Local organisations urged to submit Expression of Interest for PEACEPLUS funding

Thursday 1 February 2024

Council will lead the delivery of the PEACEPLUS Local Community Action Plan.  The local plan will be centred around three core themes – local community regeneration and transformation, thriving and peaceful communities and building respect for all cultural identities.

Council is inviting Expressions of Interest applications for the following programmes:

• Community/Sports Facilities Capital Enhancement Programme – a small capital programme aimed at developing and enhancing areas or buildings in the Borough to upgrade them to a higher standard in order to increase usage, with the aim of improving cross-community relations and community cohesion.  Successful organisations will be required to deliver an activity plan inclusive of all community backgrounds.

The total budget available for the programme is £300,000 (excluding professional and statutory fees). The minimum budget request is £20,000, with a maximum budget request of £30,000 towards a total project cost of up to £50,000.

• Community/Sports Facilities Major Capital Works Programme – a strategic capital programme which aims to invest in three strategically significant community/sports facilities (one per legacy council area of Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne).

The key aim of the projects will be to create a more cohesive society through the development of three transformative shared spaces, which will support and embed peace and reconciliation outcomes. The three strategic capital projects will act as PEACEPLUS flagship projects and must demonstrate the ability to deliver on-going community engagement activities to promote meaningful and lasting peace and reconciliation outcomes over the lifetime of the Programme and beyond.

The total budget available for the programme is £600,000. A budget of £200,000 (excluding professional and statutory fees) will be available per strategically significant community/sports facilities project (one per legacy council area of Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne).

One-hour online information sessions are available for organisations who may be interested in applying.  These are taking place on:

Community/Sports Facilities Capital Enhancement Programme

• Wednesday 7 February 2024 – 1pm & 7pm

Community/Sports Facilities Major Capital Works Programme

• Tuesday 6 February 2024 – 1pm & 7pm

Potential applicants are encouraged to attend one of the above online information sessions.  To register email peace@midandeastantrim.gov.uk

Chair of the PEACEPLUS Partnership Board, Alderman Paul Reid, said: “As a partnership we have overseen the co-design of the Local Community Action Plan for the Borough to date, which has included running consultation workshops and events since 2022 - which allowed our communities to have their say in relation to the needs and priorities included in the Action Plan.

“The opening of the Expression of Interest for the two capital programmes is an important step which will benefit increased numbers of users of our community and sports facilities, as well as help further shape the action plan and application to be submitted to the Special EU Programmes Body by end of March 2024.”

To request an Expression of Interest application pack email peace@midandeastantrim.gov.uk

Further information on the PEACEPLUS Programme is available on our PEACEPLUS webpage.

The call for Expressions of Interest will close at 12noon on Tuesday 20 February 2024.  Late submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances.

Please note organisations can only submit an Expression of Interest under ONE of the above capital programmes.

The Programme is a funding partnership between the European Union, the Governments of the United Kingdom and Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Executive and will be administered by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).