Minister Ahern announces funding of over € 800,000 for Reconciliation Groups

Minister Ahern announces funding of  over € 800,000 for Reconciliation Groups

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D., today announced an allocation of grants totalling €816,000 from the Department of Foreign Affairs' Reconciliation Fund.  These grants are being made to 33 groups involved in a wide range of cross-community and cross-border outreach and reconciliation work.

Announcing the grants, Minister Ahern said:

“I am delighted to announce funding for these organisations. These grants give us an opportunity to give tangible support and recognition to the dedicated reconciliation work being undertaken by groups and individuals on a cross-community and cross-border basis. All make an invaluable contribution to the promotion of tolerance and mutual understanding on this island.

I have experienced at first hand the excellent work done by many of the groups we have funded this year. It is greatly encouraging to see the variety of excellent cross-community work that is going on at a local level in society. 

The Government will continue to support the dedicated work being undertaken by these groups into the future. I have asked my officials to look in particular at the possibility of increasing our support next year to projects that directly address the harder issues of sectarianism and division in society.”

Note for Editors:

The Reconciliation Fund was established in the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1982 and provides assistance to organisations involved in reconciliation work to create a better understanding between people on the island of Ireland and between Ireland and Britain.  Since 1999, the Department of Foreign Affairs has awarded grants of just under €21 million to over 580 groups involved in a wide range of cross-community and cross-border reconciliation activities. The grants announced today are the third tranche of total funding amounting to over €3 million in 2006.

Details of the grants announced are attached below.

The 174 Trust (Belfast) provides a neutral space in North Belfast from which it facilitates and supports a range of cross-community activities. This allocation will help to support the Trust’s programme of work. Allocation:  €40,000

Armagh Unemployed Group (Armagh) operates a drop-in centre for the unemployed in Armagh City. This allocation will support “The Armagh Together Project”, a cross-community project aimed at giving participants the opportunity to progress in community work and to acquire a Level One certificate in community leadership. Allocation:  €15,000

Boyne Fishermen’s Rescue and Recovery Service (Co Louth) promotes cross-community activities whilst providing an all-Island rescue service. The group has previously been involved in search operations along the Co. Down coast. Allocation:  €50,000

C.A.L.M.S – Community Action for Locally Managing Stress (Derry) – this group undertakes work with marginalised groups that are now coming forward for help in dealing with issues resulting from the troubles. Allocation:  €20,000

Carlingford Community Development (Co Louth) – an allocation has been made in support of the Foy Centre Reconciliation Programme for 2007. This project aims to provide training and development activities programme between community groups in the North and South. Allocation:  €35,000

Castlederg Youth Forum (Co Tyrone) will work with communities in Castlederg in order to counteract and break down the barriers created by years of sectarianism. The group will aim to draw young people away from a lifestyle involving excess alcohol and drugs and towards a life style of positive citizenship. Allocation:  €10,000

CAW 2000 (Derry) works in the Waterside area of Derry with a variety of age groups, from the very young to pensioners. Part of their programme includes cross community and cross border work. Allocation:  €25,000

Clonard Monastery Youth Centre (Belfast) offers a drop-in programme aimed at meeting the needs of young people aged 10-20. This project comprises of a variety of social, recreational and sporting activities. Allocation:  €20,000

Community Technical Aid (CTA) (Dublin) - an allocation has been made towards a project which will deliver programmes on community regeneration and advocacy to loyalist areas of Belfast. Allocation: up to €20,000

Corpus Christi Youth Centre (Belfast) caters for approximately 390 young people and provides support and advocacy, and befriends young people on an individual basis. There are four programmes in operation that support peace building, reconciliation, conflict transformation and cross-community contact. Allocation:  €40,000

Creggan Enterprises Limited (Derry) – this grant will contribute towards an Intermediate Labour Market Project in the Derry area which will assist the long term unemployed in returning into full time employment. The project will promote reconciliation through education, training and skills development and will work on a cross community basis. Allocation:  €50,000

Cross Border International Arts, Cultural & Sports Week 2007 (Co Louth)

This allocation will support the historical and cross-border element of this event organised between groups in Dunleer and Co. Armagh. Allocation:  €10,000     

The Diverse Culture of Ireland Project (Co Louth) is a joint project organised by the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland and Altnaveigh House. It involves a 10-year programme of concerts that link the different musical traditions of orchestra and pipe bands. Allocation:  €40,000

Dunamoney Community Group (Magherafelt) works with young people by organising musical practice nights and events. Grant will be used to develop new local cross community programme Allocation:  up to €5,000

Drugwiser Family Support Group (Enniskillen) provides a safe confidential place for parents and siblings of addictive persons to meet and discuss common issues in a non-judgemental manner. The grant will contribute towards a current programme of weekly cross border meetings and an annual conference weekend. Allocation:  €7,500

ECF-Links (Lurgan) – an allocation has been made towards a youthwork and street outreach programme that engages marginalised young people (aged 10-18 yrs) within Lurgan with the purpose of reconnecting them to their communities in a participatory and inclusive manner. Allocation:  €15,000

Encounter is an organisation which was established by the Irish and British Governments to contribute to the improvement of relations between their peoples in the interest of peace, reconciliation and stability. Allocation:  €20,000

Forthspring Inter-Community Group (Belfast) is a cross-community group based along the Springfield Road Interface in West Belfast. The group aims to provide opportunities for positive engagement between communities through informal contact at its community centre as well as through structured programmes. Allocation:  €50,000

Imeall Trá Teoranta c/o MFG Teo (Tír Chonaill) – the aim of this group is to identify opportunities to cultivate North/South, inter-territorial and trans-national reconciliation. This project will promote reconciliation through the development of strong cross-border linkages with a group in North Antrim, which will support sustainable economic, social, cultural and linguistic activities. Allocation:  €30,000

Irish Peace Institute (Limerick) – an allocation has been made towards a project which will aim to build the capacity of the IPI to deliver a 4 year programme of sustainable peace building involving cross-community and cross border partnerships that challenge obstacles to reconciliation. Allocation:  €90,000

Kilskeery Youth Council (Omagh) – the activities of the group attract a mixed clientele, and it is hoped that arts and crafts will help people to overcome cross-community division. Allocation:  €3,000

Meath Peace Group - this grant will cover the group’s activities in 2007 and also provide for other activities that they have undertaken at our request with Community Voice in Ballymena. Recommended - €50,000

More Than Sport (Belfast) provides programmes aimed at young women from both communities in Northern Ireland. This grant will contribute towards a 16 week programme that includes workshops around building positive relationships, acknowledging and dealing with the past, developing a shared vision of an independent and fair society. Allocation:  €7,500

Northern Ireland Children’s Enterprise (Belfast) – an allocation has been made towards developing a community relations programme, ‘Growing Up in a Divided Society’, in local schools for the first time. It is hoped that the young people (17/18 year olds) that are take part in the project will develop a greater understanding of their own prejudices and how these influence others. Allocation:  €20,000

N.I Community Builders Programme (Belfast) is aimed at locally based community organisations and individuals committed to building peace and stability in their communities. Allocation:  €6,000

Participation & Practice of Rights Project - engages the CAJ, Combat Poverty Agency, I.C.T.U. and the IICL in bringing rights and equality issues down to local level. Recommended - €10,000

Pat Finucane Centre for Human Rights & Social Change (Derry) is a non-political, anti-sectarian Centre for human rights. Current activities include documenting sectarian attacks in Northern Ireland, individual casework with families, and involvement in a wide range of issues surrounding policing and the criminal justice system. Allocation:  €25,000

Schomberg Society Kilkeel Ltd (Co Down) encourages its member groups to trace their own culture and that of other communities on this Island in a positive manner, through cross border and cross community interaction in order to ultimately achieve respect for all of our diverse cultures. Allocation:  €20,000

St. Comgalls – Larne High Construction Skills Project  (Larne) – a grant has been provided for a cross-community construction skills training programme that targets ‘at risk’ young people in cross-community activity. The project promotes tolerance by creating conditions for interaction and positive engagement. Allocation:  €5,000

St. Joseph’s Pipe Band (Co. Down)/ Clontibret Pipe Band (Co Monaghan) – an allocation has been made for these groups to hold joint training and practice sessions rotating between Co. Down and Co. Monaghan. The Bands intend to travel together to competitions and participate in joint recitals, and aim to bring both communities together to share their culture with each other and have a better understanding of each others’ tradition. Allocation:  €10,000

The Centre for Contemporary Christianity in Ireland (Belfast) assists organisations involved in efforts to facilitate better relations with and between the traditions in the North & South, and between Ireland and Britain, through education, dialogue, cross-community and inter-denominational activities. Allocation:  €20,000

The Tim Parry Jonathan Ball Trust (Warrington) – an allocation has been made towards The Tim Parry Leadership Development Programme. The programme originated from the Anglo-Irish Youth Exchange Programme and continues to provide the foundation for giving young people around the world leadership skills to improve relationships, and to promote peace and reconciliation within their communities. Allocation:  €20,000

Triangle Training (Ballymena) will organise a variety of cultural and educational programmes including a drugs awareness programme, I.T. training and recreation programmes. Allocation:  €10,000

Youth Action N.I Limited (Derry) – an allocation has been made towards a pilot community relations and peace building programme which has been active for the last three years, working with young people within nine Waterside communities. The programme will act as a precursor to cross-community programmes based on social, civic and political education, active citizenship, working against prejudice, conflict resolution and community leadership training. Allocation:  €25,000

Youthcom – the project “East meets West” is a pilot project aimed at older teenagers in West and East Belfast aimed at tackling sectarian attitudes and giving young people an opportunity to meet their contemporaries from “the other side” for possibly the first time. Recommended - €100,000

ENDS+++

Press Section

29 December 2006