In December 2005, the Rebuilding Civic Society Programme (a PEACE II funded pilot Intermediate Labour Market in North Belfast) brought together North Belfast News columnist and local historian Joe Baker with senior Unionist Party member Nelson McCausland to jointly host a tour of Clifton Street cemetery.

Speaking after the tour Deborah Anderson, programme manger said, “This tour was designed to deepen appreciation of our shared past. However our past may be interpreted it has to be said that it collectively belongs to us all. This needs to be widely understood. The Tour of Clifton Street Cemetery is part of the learning component of the programme.” “Visits and seminars have previously been designed around deepening participant’s knowledge of local government, the Stormont Assembly and other processes of governance. It is also about connecting programme participants to their local politicians.”

The Rebuilding Civil Society is a cross-community customised and tailored employment programme aimed at developing, supporting and encouraging long term participants into sustainable employment. The aim is to improve confidence and employability through tailored learning interventions.

Commenting on the success of the programme to date Anderson continued: “We believe that we have created a unique employment programme that is breaking down barriers to employment while also developing the leadership capacity of each programme participant to play an active role in the life of their community.” “The Rebuilding Civil Society programme is a model of practice that also puts peace building into practice. It is our intention to present the learning from this programme to Minister Angela Smith about further extending the implementation of this programme across North Belfast and with a view to informing how she tackles unemployment in general.”

This initiative offers programme participants in North Belfast employment for one year based in a variety of host employment organisations. Organisations have benefited from this programme on a cross-community basis to include: Mount Vernon Community, 123 House, Stakeholder Development, Intercomm, RI Interactive, Mid Skegoneil Community Association, Wee Care, the Home Aid for the Vulnerable and Elderly Safety Project, Physical Fundamentals, Crusaders FC, Loughside FC and Printers Restaurant.

This programme is promoted by the North Belfast Employment Centre supported by Intercomm and is funded by the Belfast Local Strategy Partnership under the Peace II programme.