It can be nerve-wracking starting out on any community work, especially trying to build bridges in a divided community.

Many specific concerns, about kinds of activities, suitable days and catering can be addressed in planning with young people once the initial project process has been started. However the following are just a few things to consider before you get going, dont let it put you off though as there are lots of Ideas for activities and processes on the rest of the website!

Time/Purpose

• Is it possible for the young people to build lasting friendships? One-off contacts between groups, whilst worthwhile in themselves, may do little to address underlying divisions or tensions across communities.
• It is relatively easy to break down initial fear of the other and make superficial friendships, but it takes far longer and is more challenging to create a genuine trust and understanding between young people.

Recruitment

• How will you get young people involved in the project? Are there any gate-keeping issues with adult leaders? Will you have to plan time for getting 'buy in' from local leaders?
• What are the barriers to young people taking part? Can these be overcome? How?
• Are the faith groups that will be brought together 'balanced' i.e. are there roughly the same number of participants from each group?
• Who is leading the project? Divided community projects need to be equal partnerships or be run by a neutral body.

Conflict

• Is there potential for increasing the conflict between groups? How can you ensure positive experiences or manage negative ones?
• Have there been any specific incidents which will impact on the work, e.g. anti-social behaviour, gang rivalries etc. Is it worth using experts in mediation or conflict resolution for initial sessions?
• What is the nature of the divide? Do the young people meet at school but not anywhere else? Or are their lives such that they never meet? This will affect the amount of time you will need to spend on initial ice-breakers and introductory sessions.
• What are the local dimensions to the divide? Will you be able to find good neutral spaces for initial work?

Much of this can be addressed through working in partnership with community members and the young people youll be working with. Taking the time to build trust with faith and community leaders and establish common working goals and ethos is essential to the success of any 'bridging' project.