The WEA, in partnership with Mediation Northern Ireland and the Interaction Institute for Social Change, is delivering two training programmes under contract from the NE Peace III Partnership. The Partnership covers six council areas in the NE – Limavady, Coleraine, Moyle, Ballymoney, Ballymena and Larne.

Both programmes are called Leadership in a Shared Society – one involves elected representatives and the other community leaders. The aim is to bring the two groupings through similar learning so that civic and community leadership is strengthened in the area and preparation is begun for future co-operation under RPA.

Thirty councillors are involved in their programme, five from each of the cluster’s councils. They are learning in two groups reflecting the makeup of the  future ‘super councils’. Their programme began in September last year and will finish this June. The learning covers leadership and good relations issues and has been built using the experience and resources of the three partner organisations.

The community leaders programme is somewhat longer, but covers the same areas. It began just before Christmas and presently there are two learning groups, geographically divided as per the councillors. We were assisted in recruitment by the Coleraine Rural and Urban Network and the North Antrim Community Network. Those involved in this programme will also design and deliver small collaborative projects addressing local good relations issues.

We are currently recruiting for a third learning group in the council areas of Limavady, Coleraine and Moyle so it anyone is interested please contact Diane Greer 028 7136 9947 or diane.greer@wea-ni.com).