Young People Lead Springboard’s Annual Good Relations Roundtable
- Published:
-
October 15, 2026
Springboard celebrates Good Relations Week 2026 by inviting young people to host a roundtable discussion. Participants attended to discuss their experiences of the Journeys programme and defined what Good Relations practice means to them in an ever-changing society.
Young people participating on the PEACEPLUS funded Journeys programme from across the region and border counties shared their experiences of growing up in a post conflict society and how being involved in peace funded projects has helped shape their perspectives in building more inclusive communities.
This roundtable is the third in a series of events where Springboard brought together youth work practitioners, academics and young people to contribute to the discussion on Good Relations practice and its impact. They shared practical guidance and firsthand perspectives on navigating division and the legacy of the ‘Troubles’. For this event the focus was on hearing from young people ensuring their voices were at the centre of the conversation.
Focusing on this year’s Good Relations Week theme “Include”, the discussion centered around how communities can become more inclusive, and the role young people can play in bringing people from different backgrounds together, including the importance of critical thinking in relation to online hate narratives and having difficult conversations. Participants had the opportunity to reflect on what has worked well and how youth work can continue to support meaningful connections across different backgrounds.
Participants emphasised that the relationships they have built through Journeys has helped challenge assumptions and encouraged understanding across cultures. Their reflections will help highlight how youth workers can respond to young people’s experiences and create further opportunities for young to come together.
The Journeys programme aims to establish young people’s voices as paramount in the conversation and will develop a Good Relations policy paper using their feedback and ideas for future work.
Journeys is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). 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.
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.