Award Winning Innovation
For the past year Politics in Action has been working with Radius Housing and the Hare's Corner Collective on an innovative project using Participatory Budgeting methodology with 5 schools in Ballymena. That project was just given a 'Community Champions' Award as part of the All-Ireland Housing Awards got 2026.
Our team has been working with the 'Design Team' of students from Ballymena Academy, Slemish College, Castle Tower School, Dunclug College and St Louis Grammar - to help with the development of project ideas. Students have been voting on their favourite projects, and those selected will receive up to £1,500 to deliver their projects.
During the year we have also delivered workshops to several groups of students in each school to get them thinking about democracy more widely. We will also be taking the Design Team to Stormont and their local Council in the new school year.
Taking action together on the issues that matter to you
PiA builds learning journeys with young people and adults that empower them to take action on the issues that matter to them to achieve social change.
We support citizens to explore issues they care about and to take these issue to those in power.
We welcome people from all backgrounds and identities to join Politics in Action and work together for change.
We exist to create safe spaces for people in diverse groups to work together on issues they care about, without judgment or pressure, and in ways that are fun and engaging, and which create the change you want to see.
We are change-makers, co-creators of solutions, reimagining politics, and holding those in power to account
Partnership
We partner with schools and community organisations with specialist skills, politicians, and key decision-makers and others so that the people we work with have the best opportunities to make a difference.
We support people to take action on the issues that matter to them to achieve social change.
Amplify
You have a voice, together we will help you to amplify it. We value every voice and every perspective to help us develop new solutions working together.
Learning
Success starts with developing the skills and knowledge required to make an impact in the world of politics. We believe that learning should be fun and engaging and based around the things you care about.
Action
At PiA, we are active citizens and, working together, we drive change. We believe young people and adults are citizens now (regardless of age or nationality) and your ideas are needed for us to build better neighbourhoods, a better society, and a better world.
Hear from
our participants
Being part of Politics in Action has been an extremely rewarding experience whether learning new skills or meeting new people, working with such a brilliant team has been an absolute pleasure!
A huge thank you to you and your team for affording our students the opportunity of a lifetime! The entire event (What Peace Means to Me at QUB April 2023) has certainly sent a ripple of excitement through St Joseph's - proud students, proud families and proud teachers!
'Doing work placement with Politics in Action was such a great experience. From researching lowering the voting age to attending board and staff meetings and getting to talk to members of the board I truly got to see what running a charity organisation is like. So interesting to see all the work Politics in Action has to do behind the scenes to achieve all the greatness they do! Therese, Paul and Catherine all made me feel so welcome and like I was just part of the team. I couldn’t speak highly enough about my experience!'
Politics in Action has absolutely changed my life, I used to be so quiet and shy and now I feel really empowered to speak up about issues that are important to me.
Our Projects
Our Partner Schools & Organisations
Endorsements of our work
Make Change Happen Today
