Local Authority Action Plans, Building Positive Relations, Shared Spaces and Services Impact Evaluation

Based on figures at the time of the evaluation and subject to verification.

The impact evaluation is longitudinal, reporting Programme impacts in 2019, 2021 and 2022. Each impact report contains six case studies, four of which are longitudinal (i.e., initially developed in 2019 and then updated in 2021 and 2022), and two represent ‘snapshots’ of the progress and impact of selected projects at a given point in time. Reports for 2019, 2021 and 2022 are available below.

The impact evaluations highlight the positive impact of building positive relations, shared spaces and services, and children's and young people's projects on participants and local communities. This includes increased understanding of differences, positive attitudinal and behavioural change, and improved community cohesion. The report also measures and analyses progress made by projects towards output and result indicators set by the PEACE IV Programme. The evaluation assessed the impact of COVID-19 on the delivery of the projects and identified key factors that contributed to the success of the Programme despite the challenges presented. The report also considers the sustainability of projects, with recommendations for the SEUPB and future PEACEPLUS applicants.

“There is strong evidence that the projects have, through direct engagement with communities, directly addressed a lack of cross-community engagement and that they have facilitated attitudinal change or are showing progress towards attitudinal change. The projects have offered an opportunity to make those first steps, for people to set foot in places they previously would not have ventured and for beginning the process of breaking down pre-conceptions of space as belonging to one community or another.”

Evaluation Team, RSM Consulting.