REACT – Reconciliation, Education and Community Training
Building Stronger Communities Through Hope, Healing and Peacebuilding
REACT (Reconciliation, Education and Community Training) is a community-based organisation rooted in Armagh, with more than 25 years of experience delivering trauma-informed, cross-community and intergenerational programmes.
Established in direct response to the legacy of conflict in Northern Ireland, REACT has grown into a trusted and respected organisation, recognised for its ability to engage those most affected by trauma, division and social exclusion. Our work supports people from all backgrounds, helping individuals, families and communities build resilience, improve wellbeing and create lasting, positive change.
At REACT, we believe that peacebuilding is most effective when it is community-led, trauma-informed and inclusive. Through practical programmes and meaningful opportunities to connect, we bring people together to build relationships, encourage understanding and create a stronger sense of belonging.
Our Guiding Principle
We lead through action, not words alone.
As a community organisation, REACT acts with integrity, compassion and care. By being considerate and inclusive of all people, we seek to model the behaviours that encourage communities to be considerate of one another.
Our Ethos
We believe that lasting peace is built through understanding, relationship building and shared experiences.
By listening to one another, celebrating our shared humanity and working together across generations, communities and borders, we help create trust, empathy and collective belonging.
Everything we do is grounded in action, inclusivity and care. We are committed to:
- Building relationships across community divides.
- Promoting meaningful dialogue where every voice is valued.
- Supporting healing, resilience and personal growth.
- Creating opportunities for people to work, learn and celebrate together.
- Encouraging community-led solutions that contribute to a more peaceful and inclusive society.
Our Vision
Our vision is to create a lasting legacy of peace where communities celebrate shared culture, foster collective belonging, participate actively in civic life and promote mutual respect regardless of cultural, political, racial or community background.
Together, we believe we can move forward in hope, healing and peacebuilding.
Supporting Victims and Survivors
Since 2011, REACT has delivered a dedicated Victims and Survivors Service, funded by the Northern Ireland Victims and Survivors Service (VSS).
The service supports anyone whose life has been adversely affected by the Troubles in Northern Ireland, regardless of community background. This includes people who have experienced bereavement or injury as a result of the conflict, those with personal experiences of the Troubles, and carers supporting someone affected by the conflict.
REACT provides a wide range of trauma-informed emotional, practical, social and wellbeing support, helping individuals rebuild confidence, resilience and quality of life.
Our services include:
- Counselling and complementary therapies
- Outreach support
- Welfare advice
- Green Therapy horticultural programme
- REACT Cross-Community Allotment Garden
- Walking groups
- Physical health and wellbeing activities
- Personal development programmes
- Craft and creative activities
- Men’s and ladies’ programmes
- Intergenerational initiatives
- Volunteer opportunities
- Social events and respite activities
- Virtual Community Support Hub
REACT’s Victims and Survivors Service is funded by the Northern Ireland Victims and Survivors Service (VSS), which supports organisations delivering services to victims and survivors of the Troubles across Northern Ireland.
REACT Cross-Community Allotment Garden
The REACT Cross-Community Allotment Garden is one of our flagship wellbeing programmes, providing a welcoming shared space where people from all backgrounds come together to grow fruit, vegetables and flowers while building friendships, improving wellbeing and strengthening community connections.
More than simply an allotment, it is a place of healing, learning and belonging. Through gardening, participants enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of spending time outdoors, sharing knowledge, developing new skills and working together towards common goals.
The garden provides opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to connect with nature, reduce social isolation, improve confidence and support positive mental wellbeing. Whether planting seeds, harvesting produce, creating wildlife habitats or simply enjoying a cup of tea and conversation, everyone is welcome.
Regular activities include seasonal planting, gardening workshops, environmental projects, wildlife conservation, healthy eating initiatives, community events and volunteering opportunities, helping people develop skills, confidence and a renewed sense of purpose.
At its heart, the REACT Cross-Community Allotment Garden demonstrates how shared experiences can strengthen relationships, reduce isolation and help create more connected, inclusive and peaceful communities.
The North South Way Peace Camino
The North South Way Peace Camino is one of REACT’s flagship peacebuilding initiatives and forms part of our ongoing commitment to cross-community relations, wellbeing and peacebuilding.
The Peace Camino reflects REACT’s belief that peace is built through everyday acts of connection. By walking together, listening to one another and sharing experiences, participants help create stronger communities founded on trust, understanding and mutual respect.
Through partnerships with local communities, voluntary organisations, universities and statutory agencies, the North South Way Peace Camino continues to grow as a shared pathway towards hope, healing and lasting peace.
Working Together
For more than 25 years, REACT has remained committed to supporting individuals, strengthening communities and creating opportunities for people from all backgrounds to come together in positive and meaningful ways.
Whether through supporting victims and survivors, creating shared spaces such as our Cross-Community Allotment Garden, or developing innovative initiatives like the North South Way Peace Camino, our work is driven by a simple belief: lasting peace is built through relationships, understanding and shared experiences.
We look forward to continuing this journey with communities, partners and volunteers as we work together to build a more connected, inclusive and peaceful future for everyone.
For more information about REACT and our services, please contact us at:
Email: info@reactni.org
