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Community relations is generally defined as
being based on three key principles which are inextricably
linked to each other.
These three key principles are diversity, interdependence
and equity. According to this broad definition, community
relations work means: promoting recognition, respect and tolerance
for the variety of different communities within Northern Ireland's
society; ensuring equality of opportunity and equality of
access to resources, services and decision-making; and developing
a cohesive society in which different interest or identity
groupings recognise their obligations and commitments to one
another.
Community relations work is perhaps, above all else, something
that people have felt driven to do throughout Northern Ireland's
history.
There are countless stories of individuals acting to develop
positive relationships between the Protestant and Catholic
communities. Beyond the individual however, there are a large
number of community-based groups involved in community relations
work in Northern Ireland.
These groups vary in the issues they seek to address, the
type of work they carry out and whom they target.
The Orange Order has a massive role to play in ensuring that
the best interests of its members are respected and that the
cultural traditions of the organisation are protected.
However, the Orange Order is indeed the largest community
based group in Northern Ireland and if we are to be respected
in the same way as other cultures are, then we as an organisation
need to be in a position where we are able to provide the
necessary resources to a variety of groups across the province.
As part of the community education programme, the Orange
Order meets with Community Relations or Good Relations Officers
(CRO's/GRO's) representing various district councils.
This is an important part of the work, as a large percentage
of the Orange Order's activities impinge upon the overall
work of these council officials and therefore it is essential
that we maintain as much contact where possible with these
folk in an attempt to provide information and indeed the opportunity
to listen to misunderstandings in the community.
Relationships with the CRO's & GRO's is very much improving
over the last three years as prior to the community education
programme no contact was made with these key individuals.
Representatives of the Orange Order meet with CRO's &
GRO' on an annual basis and the Community Education Officer
would meet with them regularly on a one to one basis and at
organised events throughout Northern Ireland.
It is important that the level of contact is maintained to
ensure that we can provide assistance where necessary.
The Northern Ireland Life & Times Survey records the
attitudes, values and beliefs of people in Northern Ireland.
It therefore provides a variety of indicators of the current
state of community relations in Northern Ireland. Results
suggest that people generally feel that relations between
the Protestant and Catholic communities are improving. In
2003, for example, 49 per cent of Catholics and 42 per cent
of Protestants felt that relations between Protestants and
Catholics were better than they were 5 years ago.
Figures further suggest that there has been a gradual increase
in the number of people who feel that community relations
are better than they were in the past.
As an organisation we can only hope that this trend continues
as we actively go out into the community in a very positive
way with the real message of what orangeism is all about rather
than relying on others to tell the story of Orangeism for
us.
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