Appendix 4: Relevant findings from RIBA 1 public consultation
Summary of consultation activity
Survey
The public consultation survey asked:
- What might stop you from enjoying Belfast Stories?
- Have we identified the right people for the equity steering group?
- Are there any other groups of people at risk of missing out?
- How else can we engage with people at risk of missing out?
- Is the story collection framework a good foundation for gathering stories?
- What might stop you telling your story?
- What support might people in your community or organisation need to share their stories?
- Questions specific to the EQIAFootnote Twenty-nine
In total, 127 survey responses were received from the following demographic groups:
- 85.8 per cent of respondents were aged 25 to 64.
- 60.0 per cent of respondents were female and 38.9 per cent male.
- 34.1 per cent of respondents have caring responsibilities including 20 per cent with responsibility for caring for an older person or disabled person.
- 78.6 per cent of respondents identified as straight (heterosexual) and 21.4 per cent identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual or other (“queer”).
- 12.8 per cent of respondents indicated that they had a long-term health condition or disability that limits their day-to-day activity.
- 29.6 per cent of survey respondents identified as belonging to the Catholic community; 27.2 per cent identified as from the Protestant community; and 43.2 per cent identified as belonging to neither community.
- 97.7 per cent of respondents identified as white, and 2.3 per cent identified as other including from a mixed ethnic background.
Equity Steering Group
In August 2022, an equity steering group was set up comprising 10 experts by experience including people from Black, Asian, Middle Eastern, inner city, working class and LGBTQ+ backgrounds; older and younger people; disabled and neurodiverse people; and people with caring responsibilities. The group met four times during the public consultation.
Other Engagement around equality, diversity and inclusion
A further 16 workshops were facilitated with people and groups who are generally less heard or more at risk of missing out. These were attended by 136 people (9 on average).
Ten one-to-one meetings were also held with organisations representing or advocating for people and groups at risk of missing out.
Engagement with the general public
Belfast City Council facilitated four public meetings across the city. Information boards were displayed at Clifton House, Girdwood Community Hub, Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre, Crescent Arts Centre, Ulster University, Spectrum Centre, EastSide Visitor Centre and the James Connolly Visitor Centre.
In August 2022, Belfast City Council appointed thrive, the audience development agency for NI, and Daisy Chain Inc, a creative consultancy, to help raise awareness and build excitement including through on-street interviews, events and workshops and pop-up consultation hubs in central and surrounding locations. They engaged a total of 683 participants.
Relevant findingsFootnote thirty
Building the excitement
There was remarkable excitement about the concept of Belfast Stories. For example, in survey responses, 81.6 per cent of survey respondents said they were excited about Belfast Stories, with 43.2 per cent saying they felt “very” excited.
Reasons people felt excited included:
- looking forward to the regeneration of the area
- recognition of an opportunity to change the usual negative, narrow or “us and them” narrative of Belfast
- a potential boost to pride at both civic and individual level
Among participants who were unsure about the concept, concerns included:
- Not knowing enough about it.
- Timescales: it was too far in the future to be of interest.
- There was suspicion about the political narrative, specifically that the centre would “just” tell the usual “us and them” narrative or, for some people, concerns that it would just tell the story of “them”.
- There were also concerns about authenticity, which qualified a lot of opinions, including those who were otherwise excited for Belfast Stories.
Among those who were not excited or disagreed strongly with the concept, the main concern was that the investment would be better spent elsewhere or is diverting funding from other priorities, such as preserving other heritage buildings.
Barriers that would stop people enjoying Belfast Stories
The survey asked, “What might stop you taking part in Belfast Stories?”. Eighty-seven responses were received. Most related to the participating in the story collection process, rather than visiting the physical building.
Eighteen responses related to a perceived or potential lack of inclusivity. This included people who felt that their culture would not be welcome and people living outside Belfast, who were unsure whether they were included in Belfast Stories.
However, among the 12 responses that were unconvinced by the concept of Belfast Stories, there were concerns that there is too much emphasis on equality or particular equality groups.
Eight responses also indicated concern that the content would be politically partisan.
Twelve responses related to access including the location of the building (getting there and perceptions of safety), cost and lack of adjustments.
The building
Across all engagement strands, barriers identified that would stop people accessing the building included:
- Cost.
- “Not for the likes of us”. Some consultees felt that the building might not be welcoming. Consultees reinforced the importance of staff training and skills to create a warm welcome.
- Lack of activity for children, families and young people.
- Safety and fear of anti-social behaviour. This was a greater issue for older people and disabled people, particularly when combined with lack of transport which increases the risk of people being left alone and at night. People from minoritized ethnic communities and the LGBTQ+ community also described being subject to racist and homophobic abuse in the approach to the building.
- Transport. This was a major concern, particularly among older people, disabled people, minoritized ethnic communities, carers and people living in working class areas. Concerns included lack of parking spaces and accessible parking and cost of parking. There was also felt to be poor public transport links and a scarcity of taxis, both of which are worse at night, further hindering the evening economy. Consultees would welcome a free shuttle bus down Royal Avenue and better transport links, particularly at night and to rural areas.
- Building design. This was of particular concern to older people, neurodiverse people and disabled people.
The exhibition
Barriers identified across all engagement strands that might stop people enjoying the exhibition included:
- Cost.
- Lack of interest or relevance.
- Different language and literacy abilities including for children and newcomer, Roma and d/Deaf communities
- Triggering content, including stories that could traumatise or retraumatise, flashing images and loud noises
- Lack of outreach. This would extend the engagement approach after the building has opened to ensure people and groups more at risk of missing out have the opportunity to take part.
- Marketing that is not inclusive of diverse communities
Barriers that would stop people telling their stories
The survey asked, “What might stop you telling your story?”. Responses broadly mirrored the responses to the “What would stop you taking part in Belfast Stories?” question. In practice, during workshops and other in-person engagement, the vast majority of people were very willing to tell their stories.
The use of trusted intermediaries and peers is likely to be particularly important for vulnerable or marginalized groups.
One person felt that people collecting the stories should be local people. Another felt that collectors should be “of” the community stories are being collected from (so, for example, someone with Irish language should collect stories from the Irish language community). Another felt that the stories should be interpreted by Belfast people. Overall, “It shouldn’t be two white men”.
Those who have sensitive or traumatic stories, such as victims and survivors, may prefer individualised storytelling, and there was concern about the potential for storytelling to retraumatise.
There was also concern that the collection process could be difficult or cumbersome, particularly for those with different literacy or memory loss.
People at particular risk of missing out
The role of the community and voluntary sector as trusted intermediaries to engage people, was emphasised throughout the consultation. This included the sector in its widest sense including community centres, residents associations, sports clubs, historical societies, interest groups and arts organisations. Consultees also emphasised a need to go to where people and communities are, rather than expect them to come to a consultation or event, and several organisations volunteered their service.
Responses in relation to the Irish language
Belfast City Council hosted an Irish language consultation session, which was attended by 19 representatives. There were also three written submissions on behalf of the Irish language sector.
Consultees “warmly welcome[d]” Belfast Stories and were “hugely encouraged by the commitment to include diverse stories representing the different identities and people that make up our wonderful city”. However, there were concerns that “the Irish language community have been, so far, completely omitted from the Belfast Stories concept […] in breach of international and domestic treaty rights and […] contradicting the council’s own Language Strategy”.
As well as welcoming the Irish language community, such an approach could also help good relations by “normalising the language [as] research has consistently shown increased visibility leads to increased tolerance and understanding”.
While there was recognition of Irish as a native minority language that should not be categorised with other minority groups, it was also suggested that there should be “members of the Irish language community on the project’s equity steering group, given that all other minority groups across the city are represented.”
Other suggestions from the Irish language sector included:
- the Irish language is woven throughout the Belfast Stories themes, including celebration, diversity, education and the story of the language itself.
- there should be bilingual resources throughout Belfast Stories including external and internal signage, exhibitions, marketing and other materials.
- the council develop and implement a language screening assessment for all new council policies, practices and projects.
Responses in relation to Ulster Scots
A meeting was held with the Ulster Scots Agency, and other interest groups also participated in a consultation workshop.
The opportunity to foster further understanding the cultural identity of Ulster Scots was broadly welcomed. It was felt that this should include stories of the language, of “celebrated” and “lesser known” individuals, of industrial heritage and diaspora and international connections.
In general throughout the public consultation, there was concern that there could be an imbalance or bias in content and presentation. One consultee also welcomed further reflection of other Ulster identities and ancestries (for example, Anglo-Ulster, Franco and Italianate).
