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ABOUT COMMUNITY
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Funding And Development
Funding & Development Programme
What does the Funding & Development Programme do?
The Funding & Development Programme's role within the Community Relations Council is to support and advise groups on their activities and projects which encourage a positive awareness of difference and diversity both within and between communities.
The Programme initiates and supports projects that explore our identities and cultures and which promote inclusive discussion and debate. The Programme is most able to assist projects which challenge those negative stereotypes which sustain division and conflict in our society.
Aim of the Programme
"To assist local people and organisations throughout Northern Ireland in dealing with the causes and effects of communal division".
The Programme has a number of areas of work in carrying out its main objective:
Grant Aiding
The Funding & Development Programme provides financial and developmental support to groups and organisations through the following grant aiding schemes:
1. Community Relations & Cultural Diversity Grant Scheme
The programme's small grants scheme is aimed at increasing opportunities for people from differing traditions to develop relationships of trust and understanding and the confidence to address issues of difference between them.
The Scheme is open to receive applications from prospective applicant groups from 12 February 2007. All funding awards will be made from 1 April 2007 (new financial year).
2. Core Funding Programme for Community Relations Groups
This Core Funding Scheme contributes towards the salary and running costs of a number of organisations which are considered of strategic importance in promoting community relations and/or cultural diversity work in Northern Ireland. The organisations and the nature if the work which may be supported are publicised in the Councils annual report. Examples of these include peace and reconciliation centres; those involved in mediation and conflict transformation training; community arts; church-based work on reconciliation themes; cultural organisations and interface projects.
3. Core Funding Scheme for Victims + Survivors Groups and Victim/Survivor Groups Development Scheme
The conflict in Northern Ireland has created much suffering and the hurts of the past will not quickly or easily be overcome. The Council recognises that for us to move forward in building a shared, inclusive and peaceful society, we must effectively deal with our past to enable us to learn to live with one another in the future.
The Council's Support Schemes for Victims/Survivors
The Community Relations Council has secured funding to administer two Schemes on behalf of government:
Core Funding Scheme for Victims/Survivors Groups
Victims/Survivors Groups Development Grant Scheme
The Council's Victims and Survivors Schemes provide financial support to groups working with people that have been most profoundly affected by the conflict in Northern Ireland. The grant aiding schemes will provide support however they will not bring back lost friends, relatives or years. There are financial limits on what is possible through the Schemes and there are human limits on what can be achieved by policy. There will be no huge growth in staff numbers in this area. But these Schemes represent an ongoing commitment to share some of the immediate burdens, to promote self-help and to support victims and survivors of violence and their families as they look for and find ways to recover and grow. These Schemes will support people recovering from trauma to enable and support them to have a stake in shaping their future and in binding some, if not all, of the wounds.
Aim of the Grant Aiding Schemes
Both the Core Funding Scheme and the Development Grants Scheme aim to help victims/survivors regain fulfilment in their lives. The Council's Victims Scheme's will support victims and survivors to make the transition to the mainstream of community life and the move towards a positive future for Northern Ireland.
Core Funding Scheme for Victims/Survivors Groups
This Core Funding Scheme exists to help in a practical way non-statutory organisations/groups which support victims/survivors of the Troubles who live in Northern Ireland.
Victims/Survivors Groups Development Grant Scheme
This small grants scheme aims to support groups working with victims and survivors of the Troubles to become more active members of society. The scheme enables groups to develop projects and activity programmes which support healing with victims and survivors. Up to £10,000 is available per application to this scheme.
Target Groups/Organisations
The funding is available to distribute to groups/ organisations, which are either made up of victims/survivors and their carers, or are working in direct support of victims/survivors of the NI Troubles.
How to Apply:
Core Funding Scheme for Victims/Survivors Groups
Application Forms and Guidance Notes for the Core Funding Scheme are available from the Council by contacting 028 90 227500. They are also available from the Council's website - www.community-relations.org.uk.
Victims/Survivors Groups Development Grant Scheme
Application Forms are available from the Council by contacting 028 90 227500.
4. Research awards
This programme, which receives applications on an annual basis, aims to support original research and other creative approaches to community relations work. Research awards may last for up to a 12-month period and must be the main source of income for the successful candidates.
Cultural Diversity work
The programme supports projects that challenge negative stereotyping in local culture and promote a positive awareness of cultural diversity. Themes regularly covered in this field include historical, artistic, linguistic and festival events and applicants are welcome from all sectors of society. Projects that provide opportunities to critically examine culture and identity in Northern Ireland are most likely to achieve support.
Supporting Victims + Survivors of the Troubles/Healing work
The Programme understands the importance of tackling the effects of communal division and supporting healing in our communities and this is seen as necessary components to contribute to the processes of peace and reconciliation in our society.
Both the Core Funding Scheme and the Development Grants Scheme aim to help victims/survivors regain fulfilment in their lives. The Council's Victims Scheme's will support victims and survivors to make the transition to the mainstream of community life and the move towards a positive future for Northern Ireland. The Schemes are aimed at supporting groups, which are made up of victims, or are working with victims resident in Northern Ireland.
Work with community/voluntary groups
The programme supports the work of local community and voluntary organisations and groups to develop local and regional initiatives and projects, which address community relations issues. Projects supported create opportunities, which raise awareness of and develop responses to issues such as cultural identity, understanding of difference, peace building, and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.
Single Identity Work
The programme in line with its "Guidelines for Single Identity Work" supports projects and initiatives, which provide opportunities for communities/groups to reflect on and address issues of identity within a safe space. Groups from a single tradition have the opportunity to debate complex issues relating to the NI conflict and to enable exploration of their own culture as part of this process. The Councils raison d'etre is the promotion of good community relations and single identity work that seeks to lead to an increased awareness, understanding, respect, acknowledgement, tolerance, and active participation in the development of a pluralist society characterised by the core principles of Equity, Diversity and Interdependence.
The Programme is overseen by two Committee's:
1. Community Initiative Committee
The Community Initiatives Committee's membership:
Council members: David Stevens (Chair), Michael Wardlow, Karen Johnston, Maura Muldoon
Co-opted members: Jane Leonard, Barney Devine, Cecelia Clegg, Libby Keys
Co-opted group members: as and when required.
2. Core Funding Committee - Victims + Survivors
The Core Funding Committee's membership:
Council members: John Cousins (Chair), Chris O'Halloran, Maureen Hetherington, Caroline Wilson.
Co-opted members: Sheena Funston, Marie-Helene Knox, Jim Campbell, Sheila-Jane Malley
Co-opted group members: as and when required.
The roles and responsibilities of the Committees are to:
advise and support Council staff in their management of the Programme's work;
share information and provide guidance on strategies and developments for the Programme's work;
respond to Council staff's proposals and recommendations as the Committee decides; and
where necessary to participate in and/or identify suitable participants for working groups to manage the Programme's work.
Programme staff:
Ms Micháela Mackin, Director
Mr Paul Jordan
