Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council: Summer Intervention

Overview

Preference will be given to groups operating in areas of multiple deprivation and areas where official police and community safety statistics indicate high levels of potential disorder at key dates in the summer period. All projects MUST contain a substantial good relations element.

The following list shows some examples of projects that will be eligible for funding.

• Intervention and diversionary programmes for young people in and around interface areas or areas at risk of sectarian clashes
• Proposals that will deliver outreach programmes to involve young people not engaged in regular youth provision and who could be at risk of becoming involved in conflict
• Activities that involve young people in engagement activities that include programmes that are more than just diversionary
• Projects that are not just one-off events, but engage young people over the period of the programme (July and August)
• Programmes that empower young people and provide opportunities for young people to be involved in positive community activities
• Programmes that provide leadership opportunities for young people within their communities
• Discussions and workshops to deal with issues of conflict, sectarianism or racism (or both).
• Programmes on prejudice, discrimination and diversity
• Cultural diversity projects looking at history, symbolism, delivered through the medium of drama, music or the arts
• Projects that will build positive community relations
• Inter-community learning programmes on reducing conflict in ‘contested space areas’ where different communities come into contact

Who can apply?

Only groups can apply to the grant aid scheme and must be able to meet the following conditions. The group must:

• Be comprised of at least six members.
• Be democratically accountable through regular public meetings.
• Hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM).
• Be properly constituted and include a decision making process, and aims and activities that are acceptable to the Council (a copy must be submitted with the application).
• Be managed by a publicly elected committee; the office bearing positions of Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer must be held as a minimum.
• Demonstrate a fair and equitable ethos through their established aims and objectives in accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998).
• Demonstrate that proposed activities are not a duplication of other activities.
• Produce an annual statement of independently verified or certified accounts, or a bank statement for new groups only.
• Agree to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council's monitoring, evaluation, and training procedures if required.

What is funded?

• Room/venue hire
• Facilitation costs/coaching/training/tutor etc.
• Training / capacity buildings costs
• Hospitality on a study visit or workshop or conference:
• Advertising/publicity/newsletters/website development, maintenance and hosting (relating specifically to programme)
• Transport hire
• Purchase of materials and essential small items of equipment relevant to the project
• Hire of infrastructural items (PA/electronic equipment/staging)
• Transport of equipment/items relating specifically to project
• Trips/entrance fees
• Best practice visits
• Flights/travel relating specifically to project /programme
• Seminars/ training days

PLEASE NOTE APPLICANTS SHOULD DEMONSTRATE A CLEAR RATIONALE FOR ANY PROJECTS OPERATING OUTSIDE OF NORTHERN IRELAND.

Funding Criteria

Your project must link to the Our Children and Young People Key Priority. Pick one T:BUC Outcome and one Project Level Outcome from the Children and Young People Theme (please see below). You will be required to demonstrate how each outcome has been achieved through the collection of evidence.

T:BUC Outcome 1: OUR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

1.1: Improved attitudes between young people from different backgrounds.

1.2: Young people engaged in bringing the community together.

Project Level Outcomes 1.1

• An increase in the number of participants who are more favourable towards people from the Catholic community.
• An increase in the number of participants who are more favourable towards people from the Protestant Community.
• An increase in the number of participants who are more favourable towards people from an ethnic minority background.

Project Level Outcomes 1.2

• An increase in the percentage of young people who regularly socialise or play sport with people from a different religious community.

Applications must meet ALL of the following seven measurable criteria;

1. Demonstration of need –You must demonstrate that there is a need for your proposed project, and if so how has this been evidenced? You should back up your answer using community surveys, public meetings, focus groups and/or external statistics such as PSNI Hate Crime or Neighbourhood statistics, community plans, local knowledge or history of poor community and race relations in your area.

2. Strategic Fit - Please note, you must demonstrate how your project aligns with the aims of the ‘Our Children and Young People’ key priority. You may also choose an additional key priority, outcome and project level outcome, should your project relate to its aims and objectives.

3. Potential for reducing sectarian clashes and behaviours – All applications will be assessed in relation to the level of diversionary and intervention activities provided in July and August. The project must also demonstrate a significant level of challenge to tackling potential sectarian behaviours among participants.

4. Promoting Good Relations-improving community relations within the target group – enabling participants to engage in programmes that challenge stereotypes, respect and value differences all within the context of good relations. They will also support programmes that contain a developmental element with participants or that challenge people to broaden their perspectives. These programmes are to be specifically outlined on the application form in the programme activity in the Outputs and Project Level Outcomes section

5. Provide benefits to the local and/or wider community – having clear and agreed purposes, and agreed measures to ensure safety and quality in the programme with benefits for the local and/or wider community. Local community would be those living in interface areas and wider community would be those impacted by sectarian clashes. Outline how your project will improve the lives of those living at interface areas and/or reduce sectarian clashes and behaviours during the summer period.

6. Inclusion –You must demonstrate that this project will promote inclusion and encourage people to play an active role in Good Relations. The programmes to achieve this are to be specifically outlined on the application form in the programme activity in the Outputs and Outcomes section and in the question regarding promoting positive community and race relation.

7. Financial viability –You must submit a secure financial proposal with a clear confirmation of “total” project costs. Your proposal must represent value for money. Please note that groups are not required to show evidence of match funding however where this has been demonstrated groups will be able to access additional points for showing efforts towards financial sustainability.