The Women’s Resource and Development Agency has been successful in winning a grant award of £41382.44 over two years from The Community Relations Council. The Women’s Resource and Development Agency is one of 32 organisations receiving funding to support and deliver peacebuilding activity.
The Community Relations Council, through its Core Funding Scheme, has announced that it will be supporting a total of 32 organisations for the 2018/19 period to the value of £1,276,000.
This investment will support peacebuilding activities in nearly 400 locations with over 35,000 participants in the next year alone. The work ranges from sports based programmes, theatre performances, anti-sectarian training, residential conferences as well as programmes with interface communities.
Opening the launch event at CRC Offices, CRC Chair Peter Osborne said;
“This society needs to value more those who build peace. It needs to recognise and respect the work that the peace builders do. It is difficult work, sometimes dangerous and often thankless.
At a time when political stagnation may define this peace process if we let it, we should acknowledge that peace building is about more than institutions and structures. It is mainly about relationships.
Building those positive relationships at community level, worked at day and daily by core-funded groups, are what might push peace up the Hill. It is the community that held this place together during the darkest days; it is community that can continue to drive the peace process.
The Community Relations Council and The Executive Office, with the groups supported through the Core Funding programme, deliver a range of interventions throughout Northern Ireland, diversionary programmes, mediation, capacity raising and relational development. This programme represents real value for money and is critical in helping this society understand that there is much more that unites us than divides us.”
Grainne Killen, Director Of Good Relations and T:BUC at The Executive Office said;
“The Community Relations Council Core Funding Scheme funded by The Executive Office supports the back-bone of much community relations activity here and makes a real and meaningful difference in the delivery of the Executive’s good relations policy, including the implementation of the aims and objectives of the Together: Building a United Community strategy. The 32 groups from across Northern Ireland receiving this funding show a real commitment to building a shared and safe community, that supports cultural expression and makes a real contribution to the future for our children and young people.”
Two organisations entering the scheme for the first time are Springboard and the Londonderry Bands Forum. Both spoke at the launch event.
Springboard Director Angila Chada said that;
“We are delighted to receive this highly valued support from CRC, which will enable us to work alongside individuals from diverse communities to help realise their potential and contribute to building a shared, united and more cohesive society”.
Derek Moore from the Londonderry Bands Forum also speaking at the event explained:
“Support from CRC will enable us to compliment and expand on the ground-breaking work that has brought us to prominence both locally and nationally over the past few years. This new opportunity will allow us to drive forward as chair of the North West Cultural Partnership, six independent groups with a like-minded vision. We see this as an essential link to all political parties and views, given the standing of the group and the unfortunate current stalemate at government level.”
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For further information contact Paul Jordan at CRC 028 9022 7500 pjordan@nicrc.org.uk
Editors Notes:
The Community Relations Council (CRC) is an Arms Length Body (ALB) of The Executive Office.
CRC is a key delivery agent for departmental good relations policy, including the implementation of the aims and objectives of the T:BUC strategy.
One programme managed by CRC is the Core Funding Scheme. This funding provides support for organisations which are considered of strategic importance in promoting community relations work across Northern Ireland. The scheme contributes towards salary and organisational running costs.
Core Funded Organisations
174 Trust
An Gaeláras Limited
Building Communities Resource Centre (BCRC)
Community Dialogue
Community Relations Forum Ltd
Community Relations in Schools
Corrymeela Community
East Belfast Mission
Falls Community Council
Falls Women’s Centre
Forthspring
Institute of Conflict Research
INTERCOMM
Irish School of Ecumenics
Kabosh
Londonderry Bands Forum
North West Play Resource Centre
Partisan Productions
PeacePlayers International Northern Ireland
Reconciliation, Education and Community Training (REACT)
Rural Community Network (RCN)
Shankill Parish Caring Association
Shankill Women’s Centre
Springboard Opportunities Ltd
St Columb’s Park House
The Churches Trust
The Junction/Holywell Trust
TIDES Training
Trademark
Women’s Information Northern Ireland
Women’s Resource and Development Agency
Youth Link NI
