Last Saturday, we hosted the first 2026 convening of members of our Black Leadership Programme.

▶️ Northern Ireland is changing, and diverse voices must be at the forefront of social change. SCI's Black Activist Leadership Initiative supports people of African origin and descent to connect, share strategies, build leadership and strengthen their collective impact. 🔗 buff.ly/fMQdynH

Our report examines how the UK government has attempted to walk back commitments made to ensure Brexit wouldn't diminish Good Friday Agreement rights and equality protections. 🔗 Read the full report: buff.ly/iFDYjaT

Excellent piece by Professor Cathryn Costello @profccostello.bsky.social of @ucdschooloflaw.bsky.social in today’s Irish Times: Ireland should resist cheap and tough talk on migration…

Brian Feeney highlighting a serious and potentially very damaging misstep by the Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, in relation to the ECHR - this can be corrected ahead of the meeting of Council of Europe foreign ministers in May 2026…

I have a letter in today’s Irish Times about Ireland and the ECHR and the apparent shift in the Irish government’s position towards reform of the Convention signalled recently by the Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan TD #ECHR

To all those dedicated to building a better world - thank you for your continued commitment this year. In times of challenge, it's the connections we build, the communities we support and the solidarity we share that sustain our work and give us hope.

🌍 Social Change Initiative's Latest Newsletter 🌍 Grounding Social Change in Shared Values – our newest issue explores how we can build movements and drive meaningful transformation by focusing our work on principles that unite rather than divide us. 🔗 Read and subscribe: mailchi.mp/socialchange...

Yesterday we attended the launch of @jrf-uk.bsky.social's new report on poverty in NI. An important piece of work with a clear message: change is possible, but only if political leaders act now. From childcare to rural inequality, we can’t afford to wait. www.jrf.org.uk/poverty-in-n...

We’re excited to share that the Social Change Initiative is now on Instagram! 🤳 🌍 🔗 www.instagram.com/SCIBelfast

Discover how a values-led approach is opening new pathways for community dialogue. Read our World Values Survey - Lessons Learned report: buff.ly/MzRjIkw

Last week we welcomed 28 Community and Youth Work students from Maynooth University. SCI's Director, Martin O'Brien, was delighted to meet them and talk about working for social change and the current situation in Belfast.

Great to be back again in South Africa to mark 10 years of the Constitutionalism Fund an initiative of @atlantic, @FordFoundation & @OpenSociety. $29m of grant awards made to advance the realisation of the rights provided for in the South African Constitution

🌐 The last wave of WVS was the first time the study had been run in NI, and with @sci-belfast.bsky.social we have been using the findings to provide insights into how different groups in NI are aligned in terms of their values and attitudes, beyond community background or constitutional position

🤝 Delighted to see our partners @sci-belfast.bsky.social using findings from our work on the World Values Survey to engage community leaders in Northern Ireland in conversations on attitudes, values and how to tackle division in the country ➡️ www.socialchangeinitiative.com/values-lesso...

Over two years, 170 people from diverse communities across Northern Ireland took part in our values-led workshops, exploring what we share and what divides us through World Values Survey data. 🔗 socialchangeinitiative.com/values-lessons-learned

Following our event 'Tackling Hate & Violent Extremism – What Works?', we're continuing to share insights from a conversation with Joe Mulhall from @hopenothate.org.uk on the work being done to counter hate and violent extremism. ▶️ 🔗 Full article: buff.ly/GSqSHZx

Last week we published a new report outlining attempts by the UK government to undo commitments it made to ensure that Brexit wouldn’t lead to any diminution in GFA rights and equality protections. To make the key points easier to follow, we’ve put together a short animation you can watch below. ▶️

“Tackling economic insecurity and rebuilding community is the ticket back to a politics that builds on positivity.” New polling from @hopenothate.org.uk highlights some progressive ways out of current anxieties and division across the UK 👇 hopenothate.org.uk/state-of-hope/

Incredible talent from our #KindEconomy chefs, catering an event earlier this week. Imagine how much skill and talent we are missing out on in Belfast while people in the asylum system are banned for working 💛 Have you tried the Kind Economy cooking? 👀

Great to see former @sci-belfast.bsky.social intern Allison Tate being included among this prestigious group of young leaders.

The UK government appears to be trying to undo the commitment it made to ensure that Brexit would not lead to any diminution of Belfast-Good Friday Agreement rights.

A new study by Inter Alia co-funded by Social Change Initiative explores how Greek society has split into five distinct "tribes" with very different takes on democracy, immigration and identity. 🔗 Read it now 👉 socialchangeinitiative.com/hidden-tribes-mapping-social-perceptions-in-modern-greece

#NorthernIreland today. Important discussions on ‘Tackling Hate and Violence’ @sci-belfast.bsky.social @viewdigital.bsky.social @unisonni.bsky.social

Yesterday we welcomed over 80 guests from a diversity of sectors to our event 'Tackling Hate & Violent Extremism – What Works?', which brought together key voices in the fight against racism and violence in Britain, Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Changing the government's approach isn't easy, but it's essential for lasting impact. Our partnership with Northern Ireland's government showcases how philanthropy can drive meaningful reform. Check out the lessons learned 👉 socialchangeinitiative.com/making-chang...

Discover stories of change from around the world - featuring community action, peacebuilding and advocacy in places like South Africa, Kosovo and beyond 👉 socialchangeinitiative.com/Stories-of-Change

The Good Friday Agreement recognised that protecting the human rights of everyone is central to securing and maintaining the peace. To prevent Brexit from undermining these protections, Article 2 of the Windsor Framework committed the UK to ensure no diminution of the Good Friday Agreement rights.

At SCI we work to secure progressive social change so that communities become fairer, more inclusive and peaceful. Find out more about what we do, visit 👉 lnkd.in/dSZ35nSU

Last weekend, we hosted members of our Black Activist Leadership Initiative for another Residential aimed at encouraging knowledge exchange and discussions on how to build collective power and create systemic change in the fight against racism and discrimination.

A new study by Inter Alia co-funded by Social Change Initiative explores how Greek society has split into five distinct "tribes" with very different takes on democracy, immigration and identity. 🔗 Read it now 👉 socialchangeinitiative.com/hidden-tribes-mapping-social-perceptions-in-modern-greece

Peacebuilding is one of the core pillars at SCI and we understand that building sustainable peace requires ongoing commitment and innovative approaches. Our Resources for Peacebuilding page offers practical tools, research and insights from our work here in NI and our global partnerships.

Working for Change in India, an In-Brief by SCI’s Avila Kilmurray, is based on the work of changemaker Martin Macwan. Born into a Dalit family, Martin has dedicated his activism to challenging the discrimination faced by 160 million people marginalised as “untouchables”.

Earlier this year we brough together changemakers from our local network to share and celebrate their work, reflect on challenges, and build meaningful connections.

Our Hardwiring Fairness Conference brought together guests from diverse backgrounds to explore how governments worldwide are using legislation to tackle inequalities and enhance wellbeing - and how these approaches could be applied in NI. 👉socialchangeinitiative.com/hardwiring-fairness-conference

SCI’s Narrative Change resource explores how storytelling can be harnessed for progressive change – offering lessons learned, practical tools, and strategies to reframe public conversations and counter fragmentation. 👉 socialchangeinitiative.com/narrative-change

Discover stories of change from around the world - featuring community action, peacebuilding and advocacy in places like South Africa, Kosovo and beyond 👉 socialchangeinitiative.com/Stories-of-Change

Explore the 'Resources for Change' section on our website, offering a diverse toolkit for activists and funders on topics like tackling extremism, narrative change, strategic litigation, campaigning, peacebuilding, among others 👉 socialchangeinitiative.com/resources-for-change

Northern Ireland is changing, and we need diverse voices leading the way. The Social Change Initiative's Black Activist Leadership Initiative brings together people of African origin and descent to connect, share strategies, and amplify their impact to bring social change. 👉 buff.ly/w5IWdBO

Our Resources for Peacebuilding' page offers insights from diverse peace initiatives worldwide - discover lessons on conflict transformation, grassroots efforts, and philanthropy's role in fostering reconciliation 👉 socialchangeinitiative.com/resources-for-peacebuilding.

Changing the government's approach isn't easy, but it's essential for lasting impact. Our partnership with Northern Ireland's government showcases how philanthropy can drive meaningful reform.

Check out the latest issue of the Fordham International Law Journal featuring an essay by SCI's Director @mobrienbelfast.bsky.social and SCI's Board Member Maggie Beirne on the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement's human rights legacy. 📖 Read the full essay - www.fordhamilj.org/volume-48-is...

It's World Social Media Day - a perfect time to remind our friends and followers how to stay connected with SCI's updates 📱🌍

With support from the Reconciliation Fund, SCI’s Values Project used World Values Survey data to spark conversations in NI communities - challenging ‘them and us’ narratives and exploring shared values. Learn more and read the report 👉 socialchangeinitiative.com/values-lesso...

At SCI we work to secure progressive social change so that communities become fairer, more inclusive and peaceful. Find out more about what we do, visit 👉 socialchangeinitiative.com/what-we-do

Dig where you stand!" Bernadette McAliskey told @playthinkbrink.bsky.social at the weekend. 🌱Powerful, long-lasting #change grows from within communities. Thank you @sci-belfast.bsky.social @ejni.bsky.social for inviting PILS to join you on Friday at both your events to talk sustainable change.

Last Friday, we were delighted to welcome changemakers from across Northern Ireland to our Annual Network Convening. At SCI, we're privileged to work alongside a diverse network of grassroots activists and organisers, journalists and filmmakers, funders, and partner organisations.

This morning, we welcomed guests for a briefing on the situation in Syria with Hanny Megally, member of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria and SCI Board member.

Around the world, communities are finding new ways to push back against hate, disinformation, and extremism. Our resources on tackling extremism explore what’s working - from legal strategies to community responses - and share lessons that can inspire action elsewhere. 🔗 buff.ly/mJHuuEl

Collective leadership, strategic thinking, & self-care are vital tactics for leading change in challenging circumstances & divided societies. Learn from an international panel of changemakers who shared their insights in a global discussion hosted by SCI. 🔗 buff.ly/XZGzSrD