Project Visit Options


Afternoon Project Visit Options, Thursday 20th June 2019

Guests are offered the opportunity to visit two projects in Belfast.

Primary Project Options (see descriptions below)

• Option 1: Ulster University
• Option 2: Cinemagic
• Option 3: Fighting Words
• Option 4: 174 Trust
• Option 5: Integrated Education Fund

Additional Project Options

  • Delegates attending Project Options 1, 2 or 3 may choose option 6 only.
  • Delegates attending Project Options 4 or 5  may choose option 7 only.

• Option 6: PeacePlayers Northern Ireland
• Option 7: Derry Playhouse (at 174 Trust)
• Option 8: I do not wish to attend a second project visit

Primary Project Option Descriptions (Options 1 – 5)

Option 1: Ulster University

Ulster University (UU) is a multi-campus university spanning across 4 locations in Northern Ireland (Belfast, Coleraine, Derry and Jordanstown). Over the next 2 years, UU will transform higher education in Belfast City, through a £300 million capital build project, expanding their city centre campus. By investing in this post-conflict area, UU is working with local communities to socially transform some of the most disadvantaged communities in Northern Ireland.

On this visit, you will hear from some of Northern Ireland’s brightest academics and community workers highlighting the community engagement and regeneration at the heart of this project, the impact of the campus development on the surrounding neighbourhoods and the opportunity it will give to many young people from challenging socio-economic backgrounds. With close to 360 views of Belfast City and a prime view of the new campus hard-hat site, prepare to be inspired for the next generation of Northern Ireland.

Option 2: Cinemagic

Cinemagic is Northern Ireland’s premier film organisation for young people, which embraces the magic of film and television to inspire, motivate and educate. Established in 1989, Cinemagic has developed a worldwide reputation for excellence in youth programming and engages with 40,000 young people annually in Belfast, Dublin, London, New York and Los Angeles.

Hear first-hand about the impact of Cinemagic directly from the young people involved. Cinemagic provides an outlet for them to discuss and interpret the big issues that matter to their generation – bullying, racial discrimination, mental health, equality. These inspiring young people will share their stories, demo their short films and perform an extract from their play. Prepare to have your eyes, hearts and minds opened to the creative world of young people in Northern Ireland today.

Option 3: Fighting Words Belfast

Fighting Words Belfast is a creative writing initiative offering free workshops for all children and young people in Northern Ireland aged 6-18. School and youth groups set out on a story-writing journey with trained volunteer mentors, working at first collaboratively and then individually to create a story unique to them.

At its core, Fighting Words is about something much broader and more inclusive than just creative writing. It is about using the creative practice of writing and storytelling to strengthen children and teenagers – from a wide range of backgrounds – to be resilient, creative and successful shapers of their own lives.

See a workshop in action, hear from the young storytellers involved and take part in the creative writing process to shape your own unique story.

Option 4: 174 Trust

Established in the early 1980s, 174 Trust is a Christian community development organisation majoring in peace and reconciliation. 174 Trust serves the local community of North Belfast, as well as the whole city, through the provision of a safe, shared space where difficult conversations can occur and people of all ages and backgrounds can access a range of programmes and activities. In 2014, 174 Trust opened the Duncairn Centre for Culture and Arts, a new hub of creativity on the Antrim Road.

From the exterior, the Duncairn Centre still has the look and feel of the once Duncairn Presbyterian Church, but inside is a magical space reinvented to showcase the work of young emerging local artists. It has created a new arts-based model of engagement with disenfranchised, marginalised and disadvantaged communities in North Belfast. Take a tour and experience the variety of activity that fills this space every day – from the theatre, exhibition spaces, and artist studios to the café, gym and afterschool clubs.

While in the Duncairn Centre, you will hear incredibly poignant stories from two ‘Theatre of Witness’ performers of the Derry Playhouse, sharing their lived experiences of the Trouble in Northern Ireland. Prepare to collectively bear witness to their issues of suffering, redemption and social justice.

Option 5: Integrated Education Fund

For almost 30 years, the Integrated Education Fund (IEF) has been supporting the growth and development of integrated schools in Northern Ireland, where children of all faiths and none are educated together in an environment that celebrates religious and cultural diversity. Unfortunately, the Northern Ireland education system continues to be largely divided on religious and cultural lines. There are currently 24,000 children in 65 integrated schools, 45 Primary (5-11 years) and 20 Post Primary (11-18 years). While progress has been made, 93% of schools in Northern Ireland remain segregated.

The ‘Integrate My School’ campaign aims to reignite this progress. The campaign is spearheaded by IEF to empower parents who want their child’s school to become integrated. IntegrateMySchool.com provides a digital platform for registration, promotes transformation to integrated status and steers those schools who wish to pursue it.

This visit will involve a trip to Cliftonville Integrated Primary School, which became an integrated school in 2008. Located in North Belfast, the present enrolment is 351 children plus an additional 26 in the newly opened Nursery. Hear about the challenges and complexities of the education system in Northern Ireland and ask how The Ireland Funds can continue to help on this journey towards integration?

Additional Project Option Descriptions (Options 6 – 7)

Option 6: PeacePlayers Northern Ireland

PeacePlayers Northern Ireland (PP-NI) is a cross-community charity that uses the game of basketball, to unite, educate and inspire people from the two historically divided traditions in Northern Ireland. By competing together on integrated teams, children and young people from different backgrounds can discover common ground and forge new friendships. Afterall, PP-NI are based on the simple yet powerful premise that “children who play together can learn to live together”.

Since its foundation in 2002, PP-NI has positively impacted the lives of over 20,000 young people, serving the most disadvantaged areas in Northern Ireland.

Join in an interactive session led by two PeacePlayers NI participants and learn how this method of relationship building is bridging divides, changing perceptions and developing new leaders in post-conflict Northern Ireland.

Option 7: Derry Playhouse

The Award Winning The Playhouse is based in Derry and was established in 1992 with a grant of just £300. Since then it has grown to become one of Ireland’s leading Award Winning multi-disciplinary Community Art Resource Centres based on a neutral site in Derry/Londonderry. It is a self-help, grass roots, bottom-up community development project which is people centred.  The Playhouse in Derry/Londonderry uses the arts to engage in cross-community work in Northern Ireland.

174 Trust are hosting Derry Playhouse where you will hear incredibly poignant stories from two ‘Theatre of Witness’ performers of the Derry Playhouse, sharing their lived experiences of the Trouble in Northern Ireland. Prepare to collectively bear witness to their issues of suffering, redemption and social justice.