Magherafelt District Council Good Relations Grant

Overview

Grant aid is aimed at locally based groups within the Magherafelt District Council area.

Groups eligible to apply include:

• women's groups;
• church groups;
• organisations and groups involved in community relations and community development work;
• tenants groups;
• environmental groups;
• welfare rights groups;
• playgroups etc.

The scheme is aimed at projects involving all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, religion or political affiliation.

The scheme cannot cover programme costs of schools projects funded under any of their own cross community schemes, although youth groups who work with children are eligible to apply.

Applications should include at least one of the following elements:

• Bringing people together from different traditions with the purpose of bridging divisions within a particular community.
• Provision of initial seeding support for groups starting up or those wishing to develop a programme of inter-community activities.
• Developing opportunities for groups to explore the cultural, poltical and religious traditions within their own community as part of a programme which will increase their ability to develop inter-community contact.
• The undertaking of a programme of reflection which aims to identify the differences and the similarities within or between groups to promote increased understanding and acceptance of difference.
• The bringing together of groups from within or between communities to work on issues of common concern such as housing, poverty, welfare rights, education, economic development, women's issues, rural issues, etc.
• Supporting groups in carrying out joint programmes which will address key issues of importance to local communities.
• Developing a programme of specialised training to enable groups to acquire new skills and knowledge necessary for their successful future development.

COSTS COVERED BY GRANT AID

• Programme expenses
• Rent or hire of premises and facilities
• Travel costs
• Creche facilities
• Tutor fees
• General running costs

Financial assistance is available to groups whose work is carried out within a particular cultural/political/religious community and to work which is about establishing or increasing contact between people from differing traditions.

Priority will be given to those projects where the potential and commitment exists tp permit the active sharing of information, ideas and belief between communities.

Priority will likewise be allocated to initiatives which appear from the information given to be most likely to succeed.