New peace-building programme launched to bring communities together

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A major new cross-community and cross-border peace-building project – the ACCEPT Programme – officially launched in the Glenavon Hotel in Cookstown on Thursday 22 January 2026. The project is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and delivered by Northern Ireland Alternatives, in partnership with Include Youth, Springboard Opportunities, and Beyond Skin.

The event  welcomed local participants, community groups and partner organisations, as well as contributions from senior political representatives including the Junior Minister Joanne Bunting, Irish Minister of State Jerry Buttimer TD, and SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre.

The ACCEPT (Achieving Community Cohesion through Engagement Participation and Trust) Programme is designed to support people of all ages, especially young people, to build confidence, develop skills, strengthen relationships and connect with others through restorative practice, creative expression and community participation.

Junior Minister Aisling Reilly said: “I welcome this impressive initiative, which brings together the unique strengths of participants, community organisations and partners to help build a more peaceful, inclusive and connected society.

“The ACCEPT Programme recognises both the complexity of our shared history, and the richness of our diverse cultures, while placing real value on the power of community-led action. With over 3,300 people expected to take part, this programme has the potential to make a real and lasting difference – for individual participants, for communities and wider society.”

Junior Minister Joanne Bunting said: “I am delighted The Executive Office has been able to support the ACCEPT Programme through match funding as we recognise the difference this project will make.
“By focusing on finding common ground, having honest conversations, and considering others’ perspectives, this initiative will create a safe space for discussions to begin and relationships and trust to be built.
“We want Northern Ireland to be a place of lasting peace and shared prosperity – and that is why programmes like this matter. Together, we can continue building a society where everyone feels valued, included and able to contribute.”

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 wish to convey my sincere appreciation to everyone who contributed to the progress of the ACCEPT Programme. It fills me with immense pleasure that my Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, in partnership with the Special EU Programmes Body and The Executive Office in Northern Ireland, will continue to provide assistance for this remarkable initiative.”

Minister Buttimer added: “By providing this essential funding, the Building Positive Relations Investment Area contributes to long-term peace and stability, fosters positive relationships, cultural diversity is honoured, and sustainable community leadership is promoted through skills development and partnership.”

SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre said: “Young people hold the key to shaping Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.

“Their actions now will carry forward the lessons of peace and transform them into lasting progress. In a society emerging from decades of division. Their energy, creativity and openness to new ideas are vital for building communities where inclusion and acceptance is a reality.

“Leadership training, cultural exchange and creative projects give young people the tools to challenge prejudice, break down barriers and foster understanding across communities and borders. These opportunities are about skills, confidence, voice and agency, because when young people feel heard and valued, they become champions for inclusion and advocates for diversity.

“The future of peacebuilding depends on their ability to see beyond old divisions and imagine a shared society.”

Debbie Watters from Northern Ireland Alternatives said: “This project is about people. It’s about creating real opportunities for local participants, building relationships across divides and giving individuals the chance to grow and contribute to positive change. We are excited to launch ACCEPT in Cookstown and to celebrate the incredible talent and potential within our communities.”

 

What ACCEPT will deliver:

  • Training in restorative practice
  • Youth leadership programmes
  • Creative arts and storytelling workshops
  • Community mentoring and skills development
  • Opportunities to meet, connect and collaborate across traditional divides
  • Local residents, community organisations and support services will be invited to engage with the ACCEPT Programme as it rolls out across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.

 

Notes To Editors

  • The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) is a North South Body with the statutory remit for managing EU funding programmes within Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.
  • PEACEPLUS is a cross-border funding Programme designed to support peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland and has a total value of €1.14 billion, to be delivered over the next four years.
  • PEACEPLUS is co-funded by the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Executive.
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