06 Jul 2018

Corrymeela has been successful in receiving a grant award of £72k from The Community Relations Council for the period April 2018 –March 2019. Corrymeela is one of 32 organisations receiving funding to support and deliver peacebuilding activity.

The Community Relations Council, through its Core Funding Scheme, has announced that it will be supporting a total of 32 organisations for the 2018/19 period to the value of £1,276,000.

This investment will support peacebuilding activities in nearly 400 locations with over 35,000 participants in the next year alone. The work ranges from sports based programmes, theatre performances, anti–sectarian training, residential conferences as well as programmes with interface communities.

Opening the launch event at CRC Offices, CRC Chair Peter Osborne said;

“This society needs to value more those who build peace. It needs to recognise and respect the work that the peace builders do. It is difficult work, sometimes dangerous and often thankless.

At a time when political stagnation may define this peace process if we let it, we should acknowledge that peace building is about more than institutions and structures. It is mainly about relationships.

Building those positive relationships at community level, worked at day and daily by core–funded groups, are what might push peace up the Hill. It is the community that held this place together during the darkest days; it is community that can continue to drive the peace process.

The Community Relations Council and The Executive Office, with the groups supported through the Core Funding programme, deliver a range of interventions throughout Northern Ireland, diversionary programmes, mediation, capacity raising and relational development. This programme represents real value for money and is critical in helping this society understand that there is much more that unites us than divides us.”

Grainne Killen, Director Of Good Relations and T:BUC at The Executive Office said;

“The Community Relations Council Core Funding Scheme funded by The Executive Office supports the back–bone of much community relations activity here and makes a real and meaningful difference in the delivery of the Executive’s good relations policy, including the implementation of the aims and objectives of the Together: Building a United Community strategy. The 32 groups from across Northern Ireland receiving this funding show a real commitment to building a shared and safe community, that supports cultural expression and makes a real contribution to the future for our children and young people.”

“The Community Relations Council Core Funding Scheme funded by The Executive Office supports the back–bone of much community relations activity here and makes a real and meaningful difference in the delivery of the Executive’s good relations policy, including the implementation of the aims and objectives of the Together: Building a United Community strategy. The 32 groups from across Northern Ireland receiving this funding show a real commitment to building a shared and safe community, that supports cultural expression and makes a real contribution to the future for our children and young people.”

“The Corrymeela Community is delighted to partner with the Community Relations Council and The Executive Office to deliver programmes on legacies of conflict, marginalisation, sectarianism and public theology.  The core funding will facilitate the delivery of training for educators, resource development, strategic dialogues and shared strategies.”

(John Stewart, Executive Director, The Corrymeela Community)