THE youngest survivor of the Warrington bombing was just 13 days old when two explosives were detonated in the heart of Warrington killing two young children.

A quarter of a century on, Harriet Vickers is part of the extraordinary team dedicated to promoting peace and tackling conflict.

The 25-year-old, whose mum Bronwen Vickers suffered life-changing injuries in the attack on March 20, 1993, first became involved with The Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Peace Foundation five years ago.

She is now helping to roll out the Tim Parry Scholarship, which was one of the first programmes to be delivered by the charity.

“The foundation is built on the view that we want to do all that we can to convince people that nothing good can come from someone putting a bomb in a bin in order to make their point,” said Harriet, who has been able to witness with her own eyes the difference the foundation makes.

After meeting the charity’s chief executive five years ago, Harriet was invited to participate in a Young Ambassadors Programme in New York – a trip that still inspires her to this day. 

The programme brought together other young people from across the world who had experienced similar heartache.

While in New York, Harriet met victims of the Omagh bomb in 1998. She was later invited to speak at the 15th anniversary.

“I was challenged by some of the things I heard and saw,” she said.

“My assumptions were quite wildly different to the reality. 

“It also sparked my commitment to the belief that dialogue and engagement with others is key to understanding and breaking down barriers that continue to promote violence and hate. 

After graduating, Harriet was given the opportunity to join the foundation and she has never looked back. She now works alongside the director of programme supporting the development of new projects.

The Tim Parry Scholarship is a project close to the heart of the charity’s founders Wendy and Colin Parry – a couple who decided to channel their grief in pursuit of peace. 

The scheme was set up to bring together young people from Warrington, the north and the south of Ireland in the spirit of reconciliation by talking about the differences they have but also what they have in common.

Plans are now in place to relaunch the scheme to arm young people with the skills to be in control of their emotions, think differently and behave with a conscience. 

The foundation, which is the Warrington Guardian’s charity of the year, is currently working Warrington Rotary Club to raise funds to run the programme.

To make a donation visit peace-foundation.org.uk.