Empowering Communities Through Culture, Creativity & Connection
Connecting Minds Northern Ireland unites young people from Catholic, Protestant, newcomer, refugee, and minority communities through storytelling, sport, music, mindfulness, and technology. Our initiatives extend beyond education—we cultivate community development, inclusion, and leadership from the ground up.
Our Values
Guiding Everything We Do
At Connecting Minds Northern Ireland, our values guide every decision, partnership, and programme we deliver. They are not just words—they shape how we show up in communities across Northern Ireland.
Born from Division. Built for Unity.
Genesis of Connecting Minds Northern Ireland
Established in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Connecting Minds Northern Ireland began as an online initiative addressing the challenges of isolation, anxiety, and digital fatigue among young people. Through mindfulness, storytelling, and creative expression, we provided safe spaces for youth to manage stress and reconnect with their communities. As pandemic restrictions eased, we recognised the growing need for inclusive programming, especially among refugee and migrant families facing cultural disconnection and exclusion. In response, Connecting Minds evolved into a dynamic, cross-community project utilising cultural education, intergenerational storytelling, music, mindfulness, and digital tools to unite young people across divides and build stronger, more inclusive communities.
Programme Overviews & Outcomes
Focus Areas
A Team Rooted in Experience & Inclusion
Who We Are
Our team comprises educators, youth leaders, social workers, artists, and refugees, reflecting the diverse communities we serve. By co- designing workshops with community members, we ensure our programmes are relevant, inclusive, and authentic.
Learning Side by Side
What We Are
Shared Education brings together young people from different backgrounds to learn with, from, and about one another, fostering collaborative, inclusive, and trust-building educational environments. All Connecting Minds NI projects are grounded in this model.
Pre-2021 - Laying the Foundations: Peacebuilding in Northern Ireland
Why We Are
Northern Ireland's history of conflict, known as The Troubles (1968-1998), left deep divisions between communities. The signing of the **Good Friday Agreement in 1998** marked a turning point toward peace, reconciliation, and shared futures. In the years that followed, education and community sectors began working to break down barriers through **Shared Education**, cross-community youth initiatives, and peace-focused funding. Key programs such as **Together: Building a United Community (T:BUC)** and **Good Relations funding** supported efforts to promote inclusion, dialogue, and mutual understanding across cultural, religious, and ethnic lines. This legacy of peacebuilding inspired Connecting Minds to build on those foundations, empowering young people to carry the work forward through creativity, empathy, and cross-cultural learning.
"Supporting Shared Education outcomes in partnership with schools and youth settings— independent from Education Authority provision."
From Conflict to Connection: Why We Exist
To visually communicate our foundation and purpose on the website:
1968-1998:
The Troubles
"A period of violent conflict that divided communities and left a legacy of trauma."
2000s:
Rise of Shared Education and T:BUC
"Initial school partnerships reduced prejudice and fostered cross-community friendships."
1998:
Good Friday Agreement
"Formally ended the conflict. Schools and housing remained segregated with limited interaction."
2021-2025:
Connecting Minds Programs
"Shared Ed extended into informal settings. CM filled gaps in SEL, refugee support, and cultural inclusion."
Connecting Minds Northern Ireland - Community Impact Timeline
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1969–1997 – The TroublesThis timeline outlines the history and progression of Shared Education in Northern Ireland, our impact, and the current gaps our programmes aim to address.
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1998 – Good Friday Agreement SignedA period of violent conflict that divided communities and left a legacy of trauma.
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2007 – Shared Education Pilots BeginFormally ended the conflict. Despite reduced political violence, schools and housing remained highly segregated, with limited interaction among youth from different communities.
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2013 – T:BUC Strategy LaunchedInitial partnerships between schools from different religious communities demonstrated reduced prejudice, improved empathy, and fostered cross-community friendships.
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2015–2019 – Foundations Laid for Community-Based LearningThe ‘Together: Building a United Community’ strategy expanded peacebuilding efforts, emphasising shared spaces, cultural exchange, and youth reconciliation.
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2021 – Connecting Minds Project LaunchesShared Education extended into informal settings. Community groups piloted storytelling and inclusion-based work, highlighting gaps in refugee support and mental health services.
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2022–2023 – Regional Network DevelopmentIn response to post-COVID trauma and a lack of inclusive cultural learning, Connecting Minds initiated a Mindfulness and Social Emotional Learning pilot across schools, expanding into youth clubs, sports groups, and refugee support programmes.
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2024 – Scaling Impact Through Tech, Culture & LeadershipPartnered with over 30 schools and youth services, reaching 3,000 youth. New programmes targeted underserved newcomer communities following global conflicts, fostering cross-sector collaboration.
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2021 - Launch During COVID-19Connecting Minds begins as an online initiative during school closures, delivering virtual mindfulness and storytelling sessions to help youth manage stress, isolation, and disconnection.
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2021-2022 - Pilot Peer Support Transition Projects in Primary and Secondary SchoolsInitial programs across Northern Ireland bring together students from Catholic and Protestant schools to explore emotional regulation, con etion, and focus-reaching over 3,000 children.
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2022 - Expansion to Refugee and Newcomer YouthWith the onset of the war in Ukraine and rising migration to Northern Ireland, we launched our inclusive initiative 'Learn the Language,' supporting over 300 adults and children to build English skills and receive trauma-informed therapy. Culturally inclusive programming expanded with peer-led projects and community storyt. .
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2022 - Strategic Cultural Partnerships BeginIn 2022, Connecting Minds began key partnerships with Northern Ireland-based cultural organizations Beyond Skin and ArtsEkta. - Beyond Skin specializes in using music, creative arts, and intercultural dialogue to build peace and cultural understanding across borders (https://www.beyondskin.net/). - ArtsEkta is a leading intercultural arts organisation that delivers high-quality, community-rooted festivals, storytelling, and education programs celebrating ethnic diversity (https://artsekta.org.uk/). These partnerships enhanced our capacity to deliver culturally immersive programming and engage artists, facilitators, and community leaders from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Their support helped expand our reach across schools, refugee communities, and intergenerational groups.
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2022-2023 - Intergenerational Arts and Wellness ProjectsNew projects connect young people with older generations through shared storytelling, chair yoga, and music-making-preserving heritage, enhancing empathy, and reducing social isolation.
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2024 - Launch of Creative Tech LabsYouth begin developing digital games using Scratch and Twine with themes of identity, empathy, inclusion, and mental wellbeing. Tech becomes a creative bridge for emotional expression and cultural connection.
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2024 - Peer Support Peace AmbassadorsYouth leaders are trained in SEL, public speaking, and conflict resolution to lead peer-led workshops in their communities. Refugee and BAM youth contributed to program design, including guest speaker input and inclusiv telling activities.
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2024 - Identity, Empathy & SEL Arts WorkshopsArt-based workshops deepen youth understanding of their own emotions, heritage, and empathy. These sessions were co-developed w Dung people from BAME, refugee, and migrant communities to ensure relevance Lusion.
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2024 - Network of 30+ Schools and Youth SettingsConnecting Minds becomes a trusted cross-community partner, delivering sustained programs across schools, youth clubs, cadet groups, and arts centres, embedding long-term educational and emotional impact.
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2025 and Beyond - Scaling Inclusion & Community LeadershipOur focus is on reaching underserved and rural communities, scaling trauma-informed and refugee-led programs, and embedding inclusive models into local systems. New initiatives include: - Mindful sports programs with local athletes - Inclusion-focused songwriting projects - Youth-led tourism and storytelling videos that promote cultural integration and empathy. This next phase centres on community-led innovation and sustainability-placing youth, elders, and marginalized voices at the heart of peacebuilding and inclusion
"At the heart of Connecting Minds lies a powerful legacy of peacebuilding. Our work with young people is deeply rooted in Northern Ireland's journey from conflict to connection. This timeline showcases how we've built on decades of reconciliation efforts to empower youth, promote inclusion, and strengthen communities across divides."
Starting with just 100 students connected via Zoom in 2021—from Northern Ireland, Germany, and Finland-Connecting Minds has grown into a cross-community, cross-cultural initiative directly impacting over 6,000 beneficiaries by 2025. This growth reflects the increasing need for creative, trauma-informed, and inclusive programs in
schools and communities across Northern Ireland.
Rooted in Peace & Reconciliation
All of Connecting Minds Northern Ireland’s projects align with the values of the Good Friday Agreement (1998) and support the goals of:
• T:BUC – Together: Building a United Community
• The Shared Education Framework
We work across formal and informal learning environments—schools, youth clubs, cadets, and community hubs—ensuring young people from all backgrounds learn, lead and grow together.
Our Approach: Shared Education in Every Setting
Connecting Minds programmes are:
• Co-designed with the communities they serve
• Delivered in shared, cross-community spaces
• Supported by ESOL consultants for English language learners
• Reinforced by gamified, digital materials to continue learning beyond the workshop
We operate in:
• Primary and post-primary schools
• Youth groups and clubs
• Cadet organisations and community groups
• Sports programmes and cultural centres
Participant Testimonials
It helped me feel calm and accepted. I didn't speak English before, but now I can talk to my classmates. I loved the drawing and yoga games.
- Primary school student, Belfast
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Connecting Minds Northern Ireland is a locally registered, independent charity based in the UK. While we are not legally affiliated with organisations of the same name outside the United Kingdom, we collaborate in partnership where missions align—particularly in promoting global peace, inclusion, and youth leadership.
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