Central Community Relations Unit

The CCRU was established in 1987 to advise the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and the British Government, on community relations in Northern Ireland and also to co-ordinate efforts at improving relations between the communities. In 2000 the CCRU was renamed the Community Relations Unit (CRU) and it became part of the Equality Unit of the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. Between 1987 and 2000 the CCRU was a part of the Central Secretariat of the Northern Ireland Civil Service. CCRU had three main aims: firstly to ensure that everyone in Northern Ireland has equality of opportunity and equality of treatment; secondly to increase cross-community contact and co-operation; and thirdly to encourage mutual understanding and respect for different cultures and traditions in Northern Ireland. An important role of the CCRU was to ensure that the various government departments took account of community relations, equality and equity dimensions in all policy formation. Under the Community Relations Programme the CCRU supported: the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council (CRC); the District Council Community Relations Programme which included the Community Relations Officers initiative in the 26 district councils of the region; reconciliation bodies; cultural traditions groups; and the provision of community based facilities open to both sides of the community. The CCRU was also responsible for a number of initiatives including: Targeting Social Need (TSN); reviews of the Fair Employment (NI) Act 1989; Policy Appraisal and Fair Treatment (PAFT); government response to race relations in Northern Ireland; and policy developments in relation to minority languages. The CCRU also funded academic research into aspects of community relations and the conflict. Most of this research was carried out by academics in Northern Ireland.