Aims of the workshop

1. To introduce the participants and staff to the Education Officer for the first time.
2. To create a safe, non threatening learning environment in which to create the theme of Community Relations.
3. To address the Community Relations themes that will be encountered through the forthcoming series of workshops between the partner schools.
4. To engage the participants in a series of short team-building exercises / co-operative ice breaking activities to give them a flavour of what to expect when they come to the Centre for the first workshop.
5. To give all pupils a chance to share and engage with each other in a lively dialogue.
6. To create the right environment for engagement between the participants and the Education Officer.

Objectives of the workshop

1. It is important to make pupils understand the definition of the term ‘Community Relations’ and how it is going to form the basis of the next series of meetings with the partner school.
2. To prepare pupils for the initial meeting with their counterparts in the partner school and discuss hopes / fears of the pupils involved.
3. To discuss anything arising from previous meetings with the partner school in previous years ie learning outcomes / friendships maintained / follow up exercises.

Learning outcomes of the workshop

By the end of the workshop participants should;

1. Be able to give a personal account of what they hope for from meeting with the partner school.
2. Have an understanding of some of the community relations terms addressed in the workshop.
3. Be able to identify most of the symbols presented in the lesson and be able to comment on how such symbols make them feel.
4. Be ready and enthusiastic to meet the partner school and commence the progressive programme with them.

Methodology of the workshop

1. Some co-operative activities with the group to get them used to and feel comfortable with the facilitator.
2. Discovery dig (lucky dip) style exercise where participants can extract objects / symbols from a large bag and a brief discussion can be had about each one. Some examples of objects chosen could be a celtic shirt / penny whistle / sash / rangers badge / shamrock / picture of the simpsons / picture of George Clooney / picture of Sandra Bullock / Manchester united shirt / picture of Marylin Manson etc etc
3. Introduction into the forthcoming sessions done by the Education Officer to prepare pupils for future meetings including the partner school.

Rationale of the workshop

For many school groups taking part in this workshop it will be their first encounter with the Saint Patrick Centre, and for some their first ever experience of Community Relations. The activities practiced with this group are light and fun. The aim of the activities in this workshop are to create a fun and safe learning environment where all participants feel comfortable enough to contribute freely to what is going on around them. It is also important to make teachers and pupils alike aware of what a community relations relationship entails, so that there are no shocks along the route! This can also filter back to families and especially parents. It is a relatively short workshop in comparison to the joint school sessions that can last up to four hours in total