'We've seen conflict move beyond traditional lines': Northern Ireland mediation charities join forces amid rising community and workplace conflict

TIDES and Mediation NI, two of Northern Ireland's most established community relations and workplace mediation organisations, have merged, bringing together more than 60 years of combined experience under the working name TIDES Mediation NI.

The merger unites TIDES' 25 years of grassroots peacebuilding work in communities affected by conflict with Mediation NI's decades of experience training organisations and resolving workplace disputes across Northern Ireland's public, private and voluntary sectors.

The new organisation will be led by Liza Wilkinson as CEO, who was previously trained by Mediation NI before going on to lead TIDES for the past 11 years. Anne-Marie Blaney, formerly of Mediation NI, has taken on Chair.

Liza Wilkinson, CEO, TIDES Mediation NI said: “Peacebuilding in Northern Ireland can't stand still, and the first 25 years after the Good Friday Agreement are very different to what the next 25 need to look like. We've seen conflict move beyond traditional lines, and bringing these two organisations together means we can support people wherever that conflict shows up, not just in one part of their life.

“This merger comes at a pivotal moment for community relations in Northern Ireland. We’ve all seen the recent unrest that shows that division in our community is no longer only along sectarian lines.

“We will continue to the positive work, projects and engagements that have taken place through both organisations, as well as supporting the individuals, communities and organisations who show up every day to make Northern Ireland better for everyone.”

Recent PSNI figures show race-motivated incidents reached their highest level since records began in 2004, with 2,367 recorded in the 12 months to March 2026. Research by More in Common following the disorder found that 77% of adults in Northern Ireland believe those involved in the riots do not speak for them, and 60% said the disorder brought shame on Northern Ireland.

Liza explained: “The cost of getting workplace conflict wrong is rising too. According to research commissioned by the Labour Relations Agency, workplace conflict costs Northern Ireland employers up to £851 million a year, a figure the LRA has more recently described as approaching £1 billion amid a wave of industrial disputes.

“Separately, Acas research shows workplace conflict across the UK has reached its highest reported level on record, with 44% of workers experiencing a dispute in the past year and a third of workplaces lacking staff with the skills to resolve it.

“This tension isn’t good for individuals, their families, communities or businesses, and this is where TIDES Mediation NI comes in. The IEP states:

“The same factors that create lasting peace also lead to many other positive outcomes that societies aspire to, including: thriving economies; better performance on ecological measures; high levels of resilience and adaptability to change.”

“We look forward to working across all communities to build a better Northern Ireland.”

Anne-Marie Blaney, chair, TIDES Mediation NI continued: “It’s my privilege to lead this new organisation, as we continue to deliver on-the-ground peacebuilding directly where it’s needed.

“Both TIDES and Mediation NI have spent decades building trust in communities and workplaces across Northern Ireland, and this merger means we can offer that experience more widely, without losing what made each organisation effective in the first place."

Existing partners across Northern Ireland will continue to be supported, including Belfast Trust, Queen's University, Ulster University, PSNI, Danske Bank, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, the Education Authority and local councils, alongside long-standing community partners including Shankill Women's Centre, Rural Community Network and Corrymeela.

The services provided by both legacy charities will continue, including community mediation, workplace conflict resolution, training and accredited courses, with the combined organisation extending its reach into new sectors and, for the first time, into workplaces outside Northern Ireland through a newly secured contract with East Sussex Trust.

TIDES Mediation NI will remain based at Mediation House and continues to be supported by funding from the Community Relations Council, SEUPB and the Department of Foreign Affairs.