Research Email Briefing 32

Index

Recent Research

1. An Action Research report, recently launched called 'We don't feel as isolated as you might think...', was jointly managed by Relations Council (CRC), the Rural Community Network and development project Diversity Challenges looking at the experiences and attitudes of minority Catholic communities in counties Antrim and Down.
2. The Peace II 'Qualitative Assessment of the Economic Measures' has now been published. It looks at how Peace II addresses the legacy of the conflict and the opportunities arising from peace within the sector.

Seminars

1. DSD's Statistics and Research Branch is organising a seminar for non-government researchers and other interested parties about the Family Resources Survey, including its uses in monitoring household and child poverty.

Conference

1. The 11th NCVO and VSSN Researching the Voluntary Sector Conference. A broad range of research issues will be covered during the conference.

Research Register

1. The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland has an interest in conducting research on the full range of issues within its remit and wishes to update its current register of researchers.

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Recent Research

1. Research points to general self sufficiency and confidence in minority Catholic communities and the need for commitment to remove cause of fear.

An Action Research report, recently launched called 'We don't feel as isolated as you might think...', was jointly managed by Community Relations Council (CRC), the Rural Community Network and development project Diversity Challenges looking at the experiences and attitudes of minority Catholic communities in counties Antrim and Down.

The research found in spite of the fear from sectarian attacks by loyalist paramilitaries, the impact of raised tension around Twelth July and caution towards expressions of nationalist identity, a research report has found that in counties Antrim and Down, Catholic minority communities have developed a general degree of self sufficiency and confidence.

The 'We don't feel as isolated as you might think...' research is the second in a series of three, the first one looking at the experiences of minority Protestant communities living in the border areas of County Armagh, Down and Fermanagh. A third project is planned to look at the experiences of minority ethnic communities in rural Northern Ireland.

If you would like a copy of the report contact:

Rural Community Network
38a Oldtown Street, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone BT80 8EF
028 8676 6670
028 8676 6006
rcn@ruralcommunitynetwork.org
www.ruralcommunitynetwork.org

2. The Peace II 'Qualitative Assessment of the Economic Measures' research report has now been published. The EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (Peace II) is a unique EU funding programme which covers Northern Ireland and aims to reinforce progress towards a peaceful and stable society and promote reconciliation. The report specifies the purpose of Peace II, looks at case studies and also makes recommendations. Additionally it assesses the qualitative impact of the economic measures on the programme specific objectives. These objectives included:

1. address thelegacy of the conflict
2. take opportunities arising from peace.

The programme is structured around five main points, including economic renewal, social integration: inclusion and reconciliation, locally based regeneration and development strategies, outward and forward looking region, and cross border cooperation.

The Managing Authority for Peace II is the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), a cross border body established under the Good Friday Agreement. The programme is implemented by various bodies including government departments, non-governmental organisations known as Intermediary Funding Bodies (IFBs), Local Strategy Partnerships (LSPs) and council led taskforces.

For further information please contact:

EU House. 6 Cromac Place, Belfast BT7 2JB
028 9026 6660
028 9026 6661
www.seupb.org

Seminars

DSD's Statistics and Research Branch is organising a seminar for non-government researchers and other interested parties about the Family Resources Survey, including its uses in monitoring household and child poverty. The main speakers will be Steve Ellerd-Elliott, Simon Lunn and Jennie Van Den Berg, government statisticians working in this area in Great Britain. The seminar will be on the afternoon of Tuesday 21 June in Belfast, and anyone interested in attending should contact Pauline Ryan ( 028 9052 2767, 028 9052 2763; Pauline.ryan@dsdni.gov.uk for further details.

Conference

11th NCVO and VSSN Researching the Voluntary Sector Conference.

The NCVO and VSSN are holding this year's Researching the Voluntary Sector Conference at the University of Warwick on 31 August and 1 September. The conference is a unique meeting place for both researchers and users of research to discuss current research and its implications for the voluntary and community sector.

The conference will cover a broad range of research issues, including Infrastructure/ Research Methods/ Volunteers/ Giving/ State Sector Relations/ Sector Burdens/ Active Citizens/ Localism "governance"/ User/feedback evaluation/ Community/ Reflexivity and jazz innovation/ Quality and impact/ Shape of the sector/ Participation.

Like last year, the NCVO and VSSN will be also running a special session for new researchers in conjunction with our colleagues at the Institute for Volunteering Research (IVR). The session is aimed at those who are relatively new to the field of voluntary sector research and is an opportunity to meet, discuss research and share ideas. If you would like to deliver a short presentation at this session either on a research topic, a methodological approach, or your experiences of carrying out research, please send a 200-400 word abstract to Angela Ellis at IVR ( angela.ellis@volunteeringengland.org) by Friday 27 May 2005.

If you have any questions about the conference, or would like to see a copy of the programme, please research@ncvo-vol.org.uk. If you would like to book a place on this conference please visit the website below to download a booking form.

Research Register

The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland has an interest in conducting research on the full range of issues within its remit and wishes to update its current register of researchers.

The register will be utilised to inform potential contractors of opportunities to tender for a wide range of corporate and equality focused research projects.

For further details and a registration form, please contact Michelle Wilson on 028 9050 0630 or visit www.equalityni.org

Thanks to everyone who sent information that has been included within NICVA Research Update 32. Please remember to send information about research that you have undertaken and requests for information that you would like included in the next update. Also remember to let others know about NICVA Research Updates. To register send an email entitled 'NICVA Research Updates' to andrea.burke@nicva.org