Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has launched projects under the Thriving Together initiative across all its electoral areas. The programme receives funding from PEACEPLUS, which the Special EU Programmes Body manages.

Local community partnerships deliver cross-community projects to create shared services, facilities and spaces. The action plan comes from the PEACEPLUS Partnership Board following engagement with communities, statutory providers, public bodies, businesses and electoral area forums.

Councillor Philip Campbell, council chairperson, said the initiative unites residents across the district. He added that residents contribute to their areas through a wide-ranging programme of activities.

In Crotlieve, a first aid training programme offers registration for emergency response skills. The Voices of the Land initiative runs workshops, guided visits and group writing on poetry, songs and local heritage.

Downpatrick projects include a world textiles programme on traditions from various cultures, a programme on Quoile River heritage and town development, and examination of the town's mental health care history.

Newry projects cover workshops and visits on canal and engineering heritage, capacity building training for community groups, social housing history in Newry and Mourne, and medieval castles and tower houses of east Ulster and Louth.

Rowallane hosts a family history and immigration project using local records, landscapes and stories. Slieve Croob features a project on author Martin Waddell. Castlewellan runs a nature and heritage programme on environment, horticulture and biodiversity.

Slieve Gullion projects include capacity building for children with additional needs, a men's shed podcasting initiative on health and skills, and exploration of sacred spaces such as chapels, churches and meeting houses.

The Mournes area has a disability and creativity festival with workshops, training and visits, a programme on Celtic languages and Ulster Scots, and a storytelling project for those aged 50 and over using interviews, workshops and film.

The council publishes a PEACEPLUS newsletter every two months with updates on projects and involvement opportunities. Residents can email peace@nmandd.org for the database.