Press Release

Shoppers to be asked: Are We There Yet?

Wednesday, 23 April

Shoppers at the Foyleside Shopping Centre will be encouraged to lend their support to the “Are We There Yet?” campaign, which was launched this week as part of Community Relations Week, which takes place during 26 April and 03 May.

Community Relations Week is an annual week co-ordinated by the NI Community Relations Council. A full programme of events are being organised across Northern Ireland, details of which are available on www.nicrc.org.uk .

There are over 30 events in the Derry City Council area as part of the celebrations. The Are We There Yet? Campaign was launched earlier this week at the Guildhall before moving to Foyleside Shopping Centre for Friday 25th and Saturday 26th April from 9.30 am to 5 pm in an effort to encourage public participation in making a postcard challenge to our politicians to work for a better and shared future for everyone.

Sue Divin explained the importance of public participation in the campaign and establishing the views and hopes of the people of the city. “We have come so far for peace but ‘Are We There Yet?’ is the question and challenge being posed to communities, the public and politicians. We are encouraging the public to challenge themselves to attend at least one event during community relations week to show their support for diversity and challenging sectarianism and racism in the local area. When we are in Foyleside, we will be encouraging people to write a postcard which will be presented to our politicians encouraging them to see the importance of taking practical actions and making positive policy decisions in the interests of promoting a Shared and Better Future for everyone,” she said.

Carol Stewart, also Community Relations Officer, added “Since devolution there have been huge changes and we are now faced with a unique opportunity to progress towards a peaceful and shared society. By taking our campaign to the local shopping centre we are offering the public the chance to put their message of hope and expectation for better shared future, to our politicians.”

Gerald McColgan, Community Services Programme Organiser stated that Derry City Council is delighted to support Community Relations Week which is in line with the Executive’s Programme for Government 2008-2011 and its aim to ‘implement a programme of cohesion and integration for a shared and better future.’ It is also in line with Section 75 Good Relations legislation and Derry City Council’s Good Relations Strategy. For further information contact the Community Relations Officers Sue Divin and Carol Stewart or Shared City Project Officer Jeanette Warke on tel: 02871345160

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