Derry hosts major PEACEPLUS Community Leadership conference

PICTURED ABOVE: Mayor Councillor Ruairi McHugh pictured with, from left, Sue Divin, Programme Manager,, PeacePlus, Derry City and Strabane District Council, Sara Duddy, Holywell Trust, Programme Manager, Fiona Lafferty, Project Officer, PeacePlus, DCSDC, Chris Kerr, St. Columb's Park House, Fiona Umetsu, Women's Centre Derry and Gerard Deane, Director Holywell Trust. (Photo: Martin McKeown)

Over 60 representatives from a broad range of community and voluntary organisations came together in the Holywell Trust on Thursday, March 19 for a conference focused on Building Community Leadership in Peacebuilding.

The event in Derry, delivered as part of the Council’s Co-Designed PEACEPLUS Action Plan and supported by PEACEPLUS (a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body – SEUPB), provided an opportunity to strengthen networks and explore practical approaches to peacebuilding across the region.

Welcoming attendees, the Mayor, Councillor Ruairí McHugh, said: “It is a priority for Council that the £8 million PEACEPLUS local programme delivers strategic impact by supporting peer learning and developing key skills in facilitation, dialogue and innovation. These are essential to connecting our diverse communities, addressing the legacy of the past, and engaging constructively with contemporary challenges in a post-conflict society.”

Sue Divin, PEACE Programme Manager, added: “The current PEACEPLUS programme, delivered through Council, supports 58 locally funded projects. At a time when the community and voluntary sector faces significant financial pressures, it is vital that we continue to offer accessible, high-quality opportunities such as this event. These are open not only to funded groups, but to practitioners across the wider sector engaged in peacebuilding, cross-community and cross-border work.”

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The session was facilitated by Gerard Deane of Holywell Trust, who commented: “We are delighted to have supported the delivery of this important workshop. Creating space for meaningful dialogue and addressing good relations challenges is central to both our work and the wider PEACEPLUS programme.

"We hope participants leave inspired to further strengthen the peacebuilding elements within their own projects. Collectively, these initiatives have the potential to deliver lasting and positive change across the North West.”

Sharon Doherty, Chair of the PEACEPLUS Board and representative of St Columb’s Park House, said: “While all PEACEPLUS projects are inherently cross-community, this event has provided an important opportunity to further build capacity within the sector. With ongoing staff turnover and increasing pressures, access to free, high-quality training in peacebuilding, diversity and good relations is particularly valuable. We are pleased to see such strong demand, with the event fully booked.”

For further information email peace@derrystrabane.com Tel: (028) 71253253.