North west groups get IFI cash boost

Three groups in the North West have received much-needed cash injections from the International Fund for Ireland.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Jul 2015, 14:36 BST
Ashleen Schenning, PIP Project Officer; Dr Adrian Johnston, International Fund for Ireland Chairman; Cllr Alan Robinson, then-Mayor of Limavady Borough Council; and Cathy OHare, Roe Valley PIP Coordinator. Roe Valley Residents Association will receive £26,252 from the most recent funding with IFI. Photo: Lorcan Doherty PhotographyAshleen Schenning, PIP Project Officer; Dr Adrian Johnston, International Fund for Ireland Chairman; Cllr Alan Robinson, then-Mayor of Limavady Borough Council; and Cathy OHare, Roe Valley PIP Coordinator. Roe Valley Residents Association will receive £26,252 from the most recent funding with IFI. Photo: Lorcan Doherty Photography
Ashleen Schenning, PIP Project Officer; Dr Adrian Johnston, International Fund for Ireland Chairman; Cllr Alan Robinson, then-Mayor of Limavady Borough Council; and Cathy OHare, Roe Valley PIP Coordinator. Roe Valley Residents Association will receive £26,252 from the most recent funding with IFI. Photo: Lorcan Doherty Photography

They are among 24 community-pased projects to receive a share of a £590,000 pot of money.

The three new Peace Impact projects are Londonderry YMCA , Bready & District Ulster Scots Development Association and Strabane Accessing Youth Engagement, which received £21,341, £40,880 and £39,820, respectively.

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The YMCA received the money to run a dedicated six-month cross-community pilot programme that will engage 20 participants form Currynierin, Tullyally and Drumahoe, while the Bready and District USDA is to use their cash boost to run a dedicated six-month “Cultural Apprenticeship” pilot programme from July to December.

The Strabane group plans to build upon work the progress of a previous PIP project that operated across the Strabane, Glebe and Clady area in Tyrone. The new project will offer a range of training and programming for vulnerable young people

who are at risk of engaging in anti-social or criminal behaviour.

Funding was also granted to a range of projects delivered through the Peace Impact Programme. In the past two years, the Fund has invested more than £4million in PIP to enable communities affected by the legacy of conflict to tackle complex social issues and reduce paramilitary influences.

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Dr Adrian Johnston Chairman of the Fund, said: “We are pleased to award financial assistance to the 24 projects and commend them for their willingness to take calculated risks to support individuals and communities in challenging environments.”

He said in difficult times the Fund has carefully and deliberately sought to engage in areas where political settlement was opposed and where the risk of violence and destabilisation remained high.

“The Peace Impact and Peace Walls programmes have secured remarkable progress and started significant phases of social and physical transformation that have reduced both the risk of sectarian violence and paramilitary influence.

“Our programmes have facilitated important groundwork, but the demand greatly outstrips the resources currently available to us. It is important that other funders seek to capitalise on the gains we have made with ambition and a readiness to support communities that feel excluded from the Peace Process.”

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Further information about all the beneficiaries from the International Fund for Ireland’s latest funding package is available at the International Fund for Ireland’s website www.internationalfundforireland.com

Related topics:YMCANorth West