Cross-Border PEACE IV conference focuses on PEACE Plus

Over 60 representatives from PEACE IV Council funded programmes on both sides of the border met at the Waterfoot Hotel for a special networking event focusing on future PEACE PLUS opportunities.

The current PEACE IV EU funded programme runs until December 2020 and is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) with match-funding from The Executive Office NI. Conversations around PEACE PLUS are just beginning with SEUPB led consultation anticipated to begin in December 2019 and running into early 2020.

The event offered the opportunity to share learnings from the current PEACE IV programmes delivered through Derry City and Strabane and Donegal County Councils.

The conference also featured insightful guest speaker input from Dr. Martin McMullan and Paddy Boyd (YouthActionNI) and Claire Heaney-McKee, The Playhouse Theatre of Witness.

Peace IV Manager with Council, Sue Divin said the event had provided a useful forum for discussion. “We had some very positive feedback from the event, which presented some useful perspectives and prompted some really interesting conversations,” she explained. “Resources provided were useful in considering the best methods to start conversations about peace and the Troubles with young people who do not have significant information or education around it.”

The networking event showed a clear consensus that the EU PEACE IV funding in both council areas (£6.7 million alone in the Derry City and Strabane District Council Area) is making a significant difference to local community projects working to promote respect, shared space, understanding and reconciliation.

Organisations who attended the event discussed what combined messages they may have for the forthcoming PEACE PLUS consultation from both sides of the border and from across urban and rural perspectives.