Rural Area Partnership Incorporated

16/10/2026

🌳🐑 Woodland Discovery at Butterlope Farm! 🌿

Pupils and staff from Our Lady of Fatima Primary School joined us for a wonderful day of outdoor learning at Butterlope Farm in the hills of Plumbridge. 🌱

The children explored the natural environment, discovering more about the trees, hedgerows, wildlife and farm animals while enjoying a hands-on learning experience in the great outdoors. 🐦🐄🌳

A huge thank you to Annie and Vinnie for their warm welcome and for hosting such a fantastic day at Butterlope Farm.

This opportunity was delivered through RAPID’s Woodland Discovery Project, funded through the PEACEPLUS Change Makers Fund, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

Our Lady of Fatima Primary School
Butterlope Farm

Pupils and staff from Lady of Fatima P.S joined us for a day of learning about the trees, hedgerows, wildlife and animals on the farm. Thank you to Rural Area Partnership Incorporated for making this happen through PeacePlus ChangeMakers fund with their Woodland Discovery Project.

15/10/2026

Celebrating International Day of Rural Women – 15 October 🌳

Today, we celebrate the incredible women who make a difference in our rural communities every day, including the dedicated women working at RAPID.

From heritage projects and peacebuilding to finance, social enterprise, social inclusion and rural community development, women contribute across so many areas, helping our rural communities grow, connect and thrive.

Across Faughan, Sperrin and Derg, the women at RAPID work alongside communities, partners, schools and families to create opportunities, strengthen connections and make a lasting difference.

Whether supporting rural primary schools, delivering family support programmes, developing nature-based health and wellbeing initiatives, or helping communities access funding and new opportunities, their work reaches people of all ages and backgrounds.

Today, we recognise and celebrate the contribution of women working at RAPID and women across our wider rural communities, whose dedication helps build stronger, healthier and more inclusive places to live, work and grow.

To mark International Day of Rural Women, RAPID is delighted to make a donation to the Rumbek Project, which is dedicated to empowering and educating young girls and women in South Sudan.

13/10/2026

RAPID is delighted to be leading on a cross border environmental programme in partnership with Inishowen Development Partnership, Lough Neagh Partnership, and Inishowen Rivers Trust which focuses on river catchments, funded by the PEACEPLUS Changemakers.

The project will involve communities and landowners participating in practical conservation, water quality improvement, biodiversity protection and shared learning on environmental challenges.

The project was officially launched recently at Forthill Farm, Dundrod, with guest speakers Mr Li Nan, Consul General of the Peoples Republic of China in Belfast, and Cllr Henry Cushinan, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council. The Consul General shared the experience of Lake Taihu in China and the successful efforts to address its pollution challenges, this was followed by a presentation from Lough Neagh Partnership on the group’s work across the Lough Neagh catchment. Local farmer Mike Meharg then led a tour of his family farm, showcasing practical environmental farming measures being successfully delivered on the ground.

The project is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

Inishowen Development Partnership
Inishowen Rivers Trust
Lough Neagh Partnership

06/10/2026

Exploring Reggio Emilia with RAPID 🇮🇹

Last week, members of the RAPID team travelled to Reggio Emilia, Italy, to learn more about the internationally recognised Reggio Emilia Approach to early childhood education.

Our visit included a trip to the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre, where we explored the history and development of early years education in Italy, learned about the key principles of the Reggio Emilia Approach and took part in inspiring conversations centred around the values, beliefs and practices that underpin the approach.

We also had the opportunity to explore the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre, discover Reggio Emilia-inspired resources and environments, and see examples of how child-led interactions, creativity, curiosity and exploration can be supported in early childhood settings.

The visit gave our team lots of opportunities to reflect, ask questions and consider how elements of the Reggio Emilia Approach could be meaningful within our own rural communities.

RAPID is excited to explore the possibilities of working alongside rural early education providers across the DCSDC area — including nurseries, playgroups and other early years settings — to explore the approach, share ideas and consider how it could support rural children, families and early years practitioners.

We’re looking forward to continuing the conversations, learning together and exploring what Reggio-inspired practice could look like in our rural communities.

Centro Internazionale Loris Malaguzzi

05/10/2026

On Friday 2nd October, Ardstraw Area Women’s Group were delighted to launch a special reprint of The Hooley Up in Our House by local poet William Reid.

The launch was particularly special as it took place exactly 40 years to the day since the book was first launched.
Held at the Centre for Migration Studies at the Ulster American Folk Park, the event brought together members of the community and members of William’s family, with William’s daughter sharing one of his poems with us.

This work is part of the Saving Our Rural Heritage project, supported through the National Lottery Heritage Fund and administered by RAPID.

The project doesn’t stop with the book launch. Ardstraw Area Women’s Group are also working with the local primary school, where they will provide a copy of the book to every family. The group will spend time with the children reading and sharing some of William’s poems, while encouraging them to develop their own literacy and poetry skills. 📚✏️
It is fantastic to see William Reid’s work being brought back to life 40 years after the original publication, and to have his poetry and local heritage shared with a new generation.

08/09/2026

On Saturday, a number of groups came together for a visit to the Somme Heritage Centre in Newtownards as part of the Our Present Past, Peace Plus Project.

This was the final trip in the series, giving groups another opportunity to explore our shared history and reflect on how the past has shaped the communities and society we live in today.

The groups have thoroughly enjoyed the visits and the opportunity to learn, share experiences and explore different aspects of our history together.

Now, the groups are looking forward to the next stage of the project, with a series of workshops planned over the coming months. These will provide an opportunity to delve deeper into our rich and sometimes complex history, while continuing to explore the connections between our present and our past.

A big thank you to everyone who has taken part in the trips so far — we look forward to seeing where the next stage of the project takes us!

21/08/2026

On Thursday, the Learmount History Group visited the Ulster Museum as part of the 'Our Present Past' Project.

The visit provided the group with an opportunity to explore the history of Northern Ireland and consider how our shared past has shaped the society we live in today.

The group will also be taking part in a series of workshops over the coming months, exploring our rich and complex history, sharing experiences and learning more about the events that have shaped our communities and our lives.

The programme is supported by PEACEPLUS and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB)

20/08/2026

Specialist Social Mentoring Programme

Through our HARC Project at RAPID, RAPID are offering local community organisations specialist one to one support to explore new social enterprise opportunities, strengthen existing activity and consider how your organisation can build greater financial sustainability and long-term community impact.
With funding becoming increasingly competitive, this is an opportunity to look at how your organisation can diversify income, strengthen its sustainability and turn ideas into an achievable action plan with specialist support.

Any support given will be specific to the needs and requests of the organisation.

To find out more register for one our information workshops using this booking link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/KmUxmSUBye

Tuesday, 15 September | 10.00 am–1.00 pm
The Diamond Centre, Claudy
Guest Speaker: Claire Russell, Easilink Community Transport

Tuesday, 22 September | 2.00 pm–5.00 pm
Newtownstewart Centre 2000
Guest Speaker: Annie Mullan, Butterlope Farm

24/07/2026

🚴🚵Cycle in the Sperrins with the HARC Project 🚴🚵
Our first cycling event with the HARC project takes place on Friday 14th August from 11am - 3pm.
We are delighted to be offering a taster session to cycling, starting at Learmount Community Centre there will be time to get to know your bike in the forest before cycling to Dart Mountain Cheese. Once here, refreshments will be provided before heading back to Learmount. There is no charge to this event.

All equipment supplied, bikes and helmets, and spaces are limited!! Please note that due to size of the bikes this is an adult only event.
🔴BOOK NOW: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1994661770049?aff=oddtdtcreator

A project supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

14/07/2026

It is with profound sadness that we have learned of the passing of Gus Hastings, a dedicated champion of rural communities and a founding member of RAPID since 1994.

For more than three decades, Gus gave his time, energy and expertise to improving the lives of people across our rural communities. His unwavering commitment, leadership and passion helped shape RAPID into the organisation it is today, leaving a legacy that will continue to benefit generations to come.

As Chairperson of the Faughan Valley Landscape Partnership, Gus played a pivotal role in transforming the Faughan Valley into the thriving and valued place it is today. His vision, determination and deep appreciation for the area's natural, cultural and historical heritage inspired countless initiatives and made a lasting difference to the communities he cared so deeply about.

Gus was renowned for his wealth of knowledge of the Derry City and Strabane district, particularly his beloved Strathfoyle. He was always generous with his time, insight and encouragement, and his passion for rural communities shone through in everything he did.

His contribution to RAPID, the Faughan Valley and the wider rural community is immeasurable. He will be greatly missed by colleagues, friends and all those who had the privilege of working alongside him.

Everyone at RAPID extends our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Bridie, his family and the entire Hastings family circle. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this very sad time.

May he rest in peace 🪽