Agenda item

(Mr. M. Mulholland, External Funding Coordinator, attended in connection with this item.)

            The External Funding Coordinator presented the Committee with the following report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

1.1        The purpose of this report is to provide Members with an update in relation to the current open funding call under the Shared Island Civic Society Fund being managed by the Irish Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs (DfA), and potential advice sessions of Belfast organisations for future funding opportunities.

2.0        Recommendation

2.1        It is recommended that the Committee notes:

·         the update provided in relation to the current round of the Shared Island Civic Society Fund and the commitment of future founding rounds until 2027;

·         that an online information session has been organised for local organisations on Thursday 12 June 2025 on the requirements of the current funding call, details of this session has been shared with all elected members and relevant officers to share across their local networks; and

·         that following engagement between officers and DfA officials, plans are being developed to run a future in-person session in late summer with Belfast organisations as to potential opportunities for successful applications under future rounds of this fund.

3.0        Main Report

            Shared Island Civic Society Fund

3.1        The Shared Island Civic Society Fund is an initiative to promote practical North South cooperation and engagement across a range of sectors and themes, consistent with the objectives and commitments of the Good Friday Agreement.

3.2        The Shared Island initiative is a whole-of-government priority which aims to harness the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement to enhance cooperation, connection, and mutual understanding on the island and engage with all communities and traditions to build consensus around a shared future.

3.3        The Civic Society Fund is intended to provide project funding to complement work supported through the Reconciliation Fund and other Government resources; and to promote practical North South cooperation between civic society actors, deepening such relationships on an all-island basis.

3.4        A total of €6 million will be available from 2025 to 2027, it is anticipated that a total of up €2 million will be made available in this round to support successful projects. The maximum grant awarded to any project is €50,000. The average grant awarded in previous rounds was just under €30,000.  Applications will be strengthened by the inclusion of funding contributions from the participating partner organisations.

            The Fund will prioritise applications relating to, but not limited to, the following areas, including applications from regional or national representative bodies:

·         Climate and environment.

·         Women

·         Youth

·         Migrants

·         Social Enterprise, charity and voluntary sector.

3.5        All applications must have a clear North South dimension and only applications from civic society organisations based in the South engaging in new project/programme work with a partner(s) in the North or civic society organisations in the North engaging in new project/programme work with a partner(s) in the South will be considered. East/West dimensions and partners to such projects will also be welcomed. 

3.6        The following areas are not eligible for funding:

·         Standalone activities that are not part of a wider project/programme.

·         Operational costs, such as core salaries and overheads

·         Capital costs.

3.7        The deadline for applications is 27 June 2025, guidance notes and the application form are available from the Department of Foreign Affairs website.

3.8        Considering the tight timeframes for this current funding round. The Council has requested that DfA hold an online information session, taking place on Thursday 12 June, to provide information to prospective applicant organisations based in Belfast. As there will also be future rounds under this Fund the Council will work with DfA officials to facilitate an in-person session to provide guidance and support for local organisations on project requirements and tips for future opportunities.

            Financial and Resource Implications

            None associated with this report.

            Equality or Good Relations Implications/Rural Needs Assessment

            None associated with this report.”

            The External Funding Coordinator outlined that he had participated in the online information session earlier that day, along with four organisations.

            It was highlighted that there were capacity issues across the City and that submitting applications before the end of June would be a challenge.

            A Member highlighted the importance of the Council participating and supporting events involving local organisations funded under the initiatives.

            The External Funding Coordinator confirmed that representatives from the Shared Island Unit would present to the Committee at a future meeting.

            The Committee adopted the recommendations within the report.