Future Relationship Conversations engages with the community – with particular focus on those who identify, or have identified, as Protestant, unionist or loyalist – on attitudes to possible alternative future relationships and constitutional arrangements, including on which arrangements might be most acceptable and which might best hold people to this island.

Already there has been a series of engagements, that have led to the identification of topics to be researched with reports launched at a final conference in early December 2021. Holywell Trust is taking a facilitative role in the process and does not have a preferred outcome on the constitutional issue other than enhancing the discussion by providing accurate and informed information.

There is a need, and growing desire across communities, to have a conversation on the future constitutional status of Northern Ireland and Ireland. The conversation needs to be broad, encompassing all future possibilities. The Future Relationship Conversations project engages with the community, to begin to remove uncertainty and move the conversation beyond the normal identity focused assumptions.

Brexit has added an extra dimension to the conversation and has made the possibility of a border poll more likely alongside the ongoing calls for independence from many in Scotland. The Brexit process has also clearly demonstrated the dangers in holding referendums with limited information on the outcome of the decisions.

We are convinced that if people have been informed and engaged on issues, and have the opportunity to shape and inform debate, that the impact of the conversations will be less divisive in local communities.

For more information, please read our engagement document setting the context of these conversations and some possibilities, to help shape the discussions.