Social Policy in a Divided Community: Reflections on the Opsahl Report on the Future of Northern Ireland

1994 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Lister
Keyword(s):  
Social Policy ◽  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Young People ◽  
Community Development ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Voluntary Sector ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
The Future ◽  
Oral Evidence

This paper offers an account of some of the written and oral evidence presented to the Opsahl Commission established to enquire into possible ways forward for Northern Ireland. It examines issues about social policy raised by the contributors to the Commission, in particular in the areas of poverty and exclusion, children and young people, the role of women, community development and the voluntary sector, and the position of minority groups. Lastly, it relates these crucial aspects of social policy to concepts of citizenship in the context of the future for Northern Ireland.

“If They Don’t Start Listening to Us, the Future Is Going to Look the Same as the Past”: Young People and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and Bosnia and Herzegovina

2010 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 509-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clare Magill ◽  
Brandon Hamber
Keyword(s):  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Young People ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Bosnia And Herzegovina ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Future ◽  
Major Factors ◽  
Reconciliation Process

This article, based on empirical research from Northern Ireland and Bosnia and Herzegovina, explores how young people conceptualize reconciliation and examines the meaning this concept holds for them. Qualitative data are collected through one-to-one interviews with young people aged 16 to 18 living in Northern Ireland ( N = 15) and Bosnia and Herzegovina ( N = 15). Results indicate that young people’s conceptualizations of reconciliation are largely relationship based. In terms of their role in the reconciliation process, young people see themselves as both potential peacemakers and potential troublemakers. They feel that politicians and the older generations have a significant impact on whether the role of young people in the future would be constructive or destructive. The research finds that a lack of political and economic change was one of the major factors that negatively influenced the potential for reconciliation, as did the lack of intergenerational dialogue. The research also indicates that it is vital to include young people in the debate about reconciliation.

scholarly journals Holiday Club Programmes in Northern Ireland: The Voices of Children and Young People

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 1337
Author(s):  
Jackie Shinwell ◽  
Ellen Finlay ◽  
Caitlin Allen ◽  
Margaret Anne Defeyter
Keyword(s):  
Northern Ireland ◽  
Young People ◽  
School Children ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
High Level

In Northern Ireland, nearly 30% of children are thought to be at risk of going hungry in the summer holidays when they are unable to access free school meals. Community groups, voluntary groups, local authorities, and faith groups have responded to this concern by developing and delivering holiday programmes that enable children from low-income families to take part in activities and access food. The current study used purposive sampling to investigate children’s and young people’s views of holiday provision, from across three holiday clubs, in Northern Ireland. Both primary school children (n = 34; aged 4–11) and secondary school children (n = 31; aged 12–17) showed high levels of awareness of poverty and food insecurity and associated pressures and stresses on households. Importantly, children and young people did not feel stigmatised about attending holiday provision, suggesting a positive and inclusive culture towards holiday club attendance. Children reported that they enjoyed the range of activities provided at holiday clubs and reported that attendance improved their self-confidence, especially for some older children, who acted as peer mentors to younger attendees, helped them to develop new skills, and provided them with opportunities to socialise with peers in a safe environment, out with their normal social groupings in school. Older children showed a high level of shrewdness and knowledge of sectarian divides in communities but spoke positively about how different religious or cultural backgrounds did not matter in terms of meeting and making new friends in holiday club settings. In terms of food provision, the findings of this study suggest that further work needs to be done to support children to access and eat healthy, nutritious food.

scholarly journals Participation and the role of Public Space

2008 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Gabriel Copeland
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Young People ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Legal System ◽  
Children And Young People ◽  
Civic Society ◽  
Broad Definition ◽  
The Many ◽  
Definition Of

This article examines participatory rights as human rights and considers their importance to the lives of children and young people. It argues that a broad definition of participation needs to be used which takes us from 'round tables' to understanding that young people participate in many different ways. It points out that failure to recognise and respect the many varied ways that children and young people choose to participate results in a breach of their human rights. It shows how our socio-legal system operates to permit and support these breaches of the rights of children and young people, resulting in their alienation from civic society.

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