Deputy Mayor gives Ballymena welcome to Birmingham visitors
Thursday, 30 October 2008
Nigel Brookehouse, from Narthex-St John’s Sparkhill, signs the visitors’ book in the Mayor’s Parlour at Braid Town Hall. Looking on are ome of those who attended a Good Relations visit to Ballymena.
LAST week the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Declan O'Loan, MLA, officially welcomed a group of Black and Minority Ethnic visitors from Birmingham to the Braid Civic & Arts Centre as part of an initiative hosted through Ballymena Borough Council's Good Relations Unit.
The guests had an opportunity to view a variety of ethnic minority projects and initiatives, such as the 'Making History' Museum Project currently on display in the Braid. The visit also included introductions to representatives and agencies from Ballymena Inter-Ethnic Forum and Ballymena Inter Agency Ethnic Support Group.
This visit was part of an overall three-day visit to Northern Ireland, (facilitated by University of Ulster in partnership with the University of Birmingham and Muslim Youth Foundation) and looked at race and equality issues throughout Northern Ireland. The Birmingham delegates visited a number of diverse local Council programmes throughout the province and concluded their visit with a tour of Stormont and a hosted meeting with David Ford, MLA.
Speaking at Tuesday's event the Deputy Mayor stated "I am delighted to welcome these visitors to the Borough of Ballymena and showcase some of the good work and initiatives which have been developed through the model of Ballymena Inter Ethnic Forum and Ballymena Inter Agency Ethnic Support Group"
The Ethnic Minorities Project was established in Ballymena in 2002, having been identified through Ballymena Borough Council's Good Relations Strategy, and six years on the project has gone from strength to strength through its partnership with many agencies in the statutory, voluntary and private sectors. Today it is delivered through Ballymena Inter Ethnic Forum (BIEF) and continues to be based at Glendun Drive in the town.
