£1million package to support integration

Junior Ministers Jeffrey Donaldson and Gerry Kelly have announced the recipients of a funding package worth more than £1million to support the integration of minority ethnic communities.
The funding package of £1,046,894 will be awarded to 27 different organisations here which include the Belfast Islamic Centre, the Polish Association for Northern Ireland and the Derry Travellers Support Group.
Speaking at the Festival of India in St George's Market Belfast, Jeffrey Donaldson said:
This major funding package is a practical response to the changing situation on the ground where our society is becoming more and more diverse. We have consistently stated that we are committed to working towards a cohesive, shared and integrated future for all people here and this funding is solid evidence of that commitment.
In the longer term, this funding will form an important part of our proposals for a Programme of Cohesion, Sharing and Integration on which we hope to consult shortly."
Gerry Kelly said:
We remain committed to promoting racial equality and good race relations and this funding, increased by 10% on last year's package, is solid evidence of that.
While we in government are determined to do what we can we recognise that it is on the ground where real change takes place through local people providing local solutions to local issues. The funding will go towards supporting a wide range of groups working on the frontline to build stronger and more integrated local communities as well as assisting those who have come to live here."
Notes to editors
1. The Minority Ethnic Development Fund is available for the 2009-10 financial year, ending on 31 March 2010.
2. Groups receiving the funding are:
DEVELOPMENT FUNDING
AN MUNIA TOBER (REGIONAL PROGRAMME)This organisation was formed by the amalgamation of two well-established groups: Belfast Travellers Support Group and Belfast Travellers Education Development Group. Funding will support a Director and Administrator. The An Munia Tober Regional Programme will support and develop a regional approach to Traveller Community capacity development. (Award £45,000)
AN MUNIA TOBER (BELFAST PROGRAMME)An Munia Tober work with and on behalf of Travellers in the Belfast area to support capacity building and the continued integration of Travellers as active citizens within their communities. The funding will go towards employing a Deputy Director, and a Financial Administrator. (Award £30,000)
BALLYMENA INTER-ETHNIC FORUM Ballymena Inter-ethnic Forum (BIEF) was launched in 2004 supported by Ballymena Community Forum (BCF). In June 2006 the board of BCF agreed the transition of the Ethnic Minorities Project to BIEF and the project became independent of the Forum. BIEF now support minority ethnic communities in the greater Ballymena area to assist them to integrate into wider society. The funding will help support posts: an Ethnic Minorities Project Manager and an Administrative Officer. (Award £45,000)
BARNARDOS TUAR CEATHAThe Barnardo's Tuar Ceatha BME family support service promotes the integration of BME families and communities into N. Ireland society by the provision of targeted family and parenting support. Funding will go towards the employment of two BME support workers. (Award £41,436)
BELFAST ISLAMIC CENTRE Belfast Islamic Centre (BIC) is an independent charitable organisation set up in 1997, serving the Muslim community in Northern Ireland and assisting them to fulfil a range of needs including educational and social needs. One of their specific aims is to bring a better understanding about Islamic culture and traditions to the wider society. The award will assist BIC in employing a Director and an Administrator and allow BIC to carry out a range of activities to help local Muslims integrate in to wider society. (Award £45,000)
CHINESE WELFARE ASSOCIATION CWA is a well-established organisation, based in Belfast, which works to secure the future of the Chinese community within a framework of racial equality and to enable the Chinese community to participate in both the development of the community and the wider society. Funding will help to support two full time posts: a Chief Executive and a Finance/Administration Officer. The funding will allow CWA to continue to work towards integration and provide support to the local Chinese community. (Award £45,000)
CRAIGAVON INTERCULTURAL PROGRAMMECraigavon Intercultural Programme (CIP) was established in Portadown in 2006 to promote integration between the host and migrant communities by providing a variety of services and activities. CIP works with a number of agencies in the area for the benefit of all. The funding award will support 4 workers: a bilingual Polish support worker, bilingual Lithuanian support worker, and ethnic women's support worker, and an administration assistant. (Award £45,000)
CRAIGAVON TRAVELLERS SUPPORT COMMITTEE Craigavon Travellers Support Committee is a well-established body, providing a range of services to the Traveller Community in the Craigavon area. Their work is undertaken in 5 key areas; early years, education, community development, advice and health. This funding will allow them to employ a project manager and a project administrator to further this work and capacity build within the organisation. (Award £45,000)
DERRY TRAVELLERS SUPPORT GROUPDerry Travellers Support Group was founded in 1990 to relieve poverty, distress and sickness and to promote the general health, education and welfare of the Travelling community in the North Western area of NI Including Derry City. The funding will go towards employing a Director and a Financial/Human Resource Manager. (Award £45,000)
EAST BELFAST INDEPENDENT ADVICE CENTREEast Belfast Independent Advice Centre (EBIAC) was established in 2000. It provides independent, confidential and free advice to the community in the area. It is increasingly providing advice to members of the minority ethnic community and migrant workers who live there. The funding will go towards employing a dedicated minority ethnic group advocacy and rights worker to provide a comprehensive advice/advocacy service and information service to minority ethnic people. (Award £38,000)
FOYLE MULTICULTURAL FORUMThe Foyle Multi Cultural Forum consists of representatives from local minority ethnic community groups in the North West region, as well as representatives from statutory agencies working closely with minority ethnic communities, and has been in existence since January 2007. The Forum provides the opportunity for exchange of good practice, experience and ideas and enables members to develop coordinated actions to address issues affecting the local minority ethnic community such as challenging and dealing with racism. The funding will go towards employing a co-ordinator and will also contribute to running costs. (Award £43,716)
GEMSGEMS' Minority Ethnic Employment Support Project provides a culturally-competent, dedicated careers, information, advice and guidance service which supports the labour market integration of minority ethnic/migrant workers and increases their equality of opportunity and full participation in social, public and economic life. The award will partly fund 4 posts and also contribute to ongoing running costs. (Award £22,528)
INDIAN COMMUNITY CENTREThe Indian Community Centre was established in 1981. It is based at Clifton Street in North Belfast and serves people with an Indian background from all parts of Northern Ireland, currently estimated at 6,000 people. The centre aims to achieve good relations and integration with other communities and society, increase cultural awareness within the Indian community and the wider community, and ensure the full participation of people from an Indian background in social, public and economic life. Funding will go towards employing an Office Manager and a Development worker. (Award £45,000)
MULTI-CULTURAL RESOURCE CENTRE The Multi Cultural Resource Centre is a regional organisation working as a conduit advocating and promoting human rights and equity through empowerment, collaboration and support of Black and Minority Ethnic Communities and individuals. Funding will support core running costs and permit employment of a Director to maintain the managerial structures and roles essential for the effective provision of services to minority ethnic communities and individuals. (Award £45,000)
NICRASNICRAS was set up in 2002 to represent the views of asylum seekers and refugees in Northern Ireland and to advocate on their behalf. NICRAS is a diverse organisation comprising members from a range of different countries and faith, cultural and ethnic backgrounds. The funding will help NICRAS to employ an Advice and Support Worker and an Administrator to allow the organisation to develop further and capacity build. (Award £45,000)
NORTHERN IRELAND COUNCIL FOR ETHNIC MINORITIES NICEM is a well-established body, based in Belfast, with a high profile amongst the minority ethnic community in the province. The award will help fund the post of Director and an Administration Manager and some support costs. Funding will allow NICEM to continue to carry out their support role to individuals and organisations to encourage them to participate fully in accessing their rights. It will also assist NICEM in their task of mainstreaming minority ethnic needs into government policy and practice. (Award £45,000)
OLD WARREN PARTNERSHIPOld Warren Partnership is an umbrella group of organisations working in the disadvantaged areas of Lisburn. The network provides support to member groups as well as developing its own projects. This project works to ensure that migrant workers and those from minority ethnic backgrounds are fully integrated into the wider community. The funding will help support the employment of a Project Manager and a Project Administrator to continue to run the Welcome Project. (Award £43,278)
POLISH ASSOCIATION NORTHERN IRELANDThe Polish Association of Northern Ireland is a volunteer organisation based in Belfast and formally established in 2006. It was formed by migrant workers to promote and celebrate Polish culture and to assist Polish migrants to integrate into the local community. The funding will allow the organisation to employ a development worker who will assist the further development of the body and ensure that Polish migrants needs are met. (Award £45,000)
SOUTH BELFAST PARTNERSHIP BOARDSouth Belfast Partnership Board comprises 25 members drawn from a range of sectors and its mission is to strengthen and better target the efforts being made by the community, private sector and Government to tackle to economic, social and environmental problems in the area. This funding will allow them to employ a Race Relation Coordinator to liaise with the increasing minority ethnic community in the area and to co-ordinate a multi-agency response to the problems which have been outlined. (Award £45,000)
SOUTH TYRONE EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMMESTEP is a community organisation managed by the local community in the South Tyrone area. Its core aim is to empower those groups and individuals most vulnerable to social exclusion and economic disadvantage. The funding will finance the employment of 3 part-time frontline bilingual advice workers, a clerical support worker, and financial administration. (Award £45,000)
WAH HEP CHINESE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Wah Hep is an established organisation in Craigavon providing a range of services to the local Chinese community and promoting, through community development, individual projects. Funding will support a Director and Finance Administration Officer and associated support costs. The funding will allow further capacity building within the organisation and assist towards the integration of the community into wider society. (Award £45,000)
YOUTHACTION NORTHERN IRELANDYouthAction Northern Ireland are primarily a practice based organisation based in Newry which works in partnership with local communities and young people. Their work is increasingly focussed on the members of minority ethnic communities who have come to live in the area. The funding will allow the body to employ a Social Inclusion/Youth Worker in the region to develop youth work with young people from targeted marginalised groups and minority ethnic backgrounds. (Award £45,000)
PROJECT FUNDING
AN MUNIA TOBERThis organisation was formed by the amalgamation of two well-established groups: Belfast Travellers Support Group and Belfast Travellers Education Development Group. Project funding will provide support in the development of the regional Traveller Advocacy Programme. The 'Travellers as Active Citizens' project will aim to promote active citizenship and community cohesion at local level between Travellers, the settled community, and other ethnic minorities. (Award £15,000)
ARTSEKTAArtsEkta exists to promote and support multicultural arts and artists in the community. The organisation is committed to promoting equality and understanding of different cultures through the arts. Project funding will go towards the running of the 2009 Mela Festival in Belfast. This event will bring together people of all communities to experience different cultures and interact with people from different ethnic backgrounds. (Award 15,000)
BELFAST JEWISH COMMUNITYThe Belfast Jewish Community is a registered charity which has been in existence for over 100 years. The 'Yids and Ids' project will provide a series of public performances aimed at introducing Jewish culture and arts to non-Jewish communities. The programme will raise and address questions of identity, good relations and belonging through the arts. (Award £15,000)
BEYOND SKINBeyond Skin was established in 2004 to use the arts to address sectarianism and the rise in racism. The project will address racism and sectarianism through producing radio programmes which will explore diversity through dialogue and verbal arts and music, helping to give people a better understanding of cultures and religions. (Award £15,000)
CHINESE WELFARE ASSOCIATIONThe Chinese Welfare Association was established in 1986 and is the main support and representation organisation for the Chinese community in Northern Ireland. The project will offer a multi-disciplinary multi-agency approach to benefit Chinese and local residents in Annadale and extend the provision through Belfast and regionally. The project will bring together the Housing Executive, Annadale and Haywood Residents Association, the PSNI, and Citizens' Advice Bureaux. (Award £10,800)
CRAIGAVON INTERCULTURAL PROGRAMMEThe Craigavon Intercultural Programme project aims to inform and empower migrant communities via information sessions in urban & rural settings. The project will offer a mobile information and support service to ensure equality of opportunity for members of minority ethnic communities in urban and rural areas. A training residential for ethnic community groups and cultural and sporting programmes will also be undertaken. (Award £10,100)
ST PATRICK'S CONFERENCE, ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, ARMAGHThis project aims to provide a number of activities offering support to ethnic minority communities which will help these groups interact with locals and help them further integrate into the community. This shall result in promoting and building good relations between different ethnic groups. Activities include: the provision of language and ICT training for minority ethnic communities, youth in drama and arts classes bringing together indigenous and minority ethnic individuals, and the provision and signposting of information on a structured basis. (Award £15,000)
THE WOMEN'S CENTREThe Women's Centre was constituted in 1982. The Centre currently provides development, training and education places for women while also providing on site childcare services. The project will sustain and develop a Multi Cultural Women's programme in the period April 2009 - March 2010. A range of programmes will be delivered focused on the sharing of cultural experiences between minority ethnic communities and the indigenous community. Workshops and events will also support women from a minority ethnic background to develop skills and transfer knowledge between themselves and others pertinent to their experiences. (Award £12,036)
All media enquiries to OFMDFM Press Office on 028 9052 1375. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Office via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.