MId Ulster District Council: Peace IV Grants
Overview
Mid Ulster Council’s Action Plan
Mid Ulster District Council will be responsible for the delivery of a ‘PEACE Action Plan’ focused on three key areas:
The Council will deliver the peace programme through working with local delivery partners, Council led delivery programmes and through grant aid to community and voluntary groups.
Mid Ulster’s PEACE IV Project is supported by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).You can find out more about the Special European Union Programmes Body (SEUPB) by clicking here.
Children & Young People
Children & Young People Aged 14-24
The Programme will be outcomes focused in terms of good relations, personal development and citizenship, which will bring about a positive change in the form of clear, meaningful and sustainable ‘distance travelled’ for those young people who participate.
It will target young people aged between 14-24 years who are disadvantaged, excluded or marginalised, have deep social and emotional needs and are at risk of becoming involved in anti-social behaviour, violence or dissident activity.
This objective will enhance the capacity of children and young people to form positive and effective relationships with others of a different background and make a positive contribution to building a cohesive society.
It will result in an increase in the percentage of 16 year olds, who socialise or play sport with people from a different religious community; who think relations between Protestants and Catholics are better than they were five years ago; and who think relations between Protestants and Catholics will be better in five years’ time.
These result indicators will be monitored from information collected by the Northern Ireland Life and Times survey.
Shared Spaces & Services
One of the visible aspects of the conflict is the high level of segregation which still exist within society. This is evidenced by residential segregation, peace walls, sectarian graffiti, and public displays of flags and emblems to mark out territory and intimidate. Segregation increases social division and tension and also inhibits economic development and the efficient delivery of public services.
The Programme will create new shared civic spaces that will be used by all sections of the community; this will involve changes in both attitudes and behaviour with a corresponding reduction in segregation. Projects will be of a sufficient scale to have a transformative effect on local areas, as well as having a regional significance. Projects will incorporate high quality design and sustainable development principles, including measures to minimise carbon emissions.
This objective will create a more cohesive society through an increased provision of shared spaces and services.
It will result in an increase in the percentage of people who would define the neighbourhood where they live as neutral; an increase in the percentage of people who prefer to live in a mixed religion environment; and a reduction in the percentage of people who would prefer to live in a neighbourhood with people of only their own religion.
These result indicators will be monitored from information collected by the Northern Ireland Life and Times survey.
Building Positive Relations
There are continued high levels of sectarianism and racism in society. Increasing levels of ethnic diversity, alongside relatively high levels of socio-economic deprivation in some areas presents new challenges for achieving greater integration and citizenship.
Due to the history of division in Northern Ireland and the Border Region, some sections of society have not yet developed the capacity to deal positively with diversity and difference.
Local authority led partnerships will be supported under the Programme, involving effective partnerships between the public, private and community sectors, with the capacity to address reconciliation, cultural diversity, conflict transformation and equality.
All projects will involve people from diverse backgrounds; in particular, cross-border activity will be supported and facilitated. The Programme will support actions to facilitate the full participation of women in local initiatives and also target those groups particularly impacted by the legacy of the troubles/conflict such as victims and survivors and those communities with low social capital, and those identifiable groups and networks dealing with specific legacy issues such as young and older people, women, the faith community, victims and survivors, those suffering from physical or mental disability arising from the legacy of violence, ex-prisoners, displaced persons and former members of the security forces.
This objective will promote positive relations characterised by respect, where cultural diversity is celebrated and people can live, learn and socialise together, free from prejudice, hate and intolerance.
It will result in an increase in the percentage of people who think relations between Protestants and Catholics are better than they were five years ago; an increase in the percentage of people who think relations between Protestants and Catholics will be better in five years’ time and an increase in the percentage of people who know quite a bit about the culture of some minority ethnic communities.
These result indicators will be monitored from information collected by the Northern Ireland Life and Times survey.