Councillors on the Leadership in a Shared Society programme (sponsored by NE Peace III Partnership) celebrated the end of the programme on Friday 19th November with a certificate presentation in Portrush.

Over the past year elected representatives from the six councils making up the North East Peace III cluster (Limavady, Coleraine, Moyle, Ballymoney, Ballymena and Larne) having been undertaking a training programme entitled Leadership in a Shared Society.

This unique programme, which is funded under the European Union's PEACE III programme managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by the North East PEACE III Partnership, has been designed and delivered by the WEA (Workers’ Educational Association) in partnership with Mediation Northern Ireland and the Interaction Institute for Social Change.

Colin Neilands (Director of the WEA) said that all the partners had been delighted to have been part of the programme and impressed by the commitment and enthusiasm of the participating councillors.

The training covered a range of leadership skills around strategic focus and decision making, combined with unpacking the issues associated with working with difference and building a vision for a shared society.

In a joint statement the councillors said that they found they had more in common than they had first realised and that sharing together makes a real difference. They felt that there must be shared local leadership to build a vision for a shared society and that they had established the basis for future co-operation. They also suggested that perhaps a similar programme should be run for ‘those up on the hill’.

Speaking at the certificate presentation on Friday 19^th November, Alderman Jack Rankin, Chair of the NE PEACE III Joint Committee said:

“This programme is leaving a legacy in our Councils by enabling Councillors to increase their contribution to improving trust and tolerance and understanding of differences in the individual Council areas.  It has provided a safe, open and honest opportunity for communication to take place between elected representatives about their role in peace building.  The programme has challenged and examined a range of leadership practices for civic leaders and has played a constructive role in assisting Councillors to help address the challenges of a divided society as we move towards a shared society”