In recent years practitioners in our Northern Ireland office have engaged with public and third sector clients in helping resolve issues and challenges Northern Ireland society continues to face as it deals with the legacy of conflict in the region.

Our work has included supporting the wide-reaching changes to the regional policing body, improving support arrangements for individuals and groups identified as victims and survivors of the conflict and research into the processes helping victims and survivors find out about what happened to family members who were killed during the conflict. In Belfast, we also recently worked to develop quality of life indicators for individuals and communities living near or at ‘peace walls’, the barriers originally designed to keep communities safe. Our work has also helped redesign the approach to interventions aimed at reducing tension across the city at critical times. 

Working alongside European and International funding bodies we have also assessed the impact of peace building and reconciliation programmes on disadvantaged and marginalised communities across Northern Ireland and border counties within the Republic of Ireland. This work has increasingly become forward-looking with a focus on supporting design and implementation of regeneration activity, seeking to normalise society and embed economic and social benefits alongside increased peace and political stability.

Through these projects we bring insight, technical and professional expertise and, importantly given the level of political and public scrutiny on these difficult societal issues, we bring independence. We have developed our methods and techniques to engage directly with hundreds of marginalised and vulnerable groups – some of whom have never before been consulted on issues that have affected their lives for a very long time. The impact of this work has contributed in some small way to the wider ‘normalisation’ process in Northern Ireland. It is ultimately supporting the development of policy and practice which will help Northern Ireland society to help build new norms that relate to a more positive future characterised by peace, confidence and prosperity.

“The research carried out by the Deloitte team forms a strong evidence base for the Commission on the needs of Victims and Survivors in relation to historical investigation and information recovery. In the short-term it is integral to our work on the Comprehensive Needs Assessment for Victims and Survivors. In the longer term it will affect policy and the levels of funding available for these types of activities as the Commission uses the research to advise Government in the formation of the new Victims and Survivors Service and the types of services that Victims and Survivors require in meeting their needs.”