Chat to the other side over a cuppa initiative

Are you interested in a unique opportunity to chat with people with different views and backgrounds over a cuppa?

Given the local skill base and interest in 'A good old chat,' Derry City Council has teamed up with two other councils (Strabane and Omagh) to bring a 'Caf Culture' event to the North West.

The informal, interactive conference will be held on June 23rd in the Silverbirch Hotel, Omagh.

The conference is free and transport will be provided if required.

The Caf Culture event has been designed to stimulate conversations among people from diverse backgrounds on a range of issues, which are pertinent to the promotion of good community relations.

In other words – it's a chance to ask questions you never dared ask through political correctness and fear of offending!

Topics out in the open for discussion will include The Apprentice Boys of Derry; Travellers; GAA; ex-combattants; former political prisoners; victims / survivors; migrant workers; sexual orientation; world faiths; and policing.

Derry City Council's Community Relations Officer, Angela Askin, said: "It's a chance to chat about difference and find out about diversity.

Conversations will take place in a caf style environment with the purpose of creating a positive and informal space to hear from individuals representing a variety of viewpoints, beliefs and orientations, having the opportunity to hear from and engage with individuals we might not normally have the opportunity to do."

"This event may also provide informal networking opportunities to meet people working in community and voluntary sector groups in the Strabane and Omagh areas – always useful with Peace III phase 2 funding coming up!"

Mayor, Colum Eastwood, said: "Creative and innovative approaches to helping our communities to learn about equality, diversity and inclusion are vitally important here.

"We have a very diverse population – and the more we understand it and can celebrate it together, the better!

"This is a great event which will undoubtedly attract many individuals from many different backgrounds."

The conference will run from 9.45am – 3.30pm on Wednesday 23rd June. It is a free event and includes lunch.

Transport can also be provided for anyone that needs it if they say at the time of booking. Places are open to anyone interested (Please note there may be a limited of 5 per community group if the conference is over-subscribed).

The September 2009 Caf Culture event in the city was a great success and booked up fast, so people are advised to book as soon as possible.

To book a place or for more information about this event contact the Community Relations Officers on tel: 028 7134 5160 or e-mail: [email protected]

The conference is part of Derry City Council's Good Relations Strategy and is funded through the District Council's Community Relations Programme (CRU, OFMDFM