Northern Ireland

Almost £370,000 funding to promote good relations and reconciliation

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey annnounced the funding from her department's Uniting Opportunities small grants programme which was launched in August
Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey annnounced the funding from her department's Uniting Opportunities small grants programme which was launched in August Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey annnounced the funding from her department's Uniting Opportunities small grants programme which was launched in August

ALMOST £370,000 has been allocated to a reconciliation programme targetting young people aged 11 to 24 across Northern Ireland.

Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey annnounced the funding from her department's Uniting Opportunities small grants programme which was launched in August to target young people from specific groups such as the homeless or migrants, refugees or asylum seekers.

The money will go to the Together: Building a United Community strategy with operates at six locations in Belfast, Co Antrim, Co Armagh and Co Derry and £369,165 will go to 21 projects designed to "promote good relations and reconciliation through sport and creativity by addressing barriers to community participation that some young people face".

"Being able to fund 21 diverse and exciting projects across such a broad geographical area will have a huge impact on the young people involved and their local communities," Ms Hargey said.

"The scheme aims to build the confidence and self-worth of some of the most marginalised young people in our society. Projects will be delivered in all six of the target geographical locations to all seven of our target groups."

Among the projects is one combining cooking, baking and multimedia skills to "build confidence" and an `ice academy' to help young people in care or suffering from poor mental health "build resilience".

Money is also going to a programme aiming to integrate minority communities, a sports organisation working with young people in rural settings at risk of isolation and a theatre company helping to encourage personal and social development.