More than 3,400 people to benefit from community-driven projects promoting connection and inclusion
British Council, in partnership with Politics in Action (Northern Ireland), Create (Ireland), Arts Council of Northern Ireland, and Arts Council Ireland, has launched CONNECT, a transformative four-year PEACEPLUS project to help people connect, appreciate different perspectives, and encourage stronger community ties across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.
The CONNECT project, supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), offers people across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland exciting opportunities to get involved in ways that matter to them.
Whether it is joining leadership training, taking part in themed workshops to tackle the challenges in their communities, contributing to the delivery of community projects, or helping shape festivals and media activities, CONNECT participants will learn new skills, take on new challenges, and help make their communities stronger and more connected.
The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, and Minister of State with Responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Jerry Buttimer TD, welcomed the announcement.
Minister Calleary said: "I would like to express my profound gratitude to everyone who helped the CONNECT project advance. The fact that my Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, in collaboration with the Special EU Programmes Body and the Executive Office in Northern Ireland, will continue to support this outstanding project gives me great pleasure.”
Minister Buttimer added: “By providing this critical funding, the project will build strong, resilient relationships between diverse communities across Northern Ireland and Ireland. Additionally, it will create opportunities for people to participate, learn, and cooperate with each other.”
First Minister Michelle O’Neill said: “The Executive Office is proud to support CONNECT. Building new understandings and new relationships is key to empowering all communities to engage with the opportunity of building an inclusive, respectful and shared future.
“Creativity, collaboration and shared experiences have the power to build trust, confidence and lasting connection. CONNECT embodies that spirit. Thank you to all the project partners for your commitment to building a shared future and lasting peace.”
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said: “The CONNECT project will provide opportunities for over 3,000 people from different backgrounds to engage in activities that will create meaningful connections.
“Through community events, training opportunities and promoting media literacy, the project will help build foundations for a more inclusive society. I want to wish the British Council and all its partners every success for the delivery of the project and I look forward to seeing the positive outcomes it will bring.”
SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre said: “At the heart of CONNECT is the belief that stronger relationships can be built when people have opportunities to learn together, create together and share their experiences. It aims to support peaceful coexistence and encourage more connected and confident communities. They also create opportunities for people from different backgrounds to meet and work together, which is central to the aims of PEACEPLUS.
“The focus of the Building Positive Relations investment area of PEACEPLUS is on groups and communities that have often been marginalised. It supports interventions that encourage discussion, deepen understanding and help rebuild trust.”
HMA Kara Owen CMG CVO, British Ambassador to Ireland, said: “It is a pleasure to be in Monaghan today for the launch of the PEACEPLUS CONNECT project. Meeting the individuals and organisations who have worked so hard to shape this initiative has been wonderful. This project supports communities in stepping across any boundaries they may feel to help them develop genuine understanding. Such connections are essential. The PEACEPLUS programme is ultimately about people — their relationships, their aspirations, and their capacity to build a shared future. The Embassy is proud to support work that brings communities closer together, and I look forward to seeing the ideas, energy and partnerships that will develop through this project.”
British Council Deputy CEO, Kate Ewart-Biggs OBE said: “I am excited that over the next four years, 3,400 people will take part in CONNECT activities, ranging from regional events to community-led initiatives rooted in local priorities. To achieve this CONNECT will work with grassroots community groups and local festivals across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland and bring people together from different cultural, ethnic and political backgrounds, including those whose voices are often missing from public debate. This valuable and impactful project aligns closely with the British Council’s core values of inclusion, collaboration and fostering understanding and respect. The CONNECT project will achieve this through capacity-building, skills generation and supporting local ideas - creating spaces for dialogue that strengthen communities and foster lasting connections - contributing to a more resilient and peaceful society.”
CONNECT will focus on three areas:
Communities CONNECT - Led by Politics in Action, this community leadership programme will address 21st century challenges such as climate change, gender inequality, unemployment, alienation and the legacy of conflict.
Festivals CONNECT – Led by Create, this programme will strengthen local festivals and cultural initiatives, using participatory approaches to encourage inclusive community engagement.
Media CONNECT – Led by the British Council, this programme will connect the community and festival work through practical training, media and storytelling activities. It includes workshops for journalists, digital creators, students, community members and festival or community group representatives, helping them use media in ways that promote better understanding and positive social change.
For more information on CONNECT visit: https://nireland.britishcouncil.org/peaceplus-connect