Choice Housing marked the end of Good Relations Week with a celebration of culture, diversity and inclusion with dance, music, and food during a mini-mela in the Castle Mall in Antrim.
The event, which welcomed 200 attendees brought together the world of dance and music, global cuisine, and amazing arts and crafts experiences for all the family. Partnering with Antrim Community Fridge, Castle Mall, C21 Theatre Company and Artsekta, the event was open to tenants from Choice Housing Shared Housing Developments – Fountain Hill well as partner organisations and community groups.
The event was supported by the Department for Communities (DfC) and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s ‘Housing for All’ Shared Housing Programme. The Programme has its origins in the NI Executive Together: Building a United Community Strategy which reflects the Executive’s commitment to improving community relations and continuing the journey towards a more united and shared society. A potential investment of £2.1M will be invested in the Fountain Hill, Antrim shared housing development and associated five-year Good Relations Plan.
Choice Housing plays a key role in the delivery of the ‘Housing for All programme’ – creating communities through diversity and inclusivity. With five shared housing schemes across Northern Ireland, Choice has demonstrated the impact these schemes can have for the benefits of the local communities. Focusing on the needs of the local community and using this to bring residents and communities together can bring significant benefits to the area and people’s lives.
On the day, food taster sessions, cultural dance displays and cultural arts and crafts were all on display.
Choice Housing’s Good Relations Officer, Mark Kent said,
“This has been another incredibly successful good relations week for Choice Housing, filled with events, activities and initiatives aimed at developing and sustaining healthy shared communities. It is important to highlight the impact these programmes are having on local communities and events like this Mini-mela here in Antrim is an opportunity to bring communities together and to celebrate our diversity whilst bringing local communities together.”
A key element of much of the good relations work carried out by Choice is identifying the challenges local communities are facing and using this to develop tailored projects that support these areas. This involves collaborating with partners and other organisations to deliver beneficial community relations.
