PEACE Academy and O’Neills create a winning formula

Young people from the Rio Ferdinand Foundation’s (RFF) PEACE Academy have had the chance to showcase their creativity with O’Neills – Ireland’s leading sportswear brand.

As part of an exciting two-day interactive workshop in Sligo, participants were introduced to creative pathways within the sportswear industry, and given a behind-the-scenes look at the design process before developing – and presenting – their own ideas.

The PEACE Academy is an innovative three-year cross-border initiative developed by the Rio Ferdinand Foundation and 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.

Led by the Foundation in partnership with community organisations on both sides of the border, the new PEACE Academy will empower young people aged 14 to 21 through sport, art and music, creating opportunities for learning, expression and personal development.

Working alongside O’Neills’ Pro-Sport Designer Paige Hilton, the young people got to see their concepts brought to life using specialist software, giving them first-hand experience of how ideas evolve from initial sketches into digital kit concepts.

Once the designs had been signed off, a separate workshop delivered by Chris Johnson – O’Neills’ Marketing Manager – challenged participants to think beyond social media by becoming content creators and marketers. O’Neills’ Graphic Designer Manager Chris Elward and Richard O’Connor – O’Neills’ videographer – also delivered a session on photography techniques, including composition and natural lighting, storytelling and creative image capture.

RFF Sligo Co-Ordinator Cormac Correia said: “Initiatives such as this highlight the value of collaboration between industry and community organisations, providing young people with practical experience, creative skills and insight into jobs within sportswear design.

“These workshops give people the chance to explore a range of career pathways, engage in creative learning environments, and gain valuable hands-on experience with popular brands like O’Neills and talented individuals such as Chris Johnson and Chris Elward.

“From developing their own kit concepts with professional designers to learning about photography, content creation and marketing, they have gained practical skills, built confidence and discovered career opportunities they may never have considered.,” added Cormac. “Experiences like these are at the heart of the PEACE Academy, helping young people broaden their horizons, unlock their potential and see how their creativity can translate into real-world careers.”

Between now and 2029, hundreds of young people in the Belfast and Sligo areas are set to have the opportunity to engage with the ambitious PEACEPLUS Programme, which is funded by the Special EU Programmes Body. Over this period, weekly sports sessions will run twice per week in Northern Ireland and Ireland, engaging up to thirty young people per session in a safe, inclusive space.

Quarterly community events for up to one hundred and fifty participants will foster cross-cultural understanding, while monthly personal development sessions are intended to build confidence, leadership skills as well as cultural awareness among participants. The programme will award some one hundred and fifty annual qualifications alongside social action projects intended to tackle racism and sectarianism between 14 and 21-year-olds.