• Contact
• Donate

• Home
• About PA
  • History
  • The team
    • Staff
    • The Board
    • Advisors
    • Coaches
  • Values and Vision
• Where we work
  • Local Groups
  • International Partners
• What we do
  • Museums
    • Fermanagh County Museum
    • Ulster Museum, Belfast
    • Cavan County Museum
    • Monaghan Museum
  • Gallery
  • Publications
  • Coaching and Volunteering
    • Areas of Volunteering
      • The Volunteer Application Process
  • Schools
  • WIMPS - Little People, Big Ideas
  • Youth Work in Contested Spaces
    • South Africa
    • Palestine
    • Israel
  • European Voluntary Service
• Get in touch
  • Discussion
    • Members Publications
  • Register
  • Contact
• News
• Donate
• Links

What we do

Public Achievement's mission is 'Building Democratic Communities Together'. We pursue this mission by working in and alongside local communities, schools and other institutions such as museums, to help build relationships between young people, organisations and communities. This work is underpinned by a commitment to promoting respect for diversity, fairness, and improving relations within and between communities. The re-establishment of the Northern Ireland Assembly, provides communities with the opportunity to help shape the future, and to influence and coinvent what democracy means in a post-conflict Northern Ireland.

Our organisation provides young people (supported by local adult volunteers) with the opportunity to get practical experience in directing and implementing their own work around real and important issues, while challenging them to learn that there are other perspectives and that issues are often complex and difficult. Our work also addresses the social and political divisions in our society, and supports young people to develop alternatives to violence and avoidance as responses to conflict. The core of our work is supporting adult volunteer 'coaches' to work with small groups of young people in addressing issues that are important to them.

The young people choose a public issue, and then design projects that address the issue and make a meaningful contribution to the life of their community and the wider world. 'Coaches' support the groups through the process by supporting, challenging and encouraging young people's ideas, as opposed to directing their work. In the process, young people gain skills and knowledge, and develop a values base essential for a life of active citizenship and democracy.

Our work focuses on five programme areas, underpinned by ongoing training, research, reflective practice and evaluation. Our core areas of work are:

• Alternatives to Violence
• WIMPS
• Youth Work in Contested Spaces
• Learning Dreams
• Young Citizens in Museums

Check back for regular updates on where and how we work - and don't forget to check our publications section for reports and resources.