This event also highlights the importance of international collaboration and community engagement in fostering a society that values diversity and inclusion. The presence of key figures, such as Honorary Consul Dr Federica Ferrieri and Lord Mayor Micky Murray, further emphasises the collective effort to support and celebrate the contributions of refugees, migrants and asylum seekers in Belfast.

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Feedback from the pupils, collected via sticky notes, highlighted their enjoyment of the activities, the importance of listening, openness to new experiences, and a significant boost in their confidence levels.

Some standout comments included:

"It was so fun! 100% believe in myself now."

"I really enjoyed how we learnt new skills without knowing we were learning, in all of the activities."

Ciarán Hargey, from the Market Development Association highlighted:

“Diet is fundamental to a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle. In fitness we would always say, “no amount of training can outrun a bad diet”. We are constantly bombarded with advertisements for convenience and ultra-processed food and the consumption of which have contributed to the growth of chronic illness throughout societies worldwide. It is time that we take back ownership of our own and family diets. Keep it simple, keep it wholesome, keep us healthy”.

The programme sits within a broader framework of collaboration between Queen’s Communities and Place (QCAP) and the Market Development Association, finding solutions to persistent challenges, tackling disadvantage, and improving outcomes for individuals, families and the community.

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After four highly interactive training days at Crumlin Road Gaol, led by leadership expert Dr Louise O'Meara, the programme developed the leadership skills of education leaders from all eight primary schools. The amazing interaction and feedback was testament to the effort and investment all the participants made during their training.

Participants commented on how they now felt empowered to be better leaders:

“It’s challenged my perception of what leadership is. I thought it was very much top down, but now I understand it’s all about bringing the team on board, letting them take ownership and having a real collaborative effort.”

“I’m much more aware of everyone’s perspectives now. By that I mean, it’s not just about me, it’s about what the classroom assistant thinks, the teachers, the parents, the whole community.”

The project was coordinated by Queen's Open Learning Programme Director, Professor Tess Maginess and Queen's Civic Engagement Officer Dr Federica Ferrieri.  The artist-facilitators were film maker, Karen Kinghan; creative writing tutor, Louise McIvor, and literature creative writing tutor, Tess Maginess.

For more information and to see the amazing arts projects that were created by the participants, please visit the Translating Age website.

Translating age website

For example, pupils from Glenwood Primary School and Belfast Boys Model School joined staff and students from Queen’s University to experience an archaeological excavation at the historic Stranmillis College site. 

One notable event was the Shankill Halloween Tour, held in October 2023 at the Shankill Graveyard. This event transformed the graveyard into an interactive outdoor classroom, where local children had the opportunity to delve into the area's rich history. They engaged with the past by talking with the "spirits" of individuals who once lived in the community, making history come alive in a vivid and memorable way.

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The first cohort of participants are made up of 45 young individuals from Ardoyne and the Shankill areas of Belfast, who are set to graduate from the programme in October 2024. 

During a launch event for the Leadership for Life Programme, Professor Margaret Topping emphasised the importance of diverse educational pathways and highlighted the programme’s potential to cultivate future leaders. She noted the programme's significant impact on educational and career aspirations and how the partnership with RCITY, Foróige and Queen's seeks to empower young people to drive positive change in their communities.

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The festival featured a range of family-friendly activities such as music, workshops, food stalls, and temporary cycle paths, emphasising the area's cultural diversity and community spirit. The event was also an opportunity to gather public input on the future of Botanic Avenue, with discussions centered around the possibility of permanent pedestrianisation as part of Belfast City Council's Bolder Vision Strategy, which includes plans for the redevelopment of Shaftesbury Square.

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Olwen Purdue, Professor of Social History at Queen’s remarked:

"This exciting collaboration between academics, archives, public history students and local communities seeks to capture and tell the stories of these streets and the people who lived in them to explore the rich and diverse social history of this neighbourhood and community and develop new resources for learning and engaging with local history.”

St Matthew's Church 150 Years exhibition was launched at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI), showcasing a variety of photos, artefacts and displays which had been collated through the History Harvest.

Pictured at the launch of the St Matthew's Church 150 Years exhibition at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) are (L-R) Professor Olwen Purdue, from Queen's University Belfast; Dr Jackie Redpath, Greater Shankill Partnership; Professor Sir Ian Greer, President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast; The Rev Tracey McRoberts, Rector St Matthew’s Church; Janet Hancock, PRONI; and Sam Guthrie. 

QCAP has provided BUILD with technical support, local housing market analysis and developed a dedicated interactive vacant site register to help the working group to engage more effectively with statutory agencies like the Department for Communities and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

This support has helped the BUILD working group to advance discussions around the possibility of derelict site transfers but also leveraged additional funds to commission technical experts to undertake feasibility work across these sites to showcase potential and better understand economic viability.

QCAP academics have also supported BUILD along with the Greater Shankill Partnership to establish a new community regeneration company called the Shankill Development Trust. This represents a dedicated legal subsidiary that could be used to advance and manage any proposed physical regeneration projects in the short or long term.

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Key report author Dr Liam O’Hare said:

“The Conversations process has given rarely heard children and young people from the Shankill the space to express the story they want their lives to be. Hopefully, this research report will engage an audience with the power and influence to create supportive pathways for them, and provide opportunities to hear more aspirational stories from children and young people in the Shankill.”

Jackie Redpath, CEO of the Great Shankill Partnership said:

“The publication of this Report is a significant milestone on the Zone’s journey. The conversations with children and young people about ‘the story they want their lives to be’ is at the heart of our vision for the transformation of this generation. We greatly value the partnership with Queen’s University on this journey.”

Speaking about the report, Children’s Commissioner Koulla Yiasouma added:

“Article 12 of the UNCRC addresses the right of children and young people to have their voices heard in all processes affecting their lives. Although it is more than that, Article 12 has more recently been translated into co-design. If serious about co-designing services with children and young people, then tapping into these conversations is the best place to start."

Read the report