24/02/2005

Racial equality groups to benefit from £500k funding

Local organisations which work to promote racial equality and good relations across Northern Ireland are to benefit from an improved funding scheme, totalling around £500,000.

Making the funding announcement, NIO Minister John Spellar said the new Development Funding for Minority Ethnic Communities would run over a three year period, from 2005/06 – 2007/08.

“In addition to applications from organisations within the minority ethnic community, others, which operate on a local basis to improve race relations and help minority ethnic people to integrate into their community, may also apply,” the Minister said.

“The fund has been created with the changing needs of minority ethnic communities in mind. The emphasis will now be on integration, with the ultimate aim of bringing minority ethnic communities into mainstream funding in other government departments, testimony to the Government’s ongoing commitment to promote and support racial equality and race relations.”

The Development Funding for Minority Ethnic Communities incorporates a number of new elements, including: Development funding, which was previously restricted to region-wide organisations, will now be open to local groups; and Project funding which will be opened to wider well established community groups working in collaboration with minority ethnic organisations.

(MB)

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