Over the past two years, we have scoped funding opportunities aligned to CCGHT’s strategic aims through the PEACEPLUS Programme – a cross-border Programme supported by the European Union, the Governments of the UK and Ireland, and the NI administration.
The Programme, administered by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), is designed to support peace and prosperity across NI and the border counties, building upon the work of the previous PEACE and INTERREG Programmes.
CCGHT representatives have attended various consultations and networking events to gain detailed understanding of the Programme Themes and Investment Areas. Consequently, we forged partnerships to progress regionwide initiatives and assisted with the preparation
and submission of applications.
CCGHT has been advised on the success of two collaborative funding bids that will feature our involvement:
• The Coastal Monitoring and Adaptation Planning (CMAP) project under PEACEPLUS Theme 5 -Supporting a Sustainable and Better-Connected Future, Investment Area 5.2 – Marine and Coastal Management. Led by Ulster University, CCGHT will be resourced to co-ordinate the delivery of a specific work package focusing on community facilitation & engagement, incorporating elements of co-design & education.
• The Walking for All project under PEACEPLUS Theme 4 – Healthy and Inclusive Communities, Investment Area 4.2 – Rural Regeneration and Social Inclusion. Led by Outscape, CCGHT will work in the Mid & East Antrim Borough Council area to oversee the recruitment and training of rural-based voluntary walk leaders and support the creation of new walking groups benefitting local health & well-being.
From 2025 to 2027, CCGHT will deliver the Nature and Environment Project as part of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s PEACEPLUS ‘Building Peaceful and Thriving Communities’ investment area. The project aims to engage more than 240 participants of all ages, using nature and environmental activity as a positive tool to build stronger, more sustainable and more connected communities. Through a diverse programme of hands-on experiences, participants will develop practical skills they can apply in everyday life and share within their communities, while strengthening their connection to the local environment and promoting sustainability, biodiversity and community wellbeing.
The programme includes a range of initiatives such as Sow, Grow, Eat, which brings children from diverse backgrounds together to learn about sustainable food practices through farm visits and practical growing activities; Nature Volunteering and Training, which supports the development of a community conservation network involved in activities such as invasive species removal, native seed collection and tree planting; and Trashion, which encourages creative recycling and fashion upcycling, demonstrating practical ways to reduce waste and rethink consumption.
CCGHT has also contributed to consultations on Codesigned Local Community PEACEPLUS Action Plans prepared by both Mid & East Antrim and Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Councils. In the case of the latter, the Trust successfully tendered for a contract to deliver a Nature and Environment themed programme (2025-27) that formed part of their Action Plan.
