Verbal Arts Centre

02/06/2026

Week 3 of PEACE of Mind covers stress and worry.

The goal isn’t to never feel stressed. It’s to give young people the awareness on how to handle it when it shows up.
 
PEACE of Mind is a free 6-week applied storytelling programme for secondary schools in Northern Ireland and the border counties.
Know a school that could use this? Share this with them!
 
This cross-community initiative is proudly funded by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
 
VerbalArtsCentre

02/06/2026

Here are the Year 1 results for Inside Stories, an applied storytelling programme supporting the wellbeing of people in custody across Northern Ireland. Participants reported real shifts in wellbeing, resilience, and hope.

02/06/2026

Walled City Alive presents a programme of animation, arts and culture taking place throughout June. The programme includes music, dance, storytelling and hands-on creative activity, encouraging locals..

01/06/2026

Celebrating Heritage Month 2026 alongside the rest of the city, bringing the Walled City to life this June.

In the Verbal reception hall is a showcase of the building’s heritage. Spanning its origin as the First Derry National School and later its early beginnings as the office of the Verbal.

Discover deep cultural history, Queen Anne Revival Style architecture and backstories to the various art pieces commissioned by Verbal throughout the building.

Our showcase will be playing everyday this June.

Visitors and locals welcome.

👉 For the full programme visit visitderry.com

Visit Derry Derry City & Strabane District Council The Honourable The Irish Society

27/05/2026

Every story in PEACE of Mind starts long before we walk into a classroom.

Our writers and trainers work together to build stories from the ground up. Researching our real experiences, shaping narratives that feel authentic to young people, and testing every applied storytelling session before it reaches a single student.

Psychology-informed, co-produced and delivered with care.

Know a school who could use a free well being programme like this? Send this to them

This cross-community initiative is proudly funded by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

21/05/2026

Every young person is online. Not every young person knows how to protect themselves there.
 
Week 2 of PEACE of Mind takes an honest look at social media, helping young people understand how it shapes the way they see themselves and others.
 
Through applied storytelling, students explore the gap between what they see online and what’s real, learn to value themselves beyond likes and comparisons, and build the confidence to show up for themselves both online and offline.
 
A young person who understands social media is someone who can use it without letting it use them.
 
Know a school that would love PEACE of Mind? Send this to them.
 
This cross-community initiative is proudly funded by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the (SEUPB).
SEUPB

21/05/2026

20/05/2026

Every story in PEACE of Mind is built around a purpose.
 
Our psychology team works with our writers to embed structured discussion into every session. Each story is read in three parts, with a guided discussion after each one. The sessions are designed to help young people recognise their own thoughts, feelings and behaviours through the experience of a character.
 
It works because of something called psychological distance. Rather than asking a young person how they feel, we ask how the character feels. That small shift creates safety. Talking about the character and what the class thinks they should do.  This lets the class live that situation through the character, discovering the best way to tackle it with the project trainers. Students leave the sessions with the tools and coping strategies to support their own wellbeing.
 
PEACE of Mind is a free 6-week applied storytelling programme for secondary schools in Northern Ireland and the border counties.
Know a school that should experience this? Share this to them. 
 
This cross-community initiative is proudly funded by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the (SEUPB).
 
 

20/05/2026

St Mary’s Primary School Altinure here today for the Taking the Next Step project in collaboration with Rural Area Partnership Incorporated and Children in Crossfire.

This is a pre-teen transition programme under the Thriving and Peaceful Communities theme. Stories about worries, effective communication, emotional intelligence, friendship, effective decision making and personal growth to help promote student wellbeing.