IN PICTURES: Landmark ‘Be The Change’ Conference 2026 in Derry's Guildhall

‘Women and Girls Deserve To Live Free From Fear’ was the clear message coming from Wednesday’s Dove House Community Trust’s Advocacy Project’s ‘Be The Change’ conference 2026.

Upwards of 140 students, alongside community groups and councillors, actively participated in the landmark event hosted in the city’s historic Guildhall.

The event brought together students from St. Cecilia’s, St. Columb’s, Foyle, Lumen Christi, St. Brigid’s, and Oakgrove Integrated College, alongside vital local community organisations and statutory bodies dedicated to youth support, education and public safety.

The day’s activities provided an important opportunity for young people to explore the impact of harmful attitudes, behaviours, and gender-based violence. The interactive sessions successfully encouraged open conversations around respect, equality, healthy relationships, and personal responsibility.

Speakers at the event included the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Grace Ui Niallais, White Ribbon’s Corey Mullan, and the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Detective Constable Josie Crawford and Detective Inspector Mark Gingel. Councillor Aisling Hutton was the final speaker before the floor was opened to a vibrant Q&A session with the panel, which was chaired by Jeananne Craig.

All speakers gave personal and professional anecdotes with DC Josie Crawford’s experiences resonating with the audience as she told the harrowing story of losing her sister to domestic abuse.

Opening the session, a noted point from the Mayor Grace Ui Niallais highlighted that tackling violence against women and girls requires input from us all, as she added ‘Too often, conversations around abuse are seen as something that only concerns certain people or certain neighbourhoods. The reality is very different. Abuse does not discriminate.’

Speaking afterwards, Jayne Quigg, Manager at Dove House Community Trust, declared the event a huge success.

‘We are absolutely delighted with how today went. The young people, the speakers, community groups, and our Advocacy staff all played their part in making it incredibly fruitful for everyone in attendance.

‘Today’s conference marked an important step in bringing education, community support, and youth advocacy together under one shared message – we all have a responsibility to be part of the change. Through continued collaboration and positive action, today’s ‘Be The Change’ initiative will hopefully inspire a culture of respect, accountability, and equality among our young people, helping to build safer communities for everyone in the city, district, and beyond.’

One of the student, St. Columb’s College Head Boy Ben Farren spoke on what he and other students took away from attending, on challenging harmful attitudes, stating: ‘Today’s conference on stopping violence against women was extremely impactful to not only myself, but my fellow students of St Columb’s College.

‘Learning about the challenges women face on a daily basis - and how we, as men, can prevent these problems for the women of our generation - has made us more aware. It has taught us how to challenge harmful attitudes, stand up for women, and help create a safer, more equal society for everyone in the community.’

Also commenting, Deirdre McDaid, Manager of Sure Start Edenballymore in the city said: ‘Ending violence against women and girls requires all of us to be part of the change!

‘We all can take away a lot from today’s conference. With ourselves, at Sure Start, our work begins in the earliest years, supporting children and families and helping to build the foundations for healthy, respectful relationships. We are proud to stand alongside Dove House and our community partners in sending a clear message that violence and abuse have no place in our homes, schools or communities, and that every woman and girl deserves to feel safe, valued and heard.’

In conclusion, Ms. Quigg, DHCT, also paid tribute to the funders, Derry City and Strabane District Council and The Executive Office, and thanked the Council staff in the Guildhall and members of the Hive Choir who volunteered their services.