£6m extra funding forgood relations projects

©/Lorcan Doherty Photography - 15th April 2014. Londonderry Bands Forum Peace Impact Project launch at St Columbs Park House. Guests pictured at the launch. Front, from left are local band members Jennie Johnston, CAW Flute Band, Leanne Know, CAW Flute Band and Mitchell Crooks, William King Memorial Band. Back, from left, are Geoff Cruickshank, Pride of the Orange and Blue Old Boys, Brian Dougherty, St Columbs Park House, Derek Moore, Londonderry Bands Forum, Sarah Quilty, St Columb's Park House, and Dr Adrian Johnston, Chairman, International Fund for Ireland. Photo Lorcan Doherty Photography

The Minister stated: “Between January 2014 and March 2015 I secured more than six million pounds in additional funding for a range of projects focussing on enhancing capacity, building networks and embedding sustainability in community organisations across the wider North West including Coleraine, Dungiven, Limavady and Strabane.”

She added: “I provided funding for the Droichead project, delivered by Cultúrlann Ui Chanáin, which is a cross-community project involving the Bands Forum in Derry.

“This is a unique relationship between an organisation whose primary focus is the promotion of Irish language and culture and the Bands Forum, who represent the Protestant/Unionist/Loyalist community in Derry. The project began during the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2013 and has continued, using music as the common ground through which to facilitate communication and build relationships.

“I have also supported the Citywide Festival which was delivered by the Gasyard Wall Féile in association with a number of other organisations including the Bands Forum and the Bready Ulster-Scots Association. A key objective of this festival was to build on the cross-community partnerships developed during the City of Culture year.

“The Four Corners Project is another example of a good relations project which I have supported through the North West Programme. This involved a group of young people taking part in a visit to the International School for Peace Studies in Messines, to allow them to learn about and understand Ireland’s role in World War I.

“Funding permitting, I will continue to support cultural awareness and good relations projects in the North West.”