Belfast City Good Relations

Overview

Good Relations Small Grant Scheme now open closing at 12 noon on 8th January 2014

The objectives of the Good Relations Fund are to encourage groups through quality contact to:

• build awareness, dispel myths and stereotypes and address sectarianism/racism
• promote and encourage trust and understanding through dialogue, learning about others and developing meaningful relationships
• provide space to deal with the legacies of the past
• support the transformation of local neighbourhoods into spaces that are safe, shared and welcoming.

Applications will be scored on the following areas:

• Respecting and valuing diversity and difference – enabling participants to engage in a process of challenging stereotypes and respecting difference. For example an activity that increases awareness of the groups’ own identity and builds knowledge of the ‘other’ preparing participants to engage in future good relations projects.
• Challenging and progressive – demonstrating a significant level of challenge and new learning, while maintaining the safety and well being of all involved. We will also support projects which challenge people within communities to widen their perspectives. For example a project that has a strong partnership approach and brings diverse groups together to discuss controversial issues, in order to promote understanding, in an atmosphere of trust and respect.
• Inclusion, safety and purpose – having clear and agreed purposes, commitment to deliver between partners and agreed measures to ensure safety, engagement and quality in the programme.
• Community engagement – involving communities who have experienced social exclusion, segregation or conflict. For example, if the majority of the participants are drawn from an area of high deprivation and have submitted an application that meets the criteria of the fund or an area that has been significantly impacted by conflict or community tensions this will be reflected in the scoring.
• Supporting safe, shared & welcoming local neighbourhoods – supporting local communities to transform their neighbourhood into safe, shared and welcoming spaces by working in partnership with their closest neighbours, applicants thar demonstrate this will score higher points. For example a project that promotes improved community engagement, includes neighbouring communities where relationships have been fractured and builds good, sustainable relationships and trust.

The Good Relations Fund has been set up to help formally constituted organisations within the Belfast City Council area such as

• community development groups;
• migrant or minority ethnic groups;
• projects for young adults;
• faith-based groups; and
• other organisations involved in good relations activities may be considered.

The scheme is aimed primarily at projects involving adults. If you work with children up to the age of five, you should contact your local health & social services first. Similarly, if you work with youth groups who are eligible for funding from other sources you should apply to them first. You may get funding from organisations such as the Department of Education, the Belfast Education and Library Board and Youth Council for Northern Ireland. Other organisations will be eligible for grant aid only under exceptional circumstances.

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

• Projects that will build good relations.
• Training events on building skills in mediation, anti-racism or anti-sectarianism.
• Political discussions with speakers to deal with issues of conflict or racism (or both).
• A course with a group from another community to examine issues relating to the recent conflict, shared space or creating alternatives to violence.
• Conference on exploring issues around prejudice, discrimination or diversity Support programmes for groups addressing the legacies of the conflict.
• Inter-community learning programmes on reducing conflict at interface areas where different communities come into Good relations projects within or/and between groups of different faith traditions to promote understanding and respect.

It is essential that you contact our Good Relations Unit prior to submitting your application form (Tel: 90270663). We cannot accept applications completed by consultants on behalf of groups, as applicants should consult the Good Relations Unit directly about any proposed application.

The maximum grant available is £10,000, although most grants will be less than this. The level of grant aid available for new applicants will be limited to a maximum of £1,000 to allow the applicant to demonstrate a track record in delivering successful projects;

• Activities such as good relations “fun days” will be capped at a maximum of £400.
• For events lasting less than three hours, there is only a basic cost for refreshments which is capped at £2.50 for every person present.
• Lunch fees are available for events that continue for more than five hours at a capped cost of £6 for every person present.For residential, which are referenced as essential to the project, fees are capped at £80 for every person for every 24 hour period. This includes dinner, bed & breakfast and refreshments.
• Facilitator and consultant fees are capped at £200 per day. (NB Facilitation costs for paid members of staff will not be eligible)

Travel costs: Please note that for travel outside Northern Ireland, funding is only available from the Good Relations fund on condition that;

• The beneficiaries are from the Belfast City Council area.
• The event /project/ activity has clear good relations impacts.
• The event / project /activity cannot be replicated or be available within Northern Ireland.

Bursaries: Good relations practitioners can apply for bursaries to go to conferences. These are limited to one bursary a year for an individual from an applicant group and capped at £300.

Equipment costs: We will only give grant aid towards resources and leasing of equipment costs if they are proportionate to the overall cost of your project and essential for delivering it.