Churches Trust ‘TrACEto Transform’ programme going from strength-to-strength

PICTURED ABOVE: CHURCHES TRUST 'TRACE TO TRANSFORM PROGRAMME' - Keith Robertson, Department of Foreign Affairs pictured at the recent Churches Trust event in An Grianan Hotel. Included front from left, Laura Brown, Mary Holmes and Christina McNickle. Back from left, Conor Hegarty, Fiona Fegan, Wendy McCloskey, Margaret Bonner and Jack McLaughlin. (Photos: Jim McCafferty Photography)

This year’s Churches Trust’s ‘TrACE to Transform ‘conference was taken across the border to the An Grianan Hotel at Burt where Derry, Inishowen and Donegal were well represented as The Trust has continued to cultivate reconciliation and community building, with its latest cohort seeing even greater participation than the previous year.

TrACE to Transform is an intergenerational programme funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs Reconciliation Fund and the aim of it is to strengthen community capacity through strengthening families, removing barriers to reconciliation and standing against coercive control. 

Developed by the Churches Trust, the programme works across communities using Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trauma Informed Approaches. This approach is transformational in achieving goals that recognises how important childhood experiences are across the life course of us all. 

Special guest at the conference was Keith Robertson from the Department of Foreign Affairs who spoke on the tremendous successes of the programme and wished all well in expanding on the achievements in the coming year.

This year’s programme was extended to include a diverse range of communities, from young people to women across several locations and into three counties.

2024/2025 saw the programme engage with 30 young people from Moville Community College and young people in Derry, marking a significant increase in the involvement of the younger generations.

Speaking after the conference, the CT’s Community Relations Manager Laura Brown said: ‘Alongside these extended packages, the programme worked with over 50 women from Letterkenny, Killea, Strabane, as well as both Derry Cityside and Waterside, furthering its mission to break down barriers and foster mutual understanding.’

‘This year’s work aimed to strengthen community capacity through personal development, group mentoring, and self-reflection, with a specific focus on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and Trauma-Informed Approaches. This again, I believe we have been successful in reaching our targets.’

Laura emphasised that these approaches continued to prove transformational in supporting individuals to understand the impact of their past experiences on their present lives.

It’s understood the programme will continue to grow and evolve, with the next cohort set to start in Autumn 2025.

IN PICTURES: Churches Trust’s ‘TrACE to Transform ‘conference

Laura concluded: ‘The Churches Trust is committed to building upon the foundation laid over the past two years, helping to bridge divides, build empathy and create lasting change.’

Also speaking at Thursday’s conference, Mary Holmes, CEO Churches Trust praised all who took part in the successful programme while thanking the many facilitators and Churches Trust staff for their continued hard work.

For more information contact Margaretbonner@thechurchestrust.org.uk or call 02871311322.