Perhaps one of the saddest legacies of the Troubles in Northern Ireland has been the continuation of the social conflict through younger generations.
While much has been achieved in helping to young people away from such negative pathways, there is still much work to be done, however, and the Conversation Piece project is one such example of how Extern has been trying – and succeeding – in changing mindsets.
Created in 2019, the Conversation Piece project aimed to develop better relationships between young people and the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Crucially one of the purposes of the project has been to encourage young people to see police officers as ‘real’ people and that they should not be afraid to reach out to officers if they require support or assistance for themselves or within their communities.