such as massage, sound healing, dance, flower arranging and basket making, providing an environment for everyone to talk in a safe place. In February 2021 PRISM held a special week-long online conference to celebrate its key achievements. As part of the event, PRISM unveiled a research report, gathered throughout the duration of the project, with key findings and a pathway to future improvements. “I met people from all around the world and there was a great diversity and multiple nationalities...I enjoyed cultural sharing and learned a lot about other cultures while taking part in the range of exciting arts activities.” “I knew I was saying things about my story in front of people who would find it difficult. Without respect, it’s hard to get your voice heard and people interrupt you and you are subject to their agenda. It was different here – people listened.” “I realised they were like us. They had conflict in their country just like us and they have responsibilities. We bonded over children.” Participant Reflections.

Themes

Community integration and common identity

Specific Objective: The promotion of positive relations characterised by respect, and where cultural diversity is celebrated and people can live, learn and socialise together, free from prejudice, hate and intolerance

Thematic Objective: (09) promoting social inclusion, combating poverty and any discrimination, by:

Investment Priority: (09f) promoting social and economic stability in the regions concerned, notably by actions to promote cohesion between communities (ETC-PC)

Partners

Lead Partner: British Red Cross

Department: British Red Cross Northern Ireland

Address: Heron Road, Sydenham Business Park,, BT3 9LE Belfast, United Kingdom

Legal status: private

Website: www.redcross.org

Total budget: EUR 425 319.24

Corrymeela

Name: Corrymeela

Address: Corrymeela Centre, 5 Drumaroan Road,, BT54 6QU Ballycastle, United Kingdom

Legal status: private

Total budget: EUR 160 607.44

Irish Red Cross

Name: Irish Red Cross

Address: Joycelan Street, A91 Y364 Dundalk, Ireland

Legal status: private

Total budget: EUR 64 170.48

ArtsEkta

Name: ArtsEkta

Address: Glendinning House, 6 Murray Street,, BT1 6DN Belfast, United Kingdom

Legal status: private

Total budget: EUR 104 430.24

Summary

Project name (EN): PRISM – Promoting Reconciliation & Integration through Safe Mediation

Project acronym: PRISM – Promoting Reconciliation & Integration through Safe Mediation

Period: 2014-2020

Date of latest update: 2021-12-15

Website: https://www.seupb.eu/piv-overview

Project start date: 2017-09-01

Project end date: 2020-12-31

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 754 527.40

European Union funding: EUR 569 792.32

Co-financing sources: ERDF

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

British Red Cross

PRISM – Promoting Reconciliation & Integration through Safe Mediation

Partners and Projects info

Corrymeela

PRISM – Promoting Reconciliation & Integration through Safe Mediation

Partners and Projects info

Irish Red Cross

PRISM – Promoting Reconciliation & Integration through Safe Mediation

Partners and Projects info

ArtsEkta

PRISM – Promoting Reconciliation & Integration through Safe Mediation

Lead partner

Project partner

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 Ireland - United Kingdom (PEACE IV)

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2018-11-01

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

68 / 96 (70.83%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

162 / 235 (68.94%)

Notes on the data

Information provided by the Programme. Achievements were retrieved by Interact from the Programme website (https://www.seupb.eu/piv-overview), or a website directly linked from it, on 2021-11-17.

Languages

Contact Form

PRISM – Promoting Reconciliation & Integration through Safe Mediation

Description

Themes

Partners

Summary

Partners map

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Disclaimer