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EUROPEAN PROGRAMME

The European Programme's role within the Community Relations Council is to grant aid and support innovative projects and strategies which will promote reconciliation and strive to sustain peace.  Funding administered via this Programme is Peace II funding – approximately £8.1m for project activity and related costs, £1m for research work and dissemination and £1m technical assistance to manage, deliver and develop the Programme.

The European Programme is responsible for the delivery of Measure 2:1 of the European Union Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (commonly known as Peace II).  The headline aims and objectives of the Measure are to:

  • Promote opportunities for civil society to promote reconciliation and peace-building efforts;
  • Encourage communities in areas which had previously experienced violence, or the consequences of violence and polarisation, to develop strategies and activities which promote reconciliation as a means of sustaining peace.

Projects seeking assistance need to clearly demonstrate how effectively they target one or both of the following:

  • Areas showing the effects of the conflict and/or community polarisation as a result of the conflict;
  • Sectors and activities adversely affected by conflict and division or experiencing structural adjustment as a result of Peace (these are known as the 'Peace II Distinctiveness Criteria').

ACTIVITIES

CRC, via its grant aid from the European Union, funds 62 projects across NI.  Some of the projects are locality-specific, others have a region-wide remit.  The Programme supports interface projects, church-based work, employer initiatives, outreach projects, resource development, training programmes, youth-based projects and activities specifically geared to address issues facing victims and ethnic minority groups. 

Peace II Extension - summary of Funded Projects

Measure 2.1 - 'Reconciliation for Sustainable Peace' Outward and Forward Looking Region funded project (From Europe to Northern Ireland - A SHARED FUTURE OF RACE RELATIONS) Final Project Report from NICEM, click on link to download pdf 'European Integration, Policy and Practice'

RESEARCH

The Programme also funds research work to explore changing attitudes to community relations issues and the effectiveness of different approaches to peace-building and reconciliation, drawing on the experiences of projects at home and abroad.  Research projects to date have been wide-ranging (Please see 'List of Measure 2:1 Funded Research Projects'). 

 

List of Research Funded Projects

Summary of Peace II funded research projects

 

Peace III

Priority 1: Reconciling Communities

Theme 1.2: Acknowledging and Dealing with the Past


The Community Relations Council and Border Action (The Consortium) have been
appointed by the Special EU Programmes Body as a joint delivery mechanism of
Priority 1.2 of the Peace III Programme.


This Priority will be implemented through the following 3 strands:


Strand 1: Addressing the Past in Public Memory
(By Public Tender to be advertised)
Actions that explore the legacy and memory of the conflict through truth recovery,
documentation, story telling and the recording of complex history and experience.
Projects that contribute to the collection, development and exchanges of messages
concerning different experiences of conflict and post conflict.


Strand 2: Support for Participation (Opening 20th June 08)
"To provide advice, counselling and support services for victims, their relatives and
those who care for them"
To build the capacity of individuals to deal with the transition to peace and
reconciliation and ensure victims and survivors are able to deal with the past"

Peace III Measure 1:2, Acknowledging and Dealing with the Past- Strand 2-‘Support for Participation’ – Workshop details

To assist with the planning of your application and drafting of your application form the Consortium of the Community Relations Council and Border Action intend to hold support workshops in July 2008. 

Two workshops have been scheduled for your convenience:-

Monaghan – Tuesday 22nd July, 10am to 12.30pm – (Corcaghan Community Centre, Corcaghan, Co Monaghan)  

Antrim – Wednesday 23rd July, 10am to 12.30pm – (Comfort Inn, Antrim)

Both sessions will run from 10.00am – 12.30pm with lunch provided at 12.30pm.

The ‘Support Workshops’ will be delivered by Consortium staff and will provide a question and answer session, provide guidance, and an opportunity for group discussion in developing your project and filling in the application form.   The sessions are being organised to assist you in the preparation stages of your application/project so if you have any queries/concerns, then this is the forum in which to raise them. 

In order to facilitate booking we would be grateful if you could confirm attendance by contacting Eileen Deacon (CRC) on 028 9022 7500 or via email edeacon@nicrc.org.uk or Ailish Quinn (Border Action) on 047 71340 or via e-mail Ailish.Quinn@borderaction.ieby Friday 18th July 2008. Please note that places are limited.


Strand 3: Securing the Future (Closed 13th June 08 - to reopen in October 08)
Innovative actions that will help prevent an outbreak of violence into the future, by
taking action to repair relationships and by engaging the wider community in peacebuilding and reconciliation work

Supporting schemes for future generations which seek to address and prevent the
outbreak of violence along the lines of inherited and emerging divisions in society.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS - STRAND 2: SUPPORT FOR PARTICIPATION


The Consortium now wish to invite applications to Strand 2 of this Priority as
described above


Indicative Actions:

  • Initiatives to provide high quality advice and counselling services for those most directly affected by the legacy of the conflict including support for those who work with victims and survivors of the conflict.
  • Actions to support high quality befriending and networking services to individuals, families and groups directly affected by the legacy of the conflict.
  • Actions to provide respite services for individuals, families and groups affected by the legacy of the conflict.
  • Actions to support those caring for victims and survivors of violence.
  • Innovative initiatives to promote full integrations of young people affected through family or community relationships affected by the conflict.
  • Actions to increase access to practical skills, training and education designed to enhance economic reintegration of victims and survivors.
  • Training for counsellors, trainers and other personnel on the needs of those directly affected by the legacy of the conflict, including the development of special needs required.
  • Support of organisations responsible for the needs of the target groups including those working on a North/South and East/West basis.

Applicants to this Priority will clearly have to demonstrate how proposed project
activity will:

  • Reinforce progress towards a peaceful and stable society and to
  • promote reconciliation.

Application Form

Guidance Notes


The European Programme Committee Membership:

Council Members:  David Stevens (Chair), Eileen Gallagher
Co-opted Members: Maggie Bryson, Colin Craig, Cathy Gormley-Heenan, Paul Smith

 
Programme Staff:

Jim Dennison, Director

Patricia Armstrong, Development Officer

Emma Dargan - Development Officer

Peter Day - Development Officer

Elizabeth Corrigan - Development Support Officer

Vanessa McGeown, Senior Finance Officer (on maternity leave)

Deirdre McKenna, Acting Senior Finance Officer (maternity cover)

Mary Pantaleoni - Finance Officer (maternity cover)

Graham Parkinson - Finance Officer

Naomi Doak, Research Officer

Eileen Deacon, Administrative Officer

Emma Jackson, Adminstrative Officer

For further information, please do not hesitate to contact any member of staff.


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