PeacePlayers creates safe, structured spaces where young people build relationships across lines of difference. This project uses sport, specifically basketball, to unite young people from historically divided parts of the community in Northern Ireland. Almost three decades after the Good Friday Agreement, segregated education, separated neighbourhoods, and ongoing sectarian and racist incidents continue to restrict young people’s opportunities to form positive relationships, build social networks, and access wider life chances. Alongside these historic divisions, new inequalities are emerging, particularly between indigenous young people and those from migrant and refugee backgrounds. These children often face additional barriers to belonging, participation, and opportunity.

PeacePlayers’ relationship-based, early-intervention model offers an effective and creative way to address both long-standing and emerging inequalities and exclusion, supporting young people to develop the relationships, confidence, and skills. Following the premise that children who play together can learn to live together, PeacePlayers facilitators leverage sport and its inherent lessons of teamwork, cooperation, communication and determination to promote peace and reconciliation.

This three-year project extends the School Twinning Programme, bringing together Catholic and Protestant youth from neighbouring schools for a programme of integrated sports and conversations; and Bridging Divides, an evening/after school programme that engages young people through providing cross-community basketball training, matches and community relations discussions, empowering young people to transform division into unity. The project will also address emerging divides between migrant and refugee young people and indigenous young people, ensuring all participants feel included and able to participate fully. Emerging youth leaders will receive training and meaningful, hands-on experience through supporting programme delivery, strengthening their confidence, employability, and future aspirations.