Pre Market Engagement for PEACEPLUS Who Do We Think We Are? Programme

1. INTRODUCTION

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is preparing a potential procurement to appoint a suitably qualified delivery organisation or delivery partnership to design and deliver the Who Do We Think We Are? Programme as part of the Mid and East Antrim PEACEPLUS Local Action Plan. PEACEPLUS is a cross-border funding programme supported by the European Union, the UK Government, the Northern Ireland Executive and the Government of Ireland, and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The programme aims to support peace, prosperity and reconciliation by promoting positive community relations, community transformation and social inclusion across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. Following an extensive co-design process with local communities, stakeholders and statutory partners, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has developed a PEACEPLUS Local Action Plan that will deliver a range of projects and programmes designed to create more inclusive, connected and resilient communities. The Action Plan is structured around three key themes:

• Local Community Regeneration and Transformation
• Thriving and Peaceful Communities
• Building Respect for All Cultural Identities

The Who Do We Think We Are? Programme sits within the Building Respect for All Cultural Identities theme, which seeks to increase understanding of, and respect for, the diverse identities, histories, cultures and lived experiences that shape communities across the Borough. The programme will engage people of all ages and backgrounds in creative, educational and participative activities that explore local heritage, community identity and the meaning of belonging in contemporary Mid and East Antrim. Through a range of creative mediums, which may include storytelling, poetry, visual arts, music, drama, digital media and heritage-based activities, participants will be supported to explore their shared and diverse histories, celebrate local stories and traditions, and contribute to a deeper understanding of what community means today. The programme will foster meaningful interaction between people from different backgrounds, traditions and generations, while creating opportunities to capture and preserve stories, experiences and cultural heritage that might otherwise be lost. The programme is expected to include community-based projects, education-based activities within primary and post-primary settings, and public showcase events, exhibitions or performances that promote dialogue, understanding, and respect across communities. Through these activities, the programme will contribute to lasting peacebuilding, social cohesion and a stronger sense of belonging across the Borough. Before commencing formal procurement, the Council is undertaking preliminary market engagement to understand interest in bidding for the opportunity, market capability and capacity, and views on matters that may affect the procurement and delivery strategy. This includes financial and technical capacity, the procurement procedure, quality criteria and delivery arrangements. This exercise is not a call for competition, an invitation to tender or a commitment to procure. The Council may use feedback to refine the scope, determine the most appropriate procurement strategy, inform the tender documentation, establish a suitable delivery timetable, and allocate responsibilities and risks, subject to the relevant approvals and PEACEPLUS funding requirements.

2. BACKGROUND

The programme is intended to engage people of all ages and backgrounds in exploring identity, heritage, culture and the meaning of community through creative and participative activities. It will build individual confidence, encourage self-expression and foster meaningful and lasting relationships between participants from different cultural, religious, community and generational backgrounds. Through sustained engagement, the programme will use arts, storytelling, heritage and creative practice as vehicles for peacebuilding, helping participants identify common experiences, challenge assumptions, break down barriers and strengthen understanding between people who may have had limited previous contact. Creative engagement events, workshops and collaborative projects will bring together schools, community groups, voluntary organisations, cultural bodies, artists and local residents from across the Borough to explore shared histories, local heritage and contemporary understandings of community. These activities will support the development of cross-community partnerships and collaborative projects involving different traditions, geographical areas, generations and cultural backgrounds. Participating groups will co-design and deliver activities that encourage ongoing interaction, cooperation and relationship-building. The programme is expected to contribute to a number of wider PEACEPLUS objectives, including increasing participation in shared activities, strengthening community connections, promoting mutual understanding and creating opportunities for meaningful and purposeful cross-community contact. Participation is expected to involve people from different religious, political, cultural and ethnic backgrounds working together to explore local stories, identities and heritage, while developing greater understanding, trust and respect for one another. In addition to community-based activities, the programme is anticipated to include educational engagement within primary and post-primary school settings, intergenerational learning opportunities, creative workshops and public showcase events, exhibitions or performances. These activities will support participants to document and share personal stories, local histories and cultural experiences while contributing to a greater understanding of the diversity of communities across Mid and East Antrim. The programme should be accessible to communities across the entire Mid and East Antrim Borough and actively encourage participation from groups that may traditionally experience barriers to involvement in cultural, heritage or community activity. This includes, but is not limited to, minority ethnic communities, newcomers, people with disabilities, young people, older people, individuals impacted by the legacy of conflict, and other underrepresented or marginalised groups. Delivery approaches should seek to ensure that participation opportunities are welcoming, inclusive and reflective of the diversity of the Borough. The future delivery model must support the peace and reconciliation objectives of PEACEPLUS by facilitating sustained and meaningful contact between participants from different backgrounds, promoting inclusive participation, creating opportunities for collaboration between organisations and communities, increasing understanding of individual and collective heritage and identity, and delivering measurable outcomes that contribute to greater social cohesion, mutual understanding and a stronger sense of belonging across the Borough. Delivery arrangements will also need to comply with all relevant PEACEPLUS monitoring, evaluation and reporting requirements.