Wide-ranging constitutional issues and their impact on local communities were explored at the launch of an innovative project from Holywell Trust.
The Community Relations Council supports Holywell trust organisation through its Core Funding Scheme.
The Forward Thinking project launched on 26 June 2025 at Holywell Trust in Derry~Londonderry.
As part of the project, Holywell Trust is inviting participants with diverse views and identities to take part in a series of seminars and workshops that will contribute to an important discussion. This project will explore constitutional questions and issues from a wide range of perspectives. It will also consider Northern Ireland in the global context and involves examining other places facing constitutional challenges.
The seminars and workshops are open to all to attend. The organisation will also be running a recruitment exercise over the coming months to select participants to join them on study visits to Scotland and Catalonia and/or the Basque Region to gain a greater understanding of the issues and complexities involved in the constitutional debates in those regions.
This is a great opportunity to hear firsthand from those directly involved in the various campaigns and those impacted by constitutional decisions and challenges.
Gerard Deane, Director of Holywell Trust said: “We are excited to build on previous conversations we have facilitated at Holywell around this important issue. This is an opportunity to expand the important constitutional debate through challenging, thought-provoking dialogue and exploration, and get into the nitty-gritty of the issues important to all of our citizens.”
Guest speaker at the launch event were Dr Daniel Cetrà and Lindsay McIntosh.
Dr Daniel Cetrà is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Barcelona. His research focuses on the comparative study of nationalism, constitutional debates, and secessionism, with a particular emphasis on Spain, the UK, and Belgium.
Lindsay McIntosh is the Head of News at the Sunday Times. She was formerly the Scottish Political Editor of the Times, where she ran the coverage of Scotland’s independence referendum. Lindsay also worked on the London newsdesk of The Times, and edited their Scottish edition.
Sara Duddy, Programme Manager, said: “Forward Thinking will explore the constitutional question here as well as drawing on international experiences of constitutional change and debate. This is an interesting time in the evolving conversation around the border, and participants will also be able to take a number of residential study visits which will explore political/identity conflict and/or historical divisions in other jurisdictions.”
Forward Thinking is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). It is funded through Derry City and Strabane District Council’s PEACEPLUS Local Co-Designed Action Plan, under the theme of Celebrating Cultural Diversity.
Further Info
For further information, please contact Sara Duddy, Programme Manager, Holywell Trust by email on sara@holywelltrust.com or by phone: 028 712 6194. 