Additional funding of over £5.5m has been secured by Belfast City Council to promote peace and reconciliation across communities in the city through the PEACE IV programme. This brings the total amount of PEACE IV funding for Belfast to £14.5m. 

The funding, provided from the European Union PEACE IV Programme and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), was announced at Girdwood Community Hub.

Speaking at the event, Lord Mayor, Councillor Deirdre Hargey, said: “Belfast is a city with many strengths and the funding secured through the PEACE IV programme will help to build on this and assist in transforming our city.  The £14.5m of PEACE IV funding will be a catalyst in helping the council to deliver its vision of creating a city that’s vibrant, connected, welcoming, safe, and inclusive for all.  On behalf of the council, I would like to thank the European Union, the Executive Office and the Department of Rural and Community Development in Ireland and SEUPB for providing this vital funding.” 

The council has commissioned a wide range of delivery partners to assist in the delivery of PEACE IV projects under three key themes of ‘Children and Young People’, ‘Building Positive Relations’ and ‘Shared Spaces and Services’.  Citizens across the city can get involved in exploring peace, culture and diversity through a range of projects, which include: the use of technology to challenge young people’s attitudes towards others; good relations and diversity through sports; connecting open and shared spaces; and a transformational leadership programme. 

Congratulating the council on securing further funding under the EU’s PEACE IV Programme, Gina McIntyre, CEO of the Special EU Programmes Body, said: “PEACE IV funding is being spent at a local level to address local needs by local groups via local authorities across Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland. Approximately one third of the total value of the programme is being spent this way and reflects the bottom-up approach that has been deliberately engineered to ensure that it is both shaped by, and responsive to, the needs of local people. Belfast City Council has been a long recipient of EU PEACE funding. This funding has had a transformative impact across Greater Belfast; helping to promote social cohesion by building positive relations between divided communities.”

More information on Peace IV is available at www.belfastcity.gov.uk/peaceIV 

For further details on the SEUPB, visit www.seupb.eu