Choice Housing celebrates local traditions and strengthens connections

Choice Housing has successfully launched a new community storytelling programme to strengthen community connections, tackle social isolation, and celebrate heritage as part of a major PEACEPLUS-funded initiative

Aimed at those aged 55 and over, ‘Remember Me’ is an eight-part facilitated storytelling event that uses reminiscence and heritage to share life experiences and reflect on the social change that has taken place down through the years in the town of Donaghadee.

Participants will have the chance to share personal memories, explore local history, and connect with others through guided discussions focused on the people, places and events that have helped to shape their lives and communities.

Choice Housing

Taking place over an eight-week period, the programme forms part of the Common Ground Project, a major cross-border initiative led by the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations (NIFHA) and funded through PEACEPLUS – a Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) programme.

The ‘Remember Me’ programme is a collaborative initiative involving Choice, Radius and Clanmil. Together, they are building stronger, more integrated and resilient communities by bringing people together through a range of local engagement exercises that promote understanding, inclusion and positive community relations.

Free to attend, the sessions will run every Wednesday from twelve noon to 2pm until 12 August, with refreshments provided. Sessions will be held at Donaghadee Community Centre, with the final two weeks taking place at an alternative venue that has still to be confirmed.

Hamish Lacey-Gibson – the PEACEPLUS Community Organiser at Choice Housing– said: “The response to Remember Me has been incredibly positive, demonstrating the real appetite that exists within communities to come together and learn by sharing experiences.

“These sessions provide an opportunity for people to reflect on the changes they have witnessed throughout their lives, while also celebrating the many stories, traditions and heritage that make Donaghadee and the surrounding area such a special place to live.

“At Choice Housing, we know strong communities are built on relationships. By creating welcoming spaces where people can connect, listen and find common ground, we can help strengthen community cohesion and foster a much greater sense of belonging.

“Through the Common Ground Project, we are creating opportunities for people to build relationships, discover shared experiences and learn more about one another. Initiatives like Remember Me demonstrate how storytelling can bring people together, strengthen understanding and help create more connected and resilient communities,” he added.

“We are proud to support projects that encourage meaningful conversations and celebrate the experiences that unite us. By creating opportunities for connection and understanding, we can help build stronger communities where everyone feels valued and included.”