The PRISM (Promoting Reconciliation & Integration through Safe Mediation) project brings together the British Red Cross (BRC), ArtsEkta, Corrymeela and the Irish Red Cross (IRC), supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in a historic partnership. The project has pan Ireland aspirations to create, sustain and better understand attitudinal change in a divided society and how to most effectively integrate communities. The specific results we are seeking in the delivery of this project: to reduce negative perceptions of the Catholic and Protestant cultures and increase the knowledge of ethnic minority communities; to develop sustainable pathways for Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Vulnerable Migrants and Catholics and Protestants to integrate within their local communities; to evolve new contact approaches to meet the needs of the changed demographics within N.I and the shifting patterns of identity and culture through increased migration. Activities to support the achievement of these results: Establishment of a research programme to test “contact theory” approaches with “anxious middle groups” from within the Catholic, Protestant and Refugee, Asylum Seeker and Vulnerable Migrant (RASVM) communities.This comprises baseline research to identify “anxious middle” participants, attitudinal change measurements of our mixed model activities in target locations, the collation of case examples and the delivery of cross-border control groups to provide comparative data in non-segregated communities.The research programme will culminate in the production of one robust multi-faceted research document. Implementation and measurement of bespoke 10 week attitudinal change activities in target locations, encompassing recruitment of “anxious middle” participants, delivery of desensitisation activities in a neutral setting, delivery of partnership contact activities supplemented with micro-financed projects at grassroots level. Dissemination of ‘contact’ learning and integrated pathways at local, regional and pan Ireland level, incorporating the showcasing of ‘contact’ stories in local media, dissemination of findings to Good Relations Units, community organisations and other key stakeholders, the delivery of an all-Ireland Conference to examine best practice in attitudinal change and strategic influencing through selected advocacy goals. Regional analysis allowed us to rank council areas in terms of geographic data i.e. appropriate population levels of RASVM, Catholic & Protestant communities for recruitment. Cross-border focus groups facilitated by the IRC will allow us to obtain meaningful comparative data between segregated and non-segregated communities. Within the strategic and policy context this project is committed to and reflective of Section 75 of the N.I. Act 1998.
