IFI Board members (L-R) Peter Osborne, Avila Kilmurray, Sadie Ward McDermott, Bernie Butler, IFI Chair Paddy Harte and Anne Carr
£206,632 has been allocated to Creggan Neighbourhood Partnership for a 24-month project focusing in the Derry/Strabane District Council area with a primary focus on the Creggan area.
This project will target those who have not yet engaged in peace building and will support and develop the community’s strongest asset which is the women that live in the Creggan Estate.
Its aim is to build the capacity of the Creggan community and to work in partnership with the relevant organisations to counteract deprivation and disadvantage and weak community infrastructure through the promotion of social and economic regeneration and community development.
This project will be funded through the IFI’s Peace Impact Programme (PIP).
Bogside and Brandywell Initiative has received £203,824 for a 24-month project targeting the areas of East Donegal Border region, Derry City and Strabane, to include Muff, Killea, Lifford, Buncrana, Culmore area of Derry City and its adjoining area of Quigley’s Point.
The funding represents an extension to the existing ‘Better Together project’ and will aim to build on the lessons learned and experience gained over the last year to reinforce the relationships that have been established and expand these both geographically and thematically.
The project will have five named partners including the Hive Cancer Support formally the Pink Ladies Cancer Support Group based in Buncrana, Co Donegal established by the Derry parent group in 2005, the Life After Group based in Kilfennan, Derry, Strabane Health Improvement Project and two Buncrana based organisations – the Exchange and Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin.
This project is funded through the IFI’s Communities in Partnership Programme (CiPP).
Another Communities in Partnership Programme (CiPP) funded project – £143,172 was allocated to Ballinascreen Community Forum for an 18-month project aimed at developing the relationship between the Ballinascreen Community Forum in Derry and partner organisations in Glenties, Co Donegal through events and activities.
The project will cover a number of towns and villages, including the Parish of Ballinascreen & Kilcronaghan (Draperstown, Straw, Sixtowns, Moneyneena, Kilcronaghan/ Tobermore) areas within Derry-Londonderry and the Parish of Iniskeel Glenties, Edeninfagh & Fintown areas of Co Donegal.
The funding forms part of a £1,172,890 / €801,925 funding package, allocated to eleven projects across Northern Ireland and the Southern border counties aimed at supporting local projects deliver vital peace building and community relations initiatives.
Chair of the IFI, Paddy Harte welcomed the latest allocation of funding: “Supporting people working in their local communities consistently demonstrate their ability to understand and address the needs of their local area.
“We are seeing more projects identifying innovative and creative opportunities for engagement and dialogue between communities, encouraging cooperation and relationship building.
“We are continuing to see tensions between and within communities in Northern Ireland and the southern border counties, specifically relating to culture, identity, and legacy, further exasperated with the lack of the Northern Ireland Executive.
“Our young people continue to be at risk from paramilitary recruitment and criminal influence and this funding will ensure that support is targeted at those who really need it.
“This grassroots support is critical to developing sustainable peace and reconciliation, particularly in some of our most divided communities and the IFI is committed to supporting these projects.”
The Peace Impact Programme (PIP) received £419,967/€556,074 across five projects which will deliver sensitive interventions in communities that have not previously, or have only partially, participated in peacebuilding and reconciliation activities.
The Personal Youth Development Programme (PYDP) received £405,927/€129,236 allocated across three projects.
The focus for these projects will be to improve confidence and personal resilience in young people, helping them develop a better understanding of culture and identity, and grow practical skills to offer better employment opportunities.
The Communities in Partnership Programme (CiPP) was allocated a total of £346,996/€116,615 which will go to three projects aimed at helping to build resilience and empower communities to build stronger, meaningful cross-border partnerships.
The eleven projects will work across communities in Armagh, Tyrone, Leitrim, Louth, Antrim, Fermanagh, Cavan, Derry, Donegal, and Monaghan.
The IFI was set up by the British and Irish Governments as an independent international organisation in 1986 and is supported by international donors – British and Irish Governments, government of the United States of America, European Union, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The organisation delivers a range of peace and reconciliation initiatives across Northern Ireland and the southern border counties, currently supporting a total of 46 projects in Northern Ireland and 20 in the southern border counties.
Full Funding allocation:
Peace Impact Programme
£419,967
€556,074
Personal Youth Development Programme
£405,927
€129,236
Communities in Partnership Programme
£346,996
€116,615
Totals
£1,172,890
€801,925
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