As part of Community Relations Week, The International Fund for Ireland has officially launched five diverse community based projects at an event based in Ballynafeigh Community Development Association. The projects have received grants totalling £1.3 million.The funding was awarded through the Fund’s Community Bridges Programme which supports good community relations at grass-roots level and underpins local peace-building activities.Other groups in attendance who outlined their plans for the funding were: An Teach Ban Centre for Peace Building; Arts4All; The Link, Newtownards; and Skegoniel / Glandore Common Purpose Group.This latest tranche of funding will encourage each of the community groups to continue to work together, share resources and strive towards improving their local neighbourhoods.Mary Southwell, Board Member for the International Fund for Ireland, said: “The Fund is very happy to support projects which create conditions where communities can flourish and grow and so has committed approximately £1.3 million to these five community relations related projects. This continues to be a key area of activity for the International Fund for Ireland, and we are very happy to continue to support projects which underpin efforts to enhance social advance, peace building and reconciliation throughout the island of Ireland.“Much has been achieved by the International Fund for Ireland through the Community Bridges Programme. It has supported many projects and benefited tens of thousands of people both directly or indirectly.  The Programme has enabled new approaches to reconciliation work to be piloted and helped existing reconciliation organisations to fundamentally change their practices so as to have a greater impact at community level.” Duncan Morrow, Chief Executive of Community Relations Council said: “This is fine example of communities taking the lead in regenerating their neighbourhoods and will mark the end of Community Relations Week. In the current economic climate, investors are walking away from areas where there is a history of sectarian violence. It is therefore vital that communities rise to the challenge to implement positive change and promote their communities as attractive areas for new business and regeneration.”Gerry Turbritt, Community Facilitator of Ballynafeigh Community Development Association one of the participating groups said: “It is initiatives such as these which will encourage and help our shared communities to work more closely together and to build a better future for the generations to come. Ballynafeigh is a shared neighbourhood and this Programme, with its relationship-building and mentoring, will complement the Shared Neighbourhood programme run by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.”

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