Derry's Holywell Trust announce launch of new 'Forward Thinking' project

Holywell Trust has announced a new Forward Thinking project that will explore constitutional questions and issues from a wide range of perspectives. It will consider Northern Ireland in the global context, and will examine other countries and jurisdictions also facing constitutional challenges.

Forward Thinking is a project supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). It is funded through Derry City and Strabane District Council’s PEACEPLUS Local Co-Designed Action Plan, under the theme of Celebrating Cultural Diversity.

Holywell Trust will be inviting participants with diverse views and identities to take part in a series of seminars and workshops and contribute to this important discussion, and will be open to all to attend.

A recruitment exercise will be carried out by Holywell Trust over the next number of months to select participants to join study visits to locations such as Scotland, Catalonia, and the Basque Region, to gain a greater understanding of the issues and complexities involved in the constitutional debates in those regions.

The Forward Thinking project provides the opportunity to hear first-hand from those directly involved in various campaigns and those impacted by constitutional decisions and challenges, and will help inform thinking around the constitutional debate on these islands.

Holywell Trust will officially launch the Forward Thinking project at the Holywell offices in Bishop Street, Derry, on June 26, at 2.00pm. Speaking at the launch will be Dr Daniel Cetrà and Lindsay McIntosh.

Dr Daniel Cetrà is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Barcelona, with his research focusing on the comparative study of nationalism, constitutional debates, and secessionism, with a particular emphasis on Spain, the UK, and Belgium.

Lindsay McIntosh is the Head of News at the Sunday Times and was formerly the Scottish Political Editor of the Times, where she ran the coverage of Scotland’s independence referendum.

Gerard Deane, Director of Holywell Trust, said: “We are excited to build on previous conversations we have facilitated at Holywell around this important issue. In particular we would invite those from the Protestant, Unionist and/ or Loyalist (PUL) community and perspectives, BAME communities, and also those who live in the border areas, to come to the launch and hear more about the project.

"This is an opportunity to expand the important constitutional debate through challenging, thought-provoking dialogue and exploration, and get into the nitty-gritty of the issues important to all of our citizens.”

Sara Duddy, Holywell Trust Programme Manager, said: “Forward Thinking will explore the constitutional question here as well as drawing on international experiences of constitutional change and debate. This is an interesting time in the evolving conversation around the border, and participants will also be able to take a number of residential study visits which will explore political/ identity conflict and historical divisions in other jurisdictions.”

READ NEXT: NI Anti Poverty Network criticises Executive's Anti-Poverty Strategy

Registration for the Forward Thinking Project Launch is now open. Register to attend here: LINK.