News Release Page Title

24 July 2000

MINISTER CONFIRMS £2 MILLION GAP FUNDING FOR VOLUNTARY AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS

Details of a £2 million funding package to bridge the gap between the current and next EU programmes for voluntary and community projects were announced today by Nigel Dodds, MLA, the Minister for Social Development.

The Minister, confirming the financial support which he had earlier outlined on 30 June, said: "Government Departments and Funders have identified projects eligible under this package and are now in the process of inviting applications from voluntary and community projects whose EU funding has recently ended or is about to end.

"The application and decision making process should be completed by the end of August and successful projects will be considered for funding in the period from 3 July 2000 to 31 March 2001.

"While not all applications will be successful given the limited amount of money available, I am convinced that this package will make an important contribution in continuing to support projects which underpin peace, target disadvantaged and promote social inclusion," he added.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. The £2 million package for voluntary and community projects was announced on 30 June as part of the Agenda for Government agreed by the Executive.
  2. Eligible projects for funding are those:
      • that were still in receipt of EU funding on 3 July 2000 under Northern Ireland Single Programme 1994 - 1999 or the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation 1995 -1999 (Peace I); or
      • whose EU funding ceased under either of the above Programmes or Community Initiatives between 31 December 1999 and 2 July 2000 and are still operating with the same aims and objectives and a similar level of activity.
     
  3. The package covers the period from 3 July 2000 until 31 March 2001.
  4. Government Departments and other EU funders are issuing application forms to those projects which satisfy the eligibility criteria. The closing date for applications is 11 August.
  5. Completed applications will be returned to the senders for collation and initial assessment against agreed selection criteria. All applications will be considered by an Assessment Committee consisting of representatives of Departments and other EU funders meeting on 29 and 30 August and applicants will be notified of their decision as soon as possible afterwards.

    6. For further information please contact the information office at the Department for Social Development on 028-90569219.