Walking for All: €7.5 Million PEACEPLUS Programme to Get 14,000 People Moving Across Border Communities
A transformative cross-border walking initiative backed by €7.5 million in PEACEPLUS funding has been officially launched, with the ambitious target of engaging more than 14,000 people in guided walks across Northern Ireland and the border counties of the Republic of Ireland. The 'Walking for All' programme, managed by outdoor education charity Outscape in partnership with the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), represents one of the most significant community health investments in the region in recent years, and its timing — amid a summer of political turbulence and social tension — could not be more deliberate.
Background
The PEACEPLUS programme, the successor to the long-running PEACE funding streams that have channelled European Union money into cross-border reconciliation and community development since the 1990s, has a total budget of over €1 billion for the 2021–2027 period. It is jointly managed by the SEUPB and funded by the EU, the UK government, the Irish government, and the Northern Ireland Executive. Walking for All is among the flagship community-facing projects to emerge from this latest funding cycle, and it reflects a deliberate strategic choice to invest in grassroots, people-centred initiatives that build connections across the border.
Outscape, the Derry-based charity leading the programme, has a strong track record in outdoor education and community engagement across the north-west of Ireland. The organisation has previously delivered walking and outdoor activity programmes in some of the most deprived communities in both jurisdictions, and its expertise in reaching people who would not typically engage with formal health or community services has been central to its selection as the lead partner for this initiative.
Social isolation has been identified as one of the most pressing public health challenges facing communities on both sides of the border. Research published by the HSE and the Public Health Agency of Northern Ireland in recent years has consistently highlighted the disproportionate impact of loneliness on rural communities, older adults, and those living in areas of socio-economic deprivation — precisely the communities that Walking for All is designed to reach.
Key Developments
The programme will operate across a network of walking groups in Northern Ireland and the six border counties of the Republic — Donegal, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan, Louth, and Sligo. Participants will be guided by trained walk leaders, with routes carefully selected to be accessible to people of all fitness levels and mobility. The programme places particular emphasis on inclusivity, with specific provisions for older adults, people with disabilities, and those experiencing mental health difficulties.
Funding from the €7.5 million allocation will cover the training and accreditation of walk leaders, the development of accessible trail infrastructure, transport support for participants in rural areas, and a dedicated outreach programme to recruit participants from communities that have historically been hardest to reach. A digital component will also allow participants to track their progress and connect with other walkers across the border, fostering a sense of shared community that transcends the political divide.
Speaking at the launch, an Outscape spokesperson described the programme as "a genuine investment in the health and wellbeing of communities that have too often been left behind." The SEUPB, for its part, emphasised that Walking for All embodies the core PEACEPLUS principle of using shared activity to build lasting connections between communities on both sides of the border.
Why It Matters
The launch of Walking for All comes at a moment when cross-border relations are under considerable strain. The anti-immigration riots in Belfast earlier this month, the ongoing political uncertainty at Stormont, and the broader anxieties generated by the resignation of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer have all contributed to a climate of tension and uncertainty. Against this backdrop, a programme that brings people from different communities together on shared walking routes — through the Sperrins, the Mournes, the Cuilcagh Mountain boardwalk, and the Inishowen Peninsula — carries a significance that goes well beyond its immediate health benefits.
The evidence base for walking as a public health intervention is robust. Studies published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine have consistently shown that regular walking reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and depression. For communities in the border region, where access to formal health services can be limited and where the legacy of the Troubles has left deep social scars, the informal, community-based nature of a walking programme offers a particularly accessible entry point to improved health and social connection.
This is also the third major cross-border health initiative to be announced in the past twelve months, following the expansion of the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme and the launch of a new all-island cancer care partnership. Taken together, these initiatives suggest a growing recognition in both Dublin and Belfast that the health challenges facing communities on the island of Ireland are best addressed through coordinated, cross-border action.
Local Impact
In practical terms, the Walking for All programme will have a tangible impact on communities across a wide geographic area. In Derry and the north-west, where Outscape is based, the programme will build on existing walking networks in areas including the Waterside, Creggan, and the Inishowen Gateway. In Fermanagh and South Tyrone, routes through the Lakelands and along the Erne waterway will be developed. In the border counties of the Republic, communities in Donegal, Cavan, and Monaghan — areas that have historically been among the most economically marginalised in the country — will benefit from new walking infrastructure and trained local leaders. The programme's transport support element is particularly significant for rural participants who lack access to private vehicles, ensuring that geography does not become a barrier to participation.
What's Next
The programme is expected to begin recruiting walk leaders and participants in July 2026, with the first guided walks scheduled for September. A formal evaluation framework will be put in place from the outset, with interim reports due to the SEUPB at six-monthly intervals. The full programme is expected to run until 2028, with the possibility of extension subject to continued PEACEPLUS funding. Outscape has indicated that it will publish a detailed impact report at the end of the first year, covering participant numbers, health outcomes, and community feedback.
