Achieving greater integration in Northern Ireland: young people’s voices
This report examines the perspectives of young people regarding integration in both schools and their local communities, across the traditional community divide in Northern Ireland.
The findings from this report are based on five focus groups, involving 48 young people aged 15 to 25 from across a wide range of communities in Northern Ireland. This report concludes the project that began with Pivotal’s recent Achieving greater integration in education and housing publication. This follow–up report asks how young people aged 18–25 years–old, who have grown–up in this changing but still divided NI, experience and interpret these issues.
Most of the young participants positively identified with their local community, but acknowledged they live in a largely divided area. They were broadly supportive of greater integration, but doubted if they would witness significant change.
Participants viewed ‘integration’ largely as an abstract concept with little bearing on their everyday lives. Rather than a permanent state, integration was seen as a temporary experience, occurring through cross–community initiatives, shared education projects or one–off events. Participants engaged in these activities during school, youth clubs or summer schemes, but ultimately they returned to their own communities which remained divided along sectarian lines.
Most young people in this study had no experience of integrated education, instead viewing schools as divided spaces. Opinions on the potential benefits of integrated education were mixed. Young people also considered integration more broadly, recognising the need to include children from ethnic minorities. Participants emphasised the crucial role of schools in addressing both sectarianism and racism to build a more inclusive society.
A significant number of participants reported feeling unsafe, including concerns for their physical safety, when entering certain areas.
Young people highlighted a lack of shared communal spaces. It is positive, however, that young people could identify key activities in their communities which promoted integration. Participants felt that more opportunities to socialise across different backgrounds would foster lasting integration.
The report concludes by drawing together overall findings from the project. These include the need for leadership and a new vison of what a society with more integration, sharing and mixing could look like and achieve. The challenges facing public services, the economy, and housing mean there is a need to rebuild and reimagine many aspects of NI. There is an opportunity to place integration, breaking down old barriers, and connecting young people at the heart of this construction.
Publication Details
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Date
Thu 15 May 2025
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Report
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