Peace III launch Community Integration Programme

The initiative, which is funded by the European Union’s PEACE III programme managed on behalf of the Special EU Programmes Body by the North East PEACE III Partnership, will be delivered across the Coleraine, Ballymoney, Limavady and Moyle council areas over the next year.

Speakers at the launch included the Mayor of Coleraine, Sandy Gilkinson; the Vice-Chair of the NE PEACE III Partnership, Jack Rankin and the Director of the WEA, Colin Neilands.

The Community Integration Programme aims to deliver a bespoke Community and Ethnic Minority Capacity Building and Sharing Programme which will ultimately increase the confidence, capacity, knowledge and skills of local people, from disadvantaged areas, from within marginalised groups and from ethnic minority groups, to engage in reconciliation, anti-sectarian and anti-racism work.

The programme will offer learning and support to 40 groups and at least 120 individuals from these groups, taking them through a journey of exploration, skills building and practical initiatives, coupled with a practical project which they would have to deliver as part of the process.

The Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) is the lead partner of a consortium appointed by the North East PEACE III Partnership to deliver the programme. Other partners include Mediation Northern Ireland, the Interaction Institute for Social Change, Ballymoney Community Resource Centre and Kilcranny House.

The event was attended by representatives from Coleraine, Moyle, Ballymoney and Limavady council areas.