Waterside Shared Village project celebrated at special event

Friday, 18 November 2022
Photo of opening event of WSV

Photo of opening event of WSV

The Waterside Shared Village (WSV) includes a state-of-the-art hub building and sports complex located in the interface area between Irish Street and Top of the Hill.

Waterside Shared Village project celebrated at special event

Funders and partners met this week at an event in Derry/Londonderry to celebrate the Waterside Shared Village Project. They were joined by community and local elected representatives to celebrate the completion of this €8 million, EU-funded community development for the Waterside area. 

The project is supported by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), and led by Derry City & Strabane District Council, working in partnership with the Irish Street Youth & Community Association and Hillcrest Community Trust. 

Match-funding was provided by the Department for Communities, Northern Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development, Ireland.

What is Waterside Shared Village?

The Waterside Shared Village (WSV) includes a state-of-the-art hub building and sports complex located in the interface area between Irish Street and Top of the Hill.

The facility aims to build trust and reconciliation between the two communities by creating a safe place for residents to engage in activities together. 

The centre includes a hall that can be transformed into four meeting or training rooms, a community kitchen, office space and a suite of sports changing rooms. The area around the community hub comprises a 3G and grass pitch, cricket training area and tennis courts.

Supporting quotes

The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Sandra Duffy said: 

This project will be transformative for all communities in the Waterside, bringing them together to deliver a shared programme of education, sports, health and well-being and cultural activities. 

Representing the Department for Communities NI, Deputy Secretary Mark O’Donnell said: 

This is an exemplar of what can be achieved, with neighbouring communities working together to transform a former disused school site on an interface, into a new shared space for everyone in this area.

Minister Heather Humphreys TD, Department of Rural and Community Development Ireland, said: 

I want to congratulate Derry City & Strabane District Council and their project partners, the Irish Street Youth and Community Association and Hillcrest Community Trust for all their hard work and dedication in bringing the project to this point, it is a credit to all involved.

Commenting on the significance of the project, Gina McIntyre, Chief Executive of the SEUPB said: 

As a resultof our past history, many sections of our society still live highly segregated lives. They feel safer learning, working and socialising only with people from a similar background. This can lead to increased tensions, mistrust and prejudice and prevent communities and individuals from moving forward. 

The EU PEACE IV funded Waterside Shared Village creates a safe, neutral space on an interface area that will help to positively transform the lives of many local residents. It creates a vibrant new community hub and state-of-the-art sports facility that can be used safely by all. I would like to congratulate everyone who has been involved in the delivery of the project to date.

Keep Up To Date

Keep up to date with our latest calls, project results & activities, programme news & events. We won't clutter up your inbox, we'll only email you when we've got something important to share!