The Civic Initiative is a new participatory structure set up in partnership with a wide-range of civic society organisations to give voice to people and communities on the issues that matter.

 

The Initiative is currently actioning a people-led examination of key socioeconomic rights under the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement including housing, healthcare, education, human rights, rural access, political institutions, poverty and cultural issues. This examination is in four stages:

 

Stage 1: Regional Forums and workshops across Northern Ireland and border areas

Stage 2: Submissions from experts and wider society

Stage 3: A large-scale People’s Forum of 100 randomly selected citizens

Stage 4: Recommendations from citizens

 

Are you passionate about social justice? About your community? Would you like to share your views and experience of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement? Of Healthcare? Education? The Civic Initiative wants to hear from you. Register for one of our regional People’s Forums below – participants from border counties in the Republic of Ireland are also encouraged to register. The Civic Initiative can provide travel reimbursement.

Dungannon, March 16^th, 9.30am: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/civic-initiative-dungannon-peoples-forum-tickets-820172476957

 

Magherafelt, March 19^th, 9.30am: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/civic-initiative-mid-ulster-peoples-forum-tickets-814200645047

 

Civic Initiative Diversity Forum, March 21^st, 5.30pm: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/civic-initiative-diversity-forum-tickets-828254480447

 

Cross Border Forum Monaghan, March 23^rd, 9.30am: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/civic-initiative-cross-border-peoples-forum-monaghan-tickets-820198895977

 

South Belfast Forum, March 25^th, 9.30am: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/civic-initiative-south-belfast-peoples-forum-tickets-841404773327

 

West Belfast Forum, March 27^th, 5.30pm: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/civic-initiative-west-belfast-peoples-forum-tickets-845807963387

 

Co Antrim People’s Forum, April 5^th, 9.30am: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/civic-initiative-co-antrim-peoples-forum-tickets-808313817387

 

Coleraine People’s Forum, April 8^th, 9.30am: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/civic-initiative-northern-peoples-forum-tickets-845810099777

 

Online Disability Forum, April 16^th, 5.30pm: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/civic-initiative-disability-forum-tickets-855320064337?aff=oddtdtcreator

 

Online Cross Border People’s Forum, April 18^th, 10am: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/civic-initiative-cross-border-online-forum-tickets-855321157607

 

Online People’s Forum, April 23^rd, 6pm: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/civic-initiative-online-peoples-forum-tickets-855321749377?aff=oddtdtcreator

For more information on the topics and themes being discussed check out these videos from key experts below. There are 8 videos on key themes including poverty, human rights, education, healthcare, housing, culture, political institutions and rural access, and the videos can be accessed by clicking the top right corner.

 

The Civic Initiative is funded by the International Fund for Ireland.

 

The Initiative oversight committee includes the following members; Corrymeela, Disability Action NI, Women’s Resource and Development Agency, Community Foundation Northern Ireland, Youth Action Northern Ireland, Here NI, Migrant Centre Northern Ireland, Craicni, NICVA, North West Cultural Partnership, activist Tara Grace Connolly, and former Northern Ireland Human Rights Chief Commissioner Les Allamby as the independent chair.

 

The project is managed by Emma DeSouza, former Chair and Facilitator of the All-island Women’s Forum, with admin support provided by Disability Action, and core facilitators Danielle Roberts, and Jim O’Neill.