£100k in grantsfor ethnic relations

The Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) authorised grants of £27,750 to the Foyle Multi-Cultural Forum; £45k to the Derry Travellers Support Group; and £45k to SEEDS.

As well as the grants above money also went to groups that have a Northern Ireland-wide remit.

First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness explained: “Although the majority of the groups are located in Belfast, the groups often operate across the region to support the largest number of minority ethnic people.”

The Ministers added: “A six-month extension to funding for groups already receiving development funding for 2011/12 under the Minority Ethnic Development Fund was announced in April this year.

“Officials are currently working on a revised Minority Ethnic Development Fund that will be open to new applications from the Sector in the early autumn.”