Common Ground Project launches to strengthen peace, inclusion and community leadership
A major new cross-border initiative dedicated to building stronger, more integrated, and resilient communities was officially launched today by the First and Deputy First Ministers and the Minister from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. at Clifton House, Belfast.
The Common Ground Project led by the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations (NIFHA) is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body, (SEUPB). It aims to bring together housing organisations and residents to promote inclusion, foster cross-cultural understanding, and highlight the vital role of the housing sector in peacebuilding.
Supported by PEACEPLUS, the project contributes to the programme’s objectives of building peaceful and thriving communities across Northern Ireland and the border region of Ireland. The initiative will run until October 2028 and will work with communities across Northern Ireland and the border region, focusing on supporting newcomer communities and strengthening meaningful connections among people of different cultural and national identities.
At the launch event, community representatives from (currently one person from DLD area confirmed, will be a second from Belfast likely) shared their experiences of building cohesive communities that bring people from diverse backgrounds together to celebrate difference and forge new connections. The event also emphasised the transformative ambition of Common Ground - to empower residents as change-makers, build shared leadership, and nurture trust between neighbours.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill said: “I am proud that The Executive Office is supporting the Common Ground Project. This £2.6 million investment is about helping people feel welcome, valued and connected in the communities they call home. When we focus on housing and communities, we are focusing on where everyday relationships are built and where division can be replaced with understanding. Thank you to all the partners for the care and commitment they are bringing to this vital work, and I wish them every success with the delivery of this project.”
Deputy First Minister. Emma Little-Pengelly said: “The launch of the Common Ground Project is very welcome news. The 4,800 participants who will be part of this journey will play a vital role in creating communities where everyone can feel a sense of belonging. Projects like this rely on everyone working together to turn the vision into a reality so thank you to the NI Federation of Housing Associations and all the partners involved. Your commitment is helping to create the safe, inclusive communities we all want to see.”
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 express my profound thanks to everyone involved in promoting the Common Ground project. It is a source of great joy for me that my Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, in collaboration with the Special EU Programmes Body and The Executive Office in Northern Ireland, will maintain their support for this outstanding initiative.”
Minister Buttimer added: “With the provision of this important funding, the Building Positive Relations Investment Area strives to develop positive relationships characterised by respect, where cultural diversity is acknowledged, and individuals are empowered to live, learn, and engage with one another, devoid of prejudice, hatred, and intolerance.”
SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre said: “This project is about building relationships, promoting understanding, and ensuring that every individual feels part of a shared and inclusive future, which is the very essence of PEACEPLUS.
“Sustained investment in proven pathways to social cohesion and reconciliation is essential if we are to build communities that are both peaceful and thriving.
“By improving shared spaces and fostering inclusion, we create opportunities for people to come together, strengthening cross-community and cross-border relationships.
“PEACEPLUS empowers those who have often been marginalised to take an active role in shaping their environment, regenerating local areas and creating vibrant public spaces that belong to everyone.”
Speaking at the launch, Project Co-ordinator Kevin Brassell said:
“Common Ground is about people shaping their own future. By investing in collaboration, learning, and cultural exchange, we can build communities where connection, respect, and belonging are the norm.”
Through its Community Leadership Programme; Heritage, Culture and Arts initiatives; Capacity Building and Social Enterprise training; and Networking and Showcasing activities, Common Ground aims to develop new community leaders, engage people through locally tailored programmes, deliver accredited social enterprise and carbon literacy training, build networks, and inspire action.
Partner organisations include the Irish Council for Social Housing, Apex Housing Association, Choice Housing, Clanmil Housing, Radius Housing, Rural Housing Association, and Woven Housing. Together, they aim to generate locally owned solutions, strengthen wellbeing, tackle division, and leave a legacy of peace, connection, and shared opportunity across generations.