North West Black and Minority Ethnic Forum hold
'Self Protection Training'
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Local Black and Minority Ethnic groups from across Derry City and Strabane District undertook training in self protection. The training which provided helpful tips for protecting yourself at home and whilst out and about was delivered free of charge by John McCartney, Director of Conservation and Protection at the Loughs Agency. The twenty participants who took part also received their own personal alarm, donated by the Council’s Policing and Community Safety Partnership.
Speaking after the training one of the participants expressed their gratitude to the Loughs Agency, PCSP and Council Good Relations Team,
‘I am really grateful to have been given the opportunity to take part in this training. As a member of an ethnic community living here in Northern Ireland there are times when I have felt unsafe, especially when I hear about attacks on ethnic minorities in other parts of the region. I now have more confidence to overcome that fear at home and when I am out.’
The North West BME Forum is facilitated by Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Good Relations Department. It was established in December 2013 as a collective of over 20 Black and Minority Ethnic Groups across Derry City and Strabane District. The group’s mission is to be a ‘Voice for Equality and Diversity’ and its main aim is to build the capacity of the BME sector and to challenge racism by building positive relationships between different ethnic communities themselves and between ethnic communities and others.
If you are interested in the work of the Forum or in becoming a member please contact:-
Council's Good Relations Department 02871253253
Derry City and Strabane District Council PCSP manager Dermot Harrigan pictured with Agnieszka Luczak from the Migrant Centre NI who received personal attack alarms from the PCSP during a Good Relations Self Protection training event at the Loughs Agency. Picture Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com. 22.09.15