Mayor of Derry, Cllr Brenda Stevenson, with representatives from the community groups who received Good Relations Core or Project grants from the Good Relations Grant Aid Fund through the District Council’s Good Relations Programme. Photo: Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com.
A number of community groups are celebrating after being awarded a Good Relations Core or Project grant from Derry City Council.
Funding totalling £148,000 has been awarded to 33 successful groups who successfully applied for funding was publicly advertised in December as part of the delivery of Derry City Council’s “Good Relations Strategy” which aims to support the building of a United Community, promote diversity and tackle racism and sectarianism.
The grants of up to £5,000 each were open to constituted community and voluntary sector groups delivering relevant projects this financial year to benefit local people.
The groups include a range from both the cityside and Waterside as well as rural initiatives and from a board range of projects across sports and arts initiatives, youth and education groups, as well as specific Good relations groups as well as disability groups.
Cityside groups include Creggan Neighbourhood Partnership, Gasyard Wall Féile, Glen Development Initiative and Creggan Country Park.
Waterside include Irish Street Community Association and St.Columb’s Park House; a rural project in Claudy with John Mitchel’s GAC.
Sports and arts groups include the Playhouse, Springtown Amateur Boxing Club, William King Memorial Flute Band, Waterside Theatre Company Ltd.
Youth and educational include the Workers Educational Association, Derry/Londonderry Ulster Project, Children in Crossfire, Galliagh Women’s Group and the Churches Trust Ltd.
Groups with a specialist focus on Good Relations related issues were also funded. These include WAVE Trauma Centre, Holywell Trust, the Peace and Reconciliation Group, Tar Abhaile, Royal British Legion Waterside Branch.
Groups working with different age groups include Headliners, Drumahoe Childcare Ltd, Club United, Older People North West and Youth Action NI.
Local ethnic minority communities will also benefit including NICEM NW (Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities), the Chinese Welfare Association NI, Polish Abroad, Success Dragon and Lion Dance Association and the North West Migrants Forum.
Local disability group Foyle Down Syndrome Trust received funding.
