‘Our Guildhall, Our Space’ increased young people’s access to civic heritage by welcoming them into a shared public building through activity designed around wellbeing, leadership and participation. The case study described the initiative as a youth programme supported by the Society in partnership with the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council. It stated that the programme made the Guildhall more accessible to young people by welcoming them into the space through activities focused on mental health and wellbeing, leadership and problem‑solving, and by creating a safe, welcoming environment where young people met, relaxed and took part in activity.
The difference made was framed as participation and belonging in a shared civic space. The case study described the practical value of opening civic spaces to the community and reported that the Guildhall was busy with children and young people engaging with one another, building relationships and confidence. It also made an important point about access: civic heritage could feel distant or ‘not for me’ to those who did not see themselves reflected in it, and programmes that invited participation helped reshape that relationship by turning heritage from an inherited symbol into a shared asset. This example carried the reconciliation lens in a grounded way without over-signalling. The case study framed the impact as everyday opportunities for young people to build positive relationships in a shared setting. The focus was not on abstract claims, but on participation, connection and the experience of belonging in a space that mattered locally. As an impact story, the programme demonstrated how heritage and civic place could be animated through use, not preserved at a distance. The difference made was that more young people accessed and used the Guildhall as a shared space — building confidence, taking part in activity, and strengthening connection through participation.
