Civil society groups to benefit from €410,000 all-island community fund

Launched by two leading philanthropic foundations on the island, The Community Foundation for Ireland and The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, the funding is being provided to strengthen the voice of civil society across the island.

The organisations which are partnering on projects include the Irish Council for Civil Liberties partnering with the Belfast-based Committee for the Administration of Justice, Community Law and Mediation partnering with the all-island Environmental Justice Network of Ireland (EJNI) and Law Centre NI partnering with Dublin-based FLAC.

Clean air initiatives, sanctuaries for refugees and migrants, women’s rights and a ban on LGBTI+ conversion therapy are among the wide range of cross-border civil society partnerships being supported with the initial €410,000 pilot funding.

Climate projects include collaborations on clean air to benefit people with underlying health conditions, bicycle recycling and use, the development of an all-island manual on climate justice as well as increased advocacy to influence and drive policy for the benefit of all communities.

Migrant and refugee rights projects will see improved access to services for migrant women, research on cross border human trafficking for sexual exploitation, support for schools and universities of sanctuary and the development of an all-island response to global emergencies.

Equality work will include a focus on barriers facing women in pursing careers in engineering, the development of legal policies for an all-island ban LGBTI+ conversion therapy as well decolonising education systems to ensure all identities and traditions are represented.

Other projects will see groups working together on penal reform, civil liberties and policing as well as young voices being heard on challenges post-Brexit and post Covid-19.

Denise Charlton, chief executive of The Community Foundation for Ireland, said: “Every voice must be heard in deciding the future course of our island if we are truly to recover better from the challenges of the past 18-months. For too long groups like young people, women, migrants and many others have been pushed aside or ignored.

“The success of this pilot funding shows that communities and civil society are strong and vibrant on both sides of the border. There is thirst and desire to work together. The challenge for us now is to ensure continued support not just from private donors but also from Governments.”

Roisin Wood, chief executive of the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, said: “As the implications of Brexit, the associated loss of EU membership and the Covid crisis continue to unfold, there are challenges presented to people and communities north and south of the border.

“The all-island fund is vital for increased dialogue and collaboration between communities north and south. We are proud to be partnering with Community Foundation Ireland and leading the way encouraging collaboration, open lines of communication and knowledge learning, all of which will play an increasingly important role in building a more stable future for everyone.”