£8m PEACEPLUS funding delivers 58 projects across Derry and Strabane

PICTURED ABOVE: The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Councillor Ruairí McHugh who gave the opening address at a PEACEPLUS conference in the Everglades Hotel for community groups from across the Derry City and Strabane District Council area pictured with facilitators and board members at the event. The Local Council’s Co-Designed Action Plan is a project supported by PeacePlus and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body and has seen £8m in funding awarded with all 58 projects now running 16 months after the funding announcement. (Picture: Martin McKeown)

There was a huge turnout of community groups from across the Derry City and Strabane District Council area for a PEACEPLUS networking event in the Everglades Hotel on Tuesday, October 21.

The delivery of the Local Council’s Co-Designed Action Plan is a project supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

Welcoming delegates to the event, the Mayor, Councillor Ruairí McHugh stated: “In June last year, our Council area secured just over £8 million pounds in funding.

“16 months later, all the contracts under this funding are now awarded and the projects are all up and running. That has taken a huge effort from everyone involved – Local Communities, The PEACEPLUS Board and council staff. Derry City and Strabane District Council was the first council to launch its programme and we are the first council to have everything up and running.

“It’s great to see from the range of people and organisations represented in the room today the range of impact that funding from is having across our city and district.”

The purpose of the event was to communicate and share learning between projects, to give peer support and strengthen capacity for engagement and cross-community peace-building work. PEACEPLUS Board Members facilitated tables highlighting opportunities for engaging geographically across rural and urban areas, across diverse identities and on ideas development for peace-building content in project programming.

Sue Divin, DCSDC PEACE Programme Manager stated: “There are 58 local funded projects currently being delivered through council’s PEACEPLUS Action Plan. Over 9,255 people will benefit from taking part. At a time when funding is really tight for the community and voluntary sector, it’s fantastic to have a positive news story about how this funding stream is really making a difference locally.”

Derry hospitality stars named winners at 'Rising Stars Awards'

Hotel icon Alex Polizzi joins Pamela Ballantine to honour NI's rising hospitality stars

Loughs Agency Hosts Ulster University Students for Environmental Field Study

Students connect environmental science studies with real-world conservation practice

Sharon Doherty, St.Columb’s Park House, is the current Chair of the PEACEPLUS Board. She said: “The £8 million investment covers projects on themes as diverse as sport, arts, history and heritage, community refurbishments, capacity building, culture, dialogue, wellbeing, addiction support, mental health, environment, rural transport, music, dance, Irish language and human rights. Whether you are old, young, or young at heart, there’s something for everyone across the Council area.”