Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Hosts Good Relations Week

The Ethnic Minority Support Centre along with Slieve Gullion and Newry District Electoral Area (DEA) Forums recently hosted two EU Citizen Registration Information events in Newry and Newtownhamilton.

The events, which were held in Newry Arts Centre on Monday 16 September and on Friday 20 September in Newtownhamilton, included practical workshops and presentations from Lumturi Podrimaj, Project Manager, Advice NI and Craigavon Inter-Cultural. An employment rights session was conducted by Polina Malcheva, Community Intercultural Programme(CIP).

The main purpose of the sessions was to provide information on how EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can remain in the UK after Brexit. Officers were on hand to help citizens who need to register with the Home Office in accordance with UK rules that require individuals and families to apply for pre-settlement or settlement status. This registration will need to carried out by 30 June 2021 if Brexit goes ahead, and by December 2020 in a no deal scenario.

The information sessions attracted more than 120 participants from the Romania and Bulgaria. Previous events in Newry and Kilkeel attracted those from the Polish, Lithuanian and Slovakian migrant communities living and working in the Newry, Mourne and Down district.

For further information please contact Artur Kmiecik, Ethnic Minority Support Officer 078 3740 6859, email: ethnicsupport@nmandd.org or Taucher McDonald, Slieve Gullion DEA Coordinator, 079 7368 6439, email: taucher.mcdonald@nmandd.org