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EU peace money focus on improving lives of Belfast's children and young people

Celebrating the launch of Belfast’s £8.9 million PEACE IV Programme are Lord Mayor, Councillor Nuala McAllister, and the CEO of the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) Gina McIntyre.
Celebrating the launch of Belfast’s £8.9 million PEACE IV Programme are Lord Mayor, Councillor Nuala McAllister, and the CEO of the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) Gina McIntyre. Celebrating the launch of Belfast’s £8.9 million PEACE IV Programme are Lord Mayor, Councillor Nuala McAllister, and the CEO of the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) Gina McIntyre.

IMPROVEMENTS in the lives of children and young people are among the targets of EU peace money distributed across Belfast yesterday.

The £8.79 million is provided from the European Union PEACE IV Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) was announced at city hall.

It includes funding from the Executive Office in Northern Ireland and the Republic's Department of Rural and Community Development.

The PEACE IV Programme, which has a total value of €270 million, aims to promote peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the border region.

The latest distribution comes as European Commission president Jean-Claude Junker pledged "unconditional commitment" to the peace process.

The council said it will be used "to improve the lives of children and young people, build positive relations and shared spaces across the city".

"Projects funded under the PEACE IV programme will play a vital role in helping to build positive relations at local level," lord mayor, Nuala McAllister said.

"Issues of trust, prejudice and intolerance are still all too common for many of us. This funding will help us in transforming our capital to a city of shared space where all communities have a sense of belonging.

"We want to enhance good relations, respect for diversity, sensitivity to the values, beliefs, customs and traditions of others."

She said the council will carry out the work "in partnership with key agencies and communities" to "build trust, create understanding and address local peace building issues".

The council will be encouraging uptake of the planned projects which include the use of new technology in coming weeks "to challenge young people's attitudes".

There will be focus too on the development of young leaders and arts and heritage projects to explore peace, culture and diversity.

Chief executive of the SEUPB, Gina McIntyre, said while previous PEACE funding "facilitated some truly inspirational projects that have made a real and meaningful difference... there remains a need to improve cross-community relations, and further integrate divided communities".

Further information: www.belfastcity.gov.uk/peaceIV