Race chief appointed
by Victoria McMahon
In an attempt to turn the tide on the growing number of violent racist attacks in South Belfast a new race relations post has been created – understood to be the first of its kind in the North.
South Belfast currently holds the dubious distinction of having the highest number of attacks against ethnic minorities in the city, with a new high of 108 racist attacks being recorded during April 2004 to March this year. In response the Northern Ireland Office [NIO] has created for the first time the post of a Race Relations Co-ordinator for South Belfast. The new race chief, June Spindler, previously worked as a community manager in South Belfast and she beat off stiff competition to be appointed to the position.
Funding from the NIO and the South Belfast Partnership Board has been secured for the community post for the next two and a half years – until March 2008.
In her first interview since her appointment June Spindler told the South Belfast News: “I am looking forward to promoting the good race relations work that is already being done in various community projects throughout South Belfast.
“Recently I visited Morton Community Centre on the Lisburn Road and they are doing some great work there. There is a lot of positive work on the ground that I will being trying to build on,” she said.
Following the damning revelation that South Belfast tops the poll in the number of racist attacks, the district has been labelled and perceived as an unwelcoming part of the city for those from different ethnic backgrounds wishing to settle here.
It is a label the newly-appointed Race Relations Co-ordinator will be trying to remove.
Ms Spindler said she would be doing this through “grass roots community work and educating people who have lived in these areas all their lives that there is nothing to fear from culturally diverse neighbours.
“It is about changing this negative perception. I will be working with community leaders in their own areas to identify what resources are needed in these areas and then decide how we can go about attracting funding for projects that will bring the whole community together,” said Ms Spindler.
Journalist:: Victoria McMahon
