Common Ground: Building Leadership, Cultural Connection & Community Capacity Across Northern Ireland and Ireland (2025–2028)
The PEACEPLUS Common Ground Project officially kicked off in November 2025 followed by the recruitment of Claire Heaney-McKee, Border Counties Coordinator for ICSH who took up the post at the start of January 2026.
The Common Ground PEACEPLUS Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) is a three-year, cross-border programme led by the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations (NIFHA) with Irish Council for Social Housing as the Republic of Ireland Partner, and partner housing associations in Northern Ireland Apex Housing Association, Choice Housing Ireland Ltd, Radius Housing, Woven Housing Association Rural Housing Association Limited and the Clanmil Housing Group. Over 36 months, the Programme will deliver a coordinated, multi-strand investment in community leadership, cultural connection, social enterprise, and cross-border collaboration. The ambition is clear: strengthen social cohesion, reduce division, and equip communities with the skills and networks to sustain positive change long after the Programme ends.
Purpose and Strategic Value
Common Ground responds directly to regional challenges around segregation, social isolation, community capacity, and widening cultural diversity. By bringing together housing associations, cultural organisations, and community development experts, the Programme will:
- Build 100 qualified grassroots leaders and new cross-community networks.
- Engage 2,700 residents in shared heritage, culture, and arts programmes.
- Strengthen organisational capacity through 1,000 trained staff and volunteers.
- Support community innovation via accredited social enterprise pathways.
- Deliver nine major cross-border networking and policy events, shaping future practice and informing government strategy.
The Programme works across 12 sub-regions, ensuring a balanced geographic reach and strong local ownership.
Delivery Model
Common Ground brings together four integrated work packages:
- Community Leadership (WP1)
Develops a new generation of cross-community leaders through accredited training, mentoring, and experiential learning. Alumni will form a long-term Leadership Network supporting civic participation and local peacebuilding. - Heritage, Culture & Arts (WP2)
Delivers 108 co-designed cultural programmes, each fostering shared understanding, positive relations, and opportunities for communities — including Newcomer/BAME residents — to learn, create, and connect. - Capacity Building & Social Enterprise (WP3)
Strengthens community and organisational resilience through accredited enterprise qualifications, large-scale workforce development, and the mainstreaming of Carbon Literacy across housing providers. - Networking, Policy & Showcasing (WP4)
Brings together communities, policymakers, and housing leaders through major events, cross-border learning exchanges, and the publication of three Policy & Practice Papers to embed learning into future strategies.
Scale, Outputs and Impact (36 Months)
People & Participation
- 2,700 individuals taking part in cultural programmes
- 1,100 direct beneficiaries of enterprise and capacity-building activity
- 900 direct participants in networking and policy events
- 100 accredited community leaders
Organisational Strengthening
- 1,000 housing staff trained in community development, enterprise, and good relations
- 360 certified in Carbon Literacy
- 30 staff achieving OCN Level 3 in Community Development
Policy & System Change
- Three regional policy/practice papers
- A sustained Common Ground Collaborative Forum
- A growing cross-border network of practitioners and organisations
Legacy and Sustainability
Common Ground is designed not as a standalone project but as a long-term community resilience platform. Its legacy will include:
- An Alumni Leadership Network active across the island.
- A Cultural Connections Digital Hub showcasing stories, learning, and regional creativity.
- A Social Enterprise Toolkit and Network supporting ongoing innovation.
- A permanent digital repository of events, policy papers, and resources.
- Continued cross-border collaboration through annual partner-led forums.
Conclusion
Common Ground represents a major, coordinated investment in social cohesion, community capacity, and collaborative leadership. It will create a platform for long-term partnership between housing, government, communities, and the voluntary sector. The Programme ultimately aims to leave stronger, more connected, more confident communities across Northern Ireland and Ireland — and a model of cross-border, multi-sector cooperation that can be replicated for years to come