A Sense of Belonging: A Racial Equality Strategy For Northern Ireland

Consultation at Ulster University on behalf of the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister hosted by the Institute for Research in the Social Sciences (IRiSS)

On Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2014, a consultation on behalf of OFMDFM’s Racial Equality Unit for the new draft Racial Equality Strategy for Northern Ireland was hosted by the Institute for Research in the Social Sciences (IRiSS). This involved staff and student representatives from across Ulster University who contributed to the consultation by engaging in discussions structured around three specific themes identified in the strategy document:

1) Barriers to equality
2) A sense of belonging
3) Right strategy, Right direction

The outcomes of intense group discussions were audio recorded and presented to the OFMDFM team. Ken Fraser, Head, Racial Equality Unit, OFMDFM, at the end of the day’s event reported, “Today, at the end of several months of public consultation, the enormously valuable contribution of Ulster University staff and students has reinvigorated my enthusiasm for the potential of the new Racial Equality Strategy for Northern Ireland.”