Good Relations challenges sectarianism, racism, celebrates our rich cultural diversity and tries to find ways for us all to be able to live, work and socialise together without fear or mistrust.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is committed to promoting equality and good relations for everyone in the district. Equality, inclusivity and diversity are placed at the core of all of the Council’s services and actions, as it strives to work towards achieving a shared future for all. The Council delivers the Good Relations Programme as part of the N.I. Executive Offices’ wider ‘Together: Building a United Community (T:BUC)’ Strategy. It is funded jointly by the Executive Office and the Council. The key aims of the programme are to improve relations between and within District Council areas and to support local solutions to local good relations issues.

The Good Relations Programme works towards building relationships and working with all communities across the Fermanagh and Omagh area. The Good Relations Programme is based on the Together: Building a United Community Strategy.

Fermanagh & Omagh District Council Good Relations Strategy 2021 – 2026

Together: Building a United Community Strategy

The Strategy outlines how Government, community and individuals will work together to build a united community and achieve change against the following key priorities:

Children and Young People

Children and young people was regarded as the top priority in the Good Relations Audit survey. We run a number of programmes such as ‘The Our Place’ project which aims to increase awareness among local pupils of their shared heritage and shared past through an interactive townlands programme.

Our Shared Community

The Council strives to make our communities feel welcoming, safe, shared and inclusive. It organises a number of large scale public events that aim to create a sense of belonging across the district, encourage social interaction and create a sense of place ensuring that Council spaces feel shared and open to all. We work closely with faith based organisations who help contribute to shaping a peaceful, just and inclusive community through a wide and varied programme including public conferences and discussion events.

Our Safe Community

We work with a number of organisations such as PCSP to reduce the prevalence of hate crimes and intimidation locally and help ensure that the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area feels like a community where places and spaces are safe for all. We organise conferences on our shared history which facilitates conversation and allows recognition of the different perspectives of our past.

Our Cultural Expression

We deliver a range of initiatives including our Irish Language and Ulster Scots programme that help people to learn more about celebrating the rich variety of languages, cultures and traditions which now exist within the Fermanagh and Omagh district. We work with groups and organisations to support the positive expression of culture through training and capacity building.