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Good relations
PEACEPLUS is a European Union funding programme designed to support peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland, building on the work of the PEACE and INTERREG programmes.
PEACEPLUS is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and represents a funding partnership between the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Executive.
We were awarded £15.1million (€17.4million) to deliver the Belfast PEACEPLUS Local Community Action Plan to help build peace and reconciliation across Belfast. The PEACEPLUS Action Plan is unique as it was co-designed with local communities and enables common needs to be met.
The Belfast PEACEPLUS Local Community Action Plan will deliver sixteen projects, across three strategic themes, which will continue to build on peace and reconciliation, connect communities and strengthen good relations.
The themes are:
There are five projects with this theme. These projects will help local people to regenerate and transform their communities. Associated animation activities will aim to engage 4,280 residents and foster connections across communities. We have started the process to appoint design teams for the capital projects. We expect to appoint construction partners by the end of 2025.
The projects are:
This project will transform an underused area at 2 Royal Avenue into a vibrant LGBTQIA+ Hub. It will provide a communal space for various cultural communities to connect and support LGBTQIA+ individuals and people interested in learning about LGBTQIA+ issues.
This project will transform an under-utilised site on Annadale Embankment into a shared, green, and open urban space with shared community facilities, a playpark and small men’s shed. A community animation programme will be delivered, to strengthen local and youth groups through cross-community training, events, and activities to foster civic pride and support the new space.
This project will transform an unused site close to an interface into a natural play area and community zone, with pathways, lighting, and entrance upgrades. It will create a family-friendly, cross-community space for activities, setting a standard for future urban redevelopment in Belfast. The animation programme will empower local communities to regenerate and transform their communities by building the capacity of local groups on a cross-community basis through the delivery of a shared space and ensure the site is reimagined, building good relations with and between different communities.
This project will deliver improved access to the Belfast hills and enhanced connectivity. The project will expand the network of routes in the Belfast hills to re-connect city communities, providing safe travel areas, and promoting regeneration in North and West Belfast. The project will feature over eight km of shared pathways, improved stream crossings, and a bridge over the Forth River. There will be a cross-community programme with guided walks, talks, and events to promote understanding of the local heritage and responsible use of the hills.
This project aims to rejuvenate the Sanctuary Theatre in East Belfast by enhancing performance facilities and providing cross-community outreach arts programmes in schools. The project will deliver:
There are six projects with this theme. These projects aim to engage over 7,600 people from diverse communities in activities such as youth programmes, sports, arts, and health initiatives. The projects will boost community capacity and confidence, leading to more co-ordinated local responses to challenges in economically and socially disadvantaged areas.
The projects are:
The project aims to strengthen local communities across Belfast by enhancing leadership, civic engagement and participation. It targets individuals interested in improving their areas and will involve 1,000 people in activities over three years, including:
We appointed NICVA (link opens in new window) to deliver this project.
The project's key focus is to deliver a local health and wellbeing programme for people affected by conflict-related trauma in Belfast. Health and wellbeing and good relations sessions, designed through local community working groups, based on need, will engage 1,620 participants.
We appointed Ashton (link opens in new window) to deliver this project.
The project aims to empower 2,106 young people across four age groups to promote good relations and peace in their communities. The focus is to enable young people to become Ambassadors for Peace in their communities and beyond with the goal of promoting and understanding peace among the younger generation to inspire Belfast's future. The project will be delivered through:
The project strands and four age groups are:
The project aims to promote peacebuilding and positive change through sport and community engagement. Lasting partnerships among sports clubs, schools, and community groups throughout Belfast will be developed through collaborative working to deliver grass roots programmes that build resilience, develop leadership qualities and encourage playing sports within communities.
Active Communities Network (link opens in new window) is delivering this project.
This project aims to deliver vocational language learning and practical life skills for 816 people living in the city whose first language is not English. The project will help those from minority ethnic backgrounds gain language and employability skills to help them access the local economy and participate in Belfast’s success.
People 1st (link opens in new window) is delivering this project.
The Arts Across the Genres project will engage 496 participants in a cross-community, arts-based programme. They will develop artistic and operational development skills and receive mentoring for future career direction within the arts. At least five new and fresh art pieces will be created and showcased, expressing Belfast's cultural diversity.
MayWe (link opens in new window) is delivering this project.
The five projects aim to promote inclusion and understanding among diverse groups including different religions, ethnic minorities, ex-politically motivated prisoners, and LGBTQIA+ communities. The projects will involve over 5,500 participants, fostering respect for marginalised communities and enhancing community engagement across various backgrounds, promoting a sense of shared city.
The projects are:
This project will increase knowledge and awareness of different faiths and beliefs across Belfast, facilitate positive dialogue and expression, improve relations between people of different religions and non-religious backgrounds and build trust and respect. There will be 870 participants with a further 1,500 people benefitting from the project.
We appointed The Corrymeela Community (link opens in new window) to deliver this project.
This project aims to support the integration and inclusion of people from minority ethnic backgrounds, to grow their representation and voices within Belfast as well as developing familiarity and links with other communities. The project will have with 726 participants.
We appointed GEMS NI (link opens in new window) to deliver this project.
The project aims to deliver an LGBTQIA+ support, education and awareness programme that builds greater collaboration across the LGBTQIA+ support infrastructure enabling and supporting better local services and an outreach programme to increase awareness, understanding and respect for the LGBTQIA+ community in Belfast. The project will target 625 participants.
We appointed the Rainbow Project (link opens in new window) to deliver this project.
This project aims to build, improve, and sustain relationships between and within communities through the engagement of the ex-politically motivated prisoners community.
This will be achieved by increasing the capacity and well-being of participants to be positively active within their communities and between neighbouring communities. Project initiatives include training in counselling and advice provision, as well as delivering intervention strategies on mental health, addictions, and relationships. The project will have 750 participants from different communities with a wider 150 participants benefiting from attending events.
We are currently conducting a procurement process for a delivery partner.
The Multiculturalism to Interculturalism project focuses on history, heritage, and sharing different cultural identities through cross-cultural dialogue. It will directly involve 2,565 people in capacity-building, mentoring and shared learning. Up to 5,000 people will participate in wider events locally and citywide.
The project is delivered across four key strands:
We are currently conducting a procurement process for a delivery partner
We are currently conducting a procurement process for a delivery partner.
We appointed Féile an Phobail (link opens in new window) to deliver Strand 3.
We appointed Arts Ekta (link opens in new window) to deliver Strand 4.
We received €13.5million PEACEPLUS funding to develop new plans to reconnect Waterworks Park to Alexandra Park and the wider city.
The project is being funded under Investment Area 1.4: Re-imaging Communities which seeks to ‘create a more cohesive society through an increased provision of shared spaces and services, which will benefit and embed peace and reconciliation’.
This project will reduce long-standing severance issues between communities created by physical barriers, including peace walls and road infrastructure, by developing the surrounding and internal infrastructure and enhance linkages with other parts of the city and to the Belfast Hills.
Proposals include:
If you’d like to receive PEACEPLUS local community action plan email updates, contact us: [email protected].
For more information on PEACEPLUS, go to PEACEPLUS (link opens in new window).
PEACEPLUS
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