International Fund for Ireland Programmes

Open or will open again Active citizenship Adult Education/Learning Age Buildings and built environment Community and neighbourhood development Community development Cross community Education and learning environment good relations organisational development Peace and reconciliation Poverty and deprivation Rural development social enterprise Social inclusion Social partnership Social welfare and poverty Trading Urban development Young people (13-25) Antrim & Newtownabbey Ards & North Down Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Belfast City Causeway Coast and Glens Derry City and Strabane Fermanagh and Omagh Lisburn and Castlereagh Mid and East Antrim Mid Ulster Newry, Mourne and Down Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland Large (over £60,000) Medium (up to £60,000) Micro (up to £1,000) Small (up to £10,000)

Track grant Notes

Overview

At its core, the Fund’s mission is to tackle the underlying causes of sectarianism and violence and to build reconciliation between people and within and between communities throughout the island of Ireland.

The Fund launched its Connecting Communities Strategy 2021 – 2024 in 2021. It aims to help tackle some of the most significant remaining challenges to lasting peace. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

The strategic objectives are:

To promote reconciliation and integration between and within communities, particularly in interface and border areas.
To continue to engage communities and individuals, particularly young people, who have only recently or have not yet participated in peace building and community reconciliation activities.
To support the development of leaders who play a key role in stabilising communities and defusing potentially difficult issues around cultural identity and the future of relationships across these islands.

The work of the IFI in the period 2021 – 2024 will cluster around four key programmes:

Communities in Partnership Programme

The new ‘Communities in Partnership Programme’ (CiPP) is focused on embedding lasting relationships on a cross-border basis by supporting cooperation and innovation between groups and organisations North and South on projects that have a meaningful benefit for local communities.

The programme has been developed to respond to:

The impacts of Brexit, including the uncertainties and the realities/perceptions associated with it;
A renewed focus on cultural identity:
A resurgence in paramilitary activity;
The risks of borders becoming a physical and psychological barrier to harmonious relationships ;
The challenge of the COVID pandemic which will remain for some time and the associated risk of individuals and communities becoming isolated and alienated;
The need to build resilience and develop local leadership in communities.

The IFI is currently open to consultation on potential pilot projects. It is envisaged that funding for one year pilot projects will be awarded up to a maximum of £100,000 per project. DOWNLOAD APPLICATION FORM

Peace Impact Programme

Launched in 2013, PIP is designed to deliver real and positive community transformation through sensitive interventions in communities that have not previously, or only partially, participated in peace building and reconciliation activities. These interventions are critical to building a truly integrated, shared and peaceful society.

PIP aims to build sustainable peace and prosperity in areas suffering from high levels of economic and social deprivation, where there are low levels of engagement in peace building and where the Peace Process has delivered limited benefits.

It places particular emphasis on engaging with disaffected or marginalised young people who are vulnerable to recruitment or attack by those opposed to the Peace Process.

Personal Youth Development Programme

The Personal Youth Development Programme (PYDP) was launched in late 2015 within the Fund’s Community Consolidation - Peace Consolidation 2016-2020 Strategy. The Programme aims to help young people build and develop life skills that foster good relations, build confidence and resilience and make them more employable.

PYDP seeks to connect young people aged 16-25 to personalised learning, skills and employment opportunities with a central focus on good relations and preparing people for the world of work. It is interested in engaging potential participants that are vulnerable to polarisation/recruitment to organisations opposed to the peace process and face barriers to participation in mainstream provision.

PYDP is flexible with multiple entry points and encourages participants to explore their needs and make decisions that improve their lives, communities and interactions with others. The programme engages with young people who face a range of issues including; leaving the education system early; substance abuse; affected by homelessness; difficult family backgrounds; been in or close to criminal justice system; suffer from poor health or mental health issues; mistrust of statutory institutions; not participated in civic society in a positive manner; and come from communities with a negative view of their future.

PYDP projects are designed at a local level, engaging with the referral systems to provide accredited and non-accredited opportunities in Good Relations, Personal Development, Employability/Education Skills Development and Community/Social Development.

Peace Barriers Programme

The Peace Barriers Programme (formerly Peace Walls Programme) was launched in 2012. It is aimed at developing and delivering a range of confidence and relationship building interventions within and between interface communities to help residents reach a position where they feel it is safe and appropriate to proceed with the removal of Peace Barriers in their area.

The Programme, which was developed by the Fund following consultation with all key stakeholders, is designed to be the first stage in a process leading to the physical removal of barriers.