£204,577 to Community Restorative Justice Newry/Armagh
The funding from the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) enables peacebuilding efforts within some of the most marginalised communities who continue to live with the long-term impact of The Troubles.
The latest allocations will offer critical support at a grassroots level as many face the realities of austerity cuts and increasing polarization within communities.
Funding has been awarded across the Peace Impact Programme (PIP), Personal Youth Development Programme (PYDP) and Communities in Partnership Programme (CIPP).
Community Restorative Justice Newry/Armagh will use £204,577 for 24 months to expand on the ‘Digging Deeper Project’, working with residents, women, young people, ex combatants and disaffected republicans in the Newry and South Armagh area to explore community confidence in policing and facilitate conflict resolution and reconciliation.
IFI Chair Paddy Harte says the support is vital in the current climate; “Projects are working against an incredibly challenging backdrop with recent funding cuts across the community sector and ongoing political instability both threatening to undo the progress that has been made in recent times.
“Communities are struggling with identity and culture issues alongside the legacy of The Troubles. Unfortunately, this vacuum provides an opportunity for paramilitary influence, recruitment of young people and anti-social behaviour.
“The IFI is committed to supporting those who need interventions most and we are one of the few organisations who are prepared to take those risks and reach those who have yet to receive direct benefit from the Peace Process.”
The Peace Impact Programme (PIP) has received £1,349,511/ €1,524,947 for six projects to 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), which provides uniquely tailored support for at-risk 16-25year olds, is supporting six projects with £735,109/ €830,673. PYDP aims 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.
Five projects under the Communities in Partnership Programme (CiPP), have been awarded £989,466/€1,118,097 to help build resilience and empower communities to build stronger, meaningful cross-border partnerships.
IFI Chair Paddy Harte continues; “In an important year of reflection around the Good Friday Agreement, we also recognise that the Peace Process has yet to deliver for some communities. We must examine what interventions are required over the next 25 years to make peace inclusive for all.
“Thanks to our international donors we will continue sensitive interventions and provide financial support to those hard-to-reach communities. This is challenging work, but thanks to the IFI, projects now have the means to provide positive leadership, invest in vital resources and community development opportunities to help create a shared future.”
The IFI was set up by the British and Irish Governments as an independent international organisation in 1986. It delivers a range of peace and reconciliation initiatives across Northern Ireland and the southern border counties. It currently supports a total of 50 projects in Northern Ireland and 23 in the southern border counties.
The IFI’s International donors include the British and Irish Governments, Government of the United States of America, European Union, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The funding across IFI Programmes is as follows:
| £ | € | |
| Peace Impact Programme | £1,349,511 | €1,524,947 |
| Personal Youth Development Programme | £735,109 | €830,673 |
| Communities in Partnership Programme | £989,466 | €1,118,097 |
| Totals | £3,074,086 | €3,473,717 |
Full Funding Allocations
Peace Impact Programme
County Antrim
£200,327/€226,370 to Factory Community Forum for 24 months to extend and expand on their existing work in the Larne area, working with former combatants, community organisations, at risk young people and local women. The key elements of the project are conflict in communities, areas of influence, supporting young people, women and conflict transformation, and political and civic development.
£316,776/€357,957 to NI Alternatives to deliver a 24 month project in the Carrickfergus and Greenisland areas with the aim of reducing paramilitary influence, supporting community leaders, improving community cohesion, supporting vulnerable young people, and the development of women in peacebuilding. This will be achieved by delivering skills and resilience to young people, transforming conflict in communities, and political and civil development.
£228,867/€258,620 to Ulidia Training for 24 months to work with groups including former combatants, key influencers, and community stakeholders in North Antrim, County Derry/Londonderry, County Tyrone and areas within County Fermanagh. The aim of the project is the mitigation of violence in the area of interest, empowerment, and to explore a road map for a peaceful transition.
County Armagh
£204,577/€231,172 to Community Restorative Justice Newry/Armagh for 24 months to expand on the ‘Digging Deeper Project’, working with residents, women, young people, ex combatants and disaffected republicans in the Newry and South Armagh area to explore community confidence in policing and facilitate conflict resolution and reconciliation.
County Derry/Londonderry
£201,102/€227,245 to Galliagh Community Response for 24 months to deliver a project in the Derry and Strabane District Council area, particularly in the Galliagh and Outer North areas of Derry city. The programme will focus on promoting community cohesion, delivering a diversionary programme for youth, and the provision of mediation and restorative practice for the community.
County Down
£197,862/€223,584 to Redburn & Loughview Community Forum for 24 months in the Holywood area in North Down to work with the local community to facilitate capacity building and developing community activism in response to issues such as low engagement, marginalisation and paramilitary control. There will be an emphasis on working with women, young people and ex combatants.
Personal Youth Development Programme
County Armagh
£112,133/€126,710 to Edgarstown Residents Association for 18 months to deliver the Evolve Programme in the Portadown area. The programme will target 15 disengaged young people, with the aim of breaking the negative pathway which may lead them to criminality and paramilitarism, through the delivery of good relations and personal development, skills and social development and education and employability training.
Belfast
£144,278/€163,034 to Springboard Opportunities Ltd for the 15-month cross-community ‘Directions Project’, to work with 15 at risk young people in Belfast who are impacted by deprivation, social exclusion, and at risk of coming under the influence of paramilitary groups. The project will deliver training in good relations and personal development, skills and social development, and education and employment development.
£123,148/€139,157 to Greater Shankill Partnership for 15 months for the cross-community ‘Wall2Wall Project’, working with 16 young people who reside on either side of the Cupar Way peace line, to help build understanding between the two communities. Participants will gain increased leadership skills, and personal and social development. Participants will also take part in an overseas study visit in Cyprus to enable them to engage with peers living in a divided society.
County Cavan
£78,712/€88,945 to Foróige Cavan for 18 months to work with 10 disenfranchised young people from Cavan Town and the surrounding area, to tackle dissident activity and influences, the high juvenile crime rate, drug and gang culture, and high levels of social deprivation through the delivery of personal development training, skills and social development, and education and employability development.
County Donegal
£125,559/€141,882 to Donegal Youth Services for 16 months to deliver the ‘U.P. (Unlocking My Potential) Project’, which will work with 16 at risk young people not in employment, education or training in the Letterkenny area. Participants will receive personal development and good relations training, skills and social development and education and employability development.
County Sligo
£151,279/€170,945 toForóige Sligo for 24 months to deliver the ‘YESS Project’ in Sligo and the surrounding area, working with 16 vulnerable young people not engaged in employment, training or education. The programme will deliver training in good relations and personal development, skills and social development, and education and employment development.
Communities in Partnership Programme
County Armagh/County Donegal
£157,636/€178,128 to Politics in Action (Lead) for the 16 month cross-border ‘Poreto for Progression Project’, to extend and expand on the work already established in the current project by supporting the development of even deeper links between Portadown College and Loreto Community School, and more broadly the two towns of Milford and Portadown.
County Armagh/County Monaghan
£98,582/€111,398 to County Armagh Community Development (Lead) /Clones Family Resource Centre Ltd for 15 months to deliver the cross-border ‘Connect2Gether Project’, in the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council locale and Clones town and surrounding areas. The project aims to help promote North-South collaboration and understanding across a range of demographics, through a programme of activities and providing opportunities for participants from both sides of the border to share their lived experiences and create lasting connections.
Belfast/County Fermanagh/County Derry/Londonderry/ County Donegal/County Leitrim/County Louth/County Sligo
£440,584/€ 497,860 to Rio Ferdinand Foundation (Lead) for 24 months to extend and expand the cross-border, cross-community ‘On the Ball Project’ in Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal, and Louth in Ireland and Fermanagh, Derry/Londonderry City and Belfast in Northern Ireland. The project aim is to foster reconciliation in a unique, fully participative, meaningful and inclusive way through the neutral vehicle of Sport and Football.
Belfast/County Louth
£112,389/€127,000 to Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre (Lead) /Louth Meath Education and Training Board for 12 months to deliver the ‘Advanced Manufacturing Pathways Schools Project’. This project will bring together eight schools across East and West Belfast, Drogheda and Dundalk through a series of project-based workshops and activities with the aim of inspiring the next generation to consider high-skilled STEM careers and to broaden teachers views on careers of the future. The following schools will engage in the programme: St Genevieve’s Girls School (Belfast), De La Salle Boys School (Belfast), Ashfield Boys & Ashfield Girls Schools (Belfast), Breda Academy School (Belfast), St Olivers Community College, (Drogheda), Bush Post Primary School (Dundalk), O’Fiaich College (Dundalk), and Colaiste Chu Chulainn (Dundalk).
County Donegal/County Derry/Londonderry
£180,275/€203,711 to Inishowen Development Partnership (Lead) for 16 months for the ‘Gateway Soccer Connections Project’, partnering with Limavady United Football Club and Finn Harps Football Club. The programme will use soccer as a means of connecting communities north and south through the universality of soccer as a sport.
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