Department of Foreign Affairs - Reconciliation Fund: Battle of Messines Small Grants

Overview

Applications are invited from organisations who wish to avail of a small grant to support a project or event which will commemorate the Battle of Messines either on the island of Ireland or in Messines itself. Any proposed project should be in keeping with the core values of the Reconciliation Fund which seeks to promote peace and reconciliation amongst all traditions and people on the island.

• Organisations are asked to be mindful that the total amount of funding available for all projects is €50,000 and applications should reflect this overall limitation.
• Projects taking place off the island of Ireland are eligible for funding but it should be noted that the direct cost of travel to/from Messines or other overseas destinations will not be covered.
• All other criteria apply (listed below) as normal, in that grants will not be provided for capital costs, salaries or events that have already taken place.

Criteria

Consideration for funding from the Reconciliation Fund will be based on the extent to which the proposed programme has the potential to contribute to:

• Reconciliation through education, dialogue, culture and commemoration;
• Promotion of tolerance and respect;
• Challenging stereotypes of one’s own and other communities/identities;
• Development and strengthening of meaningful and lasting cross-border links;
• Academic research where the primary purpose relates to promoting reconciliation.

These areas of work will remain deliberately broad to remain accessible to a wide range of organisations and projects.

The Fund will focus its support through two thematic pillars, outlined as follows:

• Repairing of those issues which lead to division, conflict, and barriers to a deeply reconciled and peaceful society;
• Building a strong civil society that encompasses all communities, through the continued implementation of the Agreements and promoting a rights-based society, political stability and respect for all.

Decisions

General factors which will be used in assessing applications include:

• Geographical location of activity, with the aim of ensuring a suitable spread of funding;
• Value for money of the project;
• The organisation’s financial management capacity and sustainability;
• The funding environment for the particular sector.

The Reconcilation fund are interested in cross community projects.