Press Release

Tower Museum Staff Qualify in Community Relations

Thursday, 24 November 2005

Four members of Derry City Council’s museums staff have been awarded certificates in ‘Exploring Diversity: Facilitating Community Relations Work. It’s part of the overall training involved in developing a community relations and citizenship programme at the Tower Museum, which will be introduced in early 2006.

Four members of Derry City Council's museum staff (from right), James Coyle, Colum Lynch, Mal Campbell and Catherine McColgan, receiving certificates in 'Exploring Diversity, Facilitating Community Relations Work', from Michael Doherty, course tutor. The course is part of the overall training involved in developing a community relations and citizenship programme at the Tower Museum which will be introduced in early 2006. Included are Margaret Edwards (left), Education Officer with the Heritage and Museums Services and Sue Divin, Derry City Council's Community Relations Officer.

The Tower Museum, which reopened just over a month ago to welcome record numbers of visitors to the Armada Exhibition, is now fully equipped to deliver community relations and citizenship trails, discussions and workshops through the medium of history.

This latest ,OCN accredited training programme involved taking part in a series of in depth workshops which were facilitated by the Peace and Reconciliation Group (PRG) in Bishop Street. It marks the culmination of the City Council’s year-long commitment to museums staff training in community relations. .

Derry City Council’s Community Relations Officer, Sue Divin explained: “Behind the scenes Community Relations training of staff has been quietly ongoing over the last year during the museum’s temporary closure.”

“We hope that the new community relations and citizenship materials, which are currently being piloted, will be launched early in the New Year,” added Margaret Edwards, Education Officer with the Heritage and Museums Service.

A number of Derry City Council staff have taken up further opportunities to study OCN accredited Good Relations courses in addition to the Good Relations training provided within the Council.

Ends

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