Mediation To Ease Belfast Tensions

Mediation training is being offered to community leaders and influencers in Belfast to help address tensions in local neighbourhoods.

Belfast City Council is working with TIDES training and consultancy and the Belfast Interface Project to deliver the free courses until the end of 2013.

The courses are aimed at helping address tensions and creating dialogue in areas which have experienced interface violence in the past.

The service will be offered in Ardoyne, upper Ardoyne and Woodvale, the village, St James and lower Falls, lower Ormeau, the holylands, Annadale and inner-east Belfast.

Councillor Steven Corr, chairman of the council's Health and Environmental Services Committee, said: "We already know that communication and dialogue are key when it comes to resolving conflict, particularly during times when tensions are high.

"We have all witnessed the difficulties that can arise through local tensions, and these courses are aimed at helping to people to feel prepared and empowered to work with communities to resolve tensions and disputes."

The training will focus on improving skills such as facilitation, communication and transformative mediation."

Councillor Corr added: "As we all work together towards a shared future, it's important that we support those who are already doing great work in our communities – often without pay or praise. These courses will hopefully give them some new ideas and pointers for dealing with conflict issues, and I'm confident it will be a valuable experience for all those who sign up."

The initiative is supported under the Belfast Peace III Plan 2011 – 2013 by the European Union's European Regional Development Fund.

(IT/CD)