November 18, 2025
Launching the CAWT PEACEPLUS ‘Community Connections and Well-being’ Project (from left to right): Danielle McLaughlin, Deputy Chief Officer, CAWT; Gina McIntyre, Chief Executive Officer, Special EU Programmes Body; Aidan Dawson, Chief Executive, Public Health Agency / CAWT Deputy Director General; Cathy Mc Closkey, Chief Officer, CAWT and Karen Matthews, Lead Peer Educator, Southern Health & Social Care Trust.
The Community Connections and Well-being Project (CCWP), a €9.6 million cross-border initiative designed to enable people with mild and/or emerging mental health difficulties, to access early intervention programmes and support, has been officially launched in Monaghan.
The project is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
CCWP has received €9,589,178 in funding and will bring together statutory, voluntary and community sectors to work collaboratively to provide support and episodes of health and social care to 10,000 individuals with mild and/or emerging mental health difficulties. This will be achieved by enabling access to early intervention programmes and support in the Western and Southern Health and Social Care Trust areas and in the HSE border counties.
The overall aim of the project is to improve the mental health and well-being of people by focusing on responding to early signs of distress to prevent escalation, and provide access to support closer to home through community hubs, and delivery of interventions that will lead to better health and well-being.
Supports and interventions provided by the project will include low intensity psychological support, such as counselling, and also a range of psychosocial mental health and well-being programmes, activities and community supports to be delivered within communities.
There will be an emphasis on improving the mental health and well-being of people from more marginalised and disadvantaged communities, where there is a greater prevalence of mental health difficulties, thus contributing to healthier communities overall and enhancing community cohesion and wellbeing. Ultimately, the Community Connections and Well-being Project will contribute positively to building peace and prosperity, a key objective of the PEACEPLUS Programme.
The cross-border launch event was attended by key stakeholders including health and social care professionals and leaders, and representatives from mental health and well-being services and government.
Minister of State for Mental Health Mary Butler TD said: “Investing in, and modernising, mental health services is a key priority for Government, so I’m pleased to support the launch of the Community Connections and Well-being Project (CCWP) as part of the PEACEPLUS programme.
This vital project will support 10,000 people experiencing mental health challenges by providing access to community-based early intervention and support, greatly improving the lives of participants and their families.”
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt MLA said: “I welcome the opportunity this project brings to address longstanding social and economic challenges that continue to impact negatively on the mental health and well-being of our border communities.
The provision of governmental match funding from both jurisdictions to the overall project budget will help build on the experience and strengths of the previous EU INTERREG VA funded Innovation Recovery project, to help people with mild and/or emerging mental health conditions access appropriate supports within their communities. In line with a key priority for my Department, I further commend the project for its focus on rural, isolated and border communities, alongside larger urban centres, as it works to achieve more equal access to healthcare for those most in need.”
SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre said: “The Community Connections and Well-being Project sets out to tackle the longstanding social and economic challenges that affect the mental health and wellbeing of communities along the Northern Ireland/Ireland border. It aims to foster peace and prosperity, leaving a legacy in the border region by contributing to one new cross-border solution, which will include four delivery hubs in the border counties.
This PEACEPLUS project will help build more resilience in the health systems, through supporting the longer-term transition from institutional to more community-based care.”
Welcoming this significant funding award, Pat Healy, HSE National Director and Director General of the CAWT Partnership said: “The CAWT partner organisations are committed to partnership working and innovating cross border services and projects, which improves the health and well-being of citizens. Our PEACEPLUS Community Connections and Well-being Project will enable the statutory, community and voluntary sectors, to co-operate to provide support and services to people with mild and/or emerging mental health conditions, and who live in border areas.”
He added: “We are grateful to the Special EU Programmes Body and both Departments of Health for this PEACEPLUS funding, and for their support and trust in the CAWT Partnership to deliver for citizens living in border counties.”
CAWT’s Deputy Director General, Aidan Dawson, Chief Executive of the Public Health Agency commented: “We welcome this significant additional PEACEPLUS investment to help improve adult mental health and well-being in the CAWT border region. The CAWT Community Connections and Well-being Project, with its focus on facilitating access to early intervention programmes and support, at community level, will directly benefit border populations, and help to increase social inclusion and reduce health inequalities.”