Minister Dermot Ahern announces Grants of almost €10 million to Irish Community Groups in Britain
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D., has announced grants of €9.89 million (Stg£6.67 million) to 127 organisations in the voluntary sector that work with the Irish community in Britain. The particular focus of the funding is to support the services that help the more vulnerable members of the Irish community there.
The bulk of the funding (79%) will go to Welfare projects, including significant funding for projects providing services for the elderly Irish and also to support the provision of mental health services for those vulnerable members of the Irish community in Britain.
In announcing the grant allocations, Minister Ahern emphasised the particular priority which he attaches to supporting projects that benefit older Irish people:
“Assisting the older members of our community in Britain is a clear priority. Many of the organisations receiving funding this year cater for the elderly, ranging from informal community networking groups for senior citizens to professional organisations that offer a range of services.”
These grant allocations are a clear reflection of the Government's strong commitment to the welfare and enhancement of our community in Britain. We are determined to maintain and develop this substantial level of support in future years”.
Commenting on the distribution of grants, the Minister said:
“I am delighted that the extra funding available for Emigrant Services has allowed for a broadening of both the range and geographical spread of eligible projects, with increased applications from Scotland, Wales and the North of England.
While the primary emphasis of funding continues to be on supporting projects that promote the welfare of the elderly, homeless and vulnerable, I am pleased that additional funding has also made it possible to support a number of heritage and cultural projects which are vital to the development of community networks and which help to foster community spirit. Altogether over €1.2 million is being granted to organisations providing a range of activities in these areas, to demonstrate support for a positive and dynamic community spirit.”
Minister Ahern expressed his deep appreciation of the work and dedication of the Díon Advisory Committee – an advisory Committee on welfare issues for the Irish in Britain – for the time and effort they have spent in providing their advice and expertise on the large number of grant applications received.
Note for Editors:
These grants account for the majority of this year’s allocation to Irish community organisations in Britain.
Since 1984 the Government has given financial support to voluntary agencies providing advice and welfare services to vulnerable Irish emigrants in Britain. Close to €50 million has been allocated to Irish community groups since then, with 84% of this amount allocated since 2000. Recipient organisations provide advice, counselling and support services for Irish people in need in Britain.
Priority targets for funding are services that support the elderly, the homeless and people affected by illness or substance misuse problems, as well as services for the Traveller community. However, the eligibility criteria have been expanded to allow consideration of cultural, heritage, sporting and other activities which help to foster community contact and support. Further decisions on capital grant allocations are currently under consideration and will be announced later in the year.
Government funding for emigrant services continues to rise significantly. In 2007 a figure of €15.165 million has been allocated for emigrant services worldwide, compared to €12 million in 2006 - an increase of 26%. While most of the available funding is directed to organisations in Britain, grants are also extended to groups in the USA, Australia, Canada, Argentina, South Africa and Zimbabwe as well as to a number of organisations in Ireland engaged in activities that support Irish emigrants.
August 2007
|
Grants: Britain July 2007 | ||
|
|
|
|
|
Name of Organisation |
£Stg |
Euro |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acton Homeless Concern |
40,350 |
59,866 |
|
Batley IDL |
2,500 |
3,709 |
|
Benefits Advice Shop |
4,700 |
6,973 |
|
Birmingham Irish Community Forum Ltd |
142,749 |
211,794 |
|
Blackfriars Advice Centre |
37,891 |
56,218 |
|
Bolton Irish Community Association Ltd |
10,000 |
14,837 |
|
Brent Adolescent Centre |
23,756 |
35,246 |
|
Brent Irish Advisory Service (BIAS) |
145,000 |
215,134 |
|
Brian Boru IDL Club |
28,700 |
42,582 |
|
Broadway Homelessness & Support |
35,000 |
51,929 |
|
Camden Women's Aid |
39,598 |
58,751 |
|
CARA Irish Housing Association Ltd |
85,244 |
126,475 |
|
Causeway Irish Housing Association Ltd |
16,328 |
24,226 |
|
Celtic & Irish Cultural Society |
14,300 |
21,217 |
|
Central Eltham Youth Project (CEYP) |
25,000 |
37,092 |
|
Conradh na Gaeilge (Craobh Phádraig Mhic Phiarais) |
28,230 |
41,884 |
|
Council of Irish County Associations (London) |
10,000 |
14,837 |
|
Coventry Irish Society |
114,015 |
169,162 |
|
Cricklewood Homeless Concern |
157,054 |
233,018 |
|
Derby Irish Association |
10,000 |
14,837 |
|
Dewsbury Irish National League Club |
15,000 |
22,255 |
|
Doncaster Irish Association |
2,000 |
2,967 |
|
Eastleigh and District Irish Society |
7,500 |
11,128 |
|
Edinburgh Cyrenians Good Food/Homeless |
9,958 |
14,774 |
|
Eireanns Way |
1,000 |
1,484 |
|
Emerald Circle Club |
3,000 |
4,451 |
|
Equinox |
27,914 |
41,415 |
|
Federation of Irish Societies |
580,557 |
861,361 |
|
Feis Ghlaschú |
3,000 |
4,451 |
|
Friends, Families & Travellers |
13,087 |
19,417 |
|
Garngad Irish Heritage Group |
3,300 |
4,896 |
|
GEAR Project Company Ltd |
20,000 |
29,674 |
|
Golden Shamrock Club, Nottingham |
12,049 |
17,877 |
|
Greenwich Irish Pensioners Association |
4,000 |
5,935 |
|
Halifax & District Irish Society |
26,700 |
39,614 |
|
Halifax Irish Centre Amateur F.C. |
1,000 |
1,484 |
|
Halifax Irish A.R.L.F.C. |
1,000 |
1,484 |
|
Halifax Irish Junior F.C. |
1,000 |
1,484 |
|
Haringey Irish Cultural and Community Centre |
132,437 |
196,494 |
|
Huddersfield Irish Centre |
11,110 |
16,484 |
|
Huddersfield St Patrick's Day Parade Association |
8,000 |
11,869 |
|
ICAP |
148,254 |
219,961 |
|
IDL Club Haslingden Davitt Branch |
5,760 |
8,546 |
|
IDL Club Bradford |
8,500 |
12,611 |
|
Innisfree Housing Association Ltd |
25,000 |
37,092 |
|
Irish Centre Housing Ltd |
35,406 |
52,531 |
|
Irish Charitable Trust |
122,505 |
181,758 |
|
Irish Commission for Prisoners Overseas |
100,000 |
148,368 |
|
Irish Community Care Merseyside |
231,840 |
343,976 |
|
Irish Community Care (Manchester) |
169,834 |
251,979 |
|
Irish Cultural Centre Hammersmith Ltd |
175,000 |
259,644 |
|
Irish Diaspora Foundation |
35,315 |
52,396 |
|
Irish Elderly Advice Network |
81,313 |
120,642 |
|
Irish Heritage |
7,000 |
10,386 |
|
Irish History Month |
15,000 |
22,255 |
|
Irish in Greenwich |
155,249 |
230,340 |
|
Irish Traveller Movement in Britain |
63,843 |
94,723 |
|
Irish Welfare & Info Centre (IWIC) |
159,843 |
237,156 |
|
Irish World Heritage Centre |
37,250 |
55,267 |
|
Lancashire Federation of Irish Democ.League Club |
5,000 |
7,418 |
|
Leeds Gypsy & Traveller Exchange (GATE) |
45,839 |
68,010 |
|
Leeds Irish Health & Homes |
131,840 |
195,608 |
|
Leeds St Patrick's Day Parade |
7,000 |
10,386 |
|
Leicester Irish Forum |
41,424 |
61,460 |
|
Lewisham Irish Community Centre |
48,768 |
72,356 |
|
Lewisham Irish Pensioners Association |
7,295 |
10,823 |
|
London Gypsy & Traveller Unit |
65,007 |
96,450 |
|
London Irish Amateur Rugby Football Club |
10,000 |
14,837 |
|
London Irish Music School |
11,500 |
17,062 |
|
London Irish Pensioners Choir |
2,000 |
2,967 |
|
London Irish Women's Centre |
89,234 |
132,395 |
|
Luton Irish Forum |
101,452 |
150,522 |
|
Manchester Irish Festival |
15,000 |
22,255 |
|
Manchester Irish Language Group |
700 |
1,039 |
|
Mansfield & Dukeries Association |
7,800 |
11,573 |
|
Mazenod Social Community Club |
6,450 |
9,570 |
|
Milton Keynes Irish Centre Limited |
29,000 |
43,027 |
|
New Horizon Youth Centre Ltd |
35,941 |
53,325 |
|
NOAH Enterprise |
141,789 |
210,369 |
|
Northampton Irish Support Group |
62,005 |
91,996 |
|
North Wales Irish Society |
3,800 |
5,638 |
|
Nottingham St Patrick's Day Parade Association |
8,000 |
11,869 |
|
Novas Ouvertures Group Ltd, Arlington House |
64,578 |
95,813 |
|
Our Lady Help of Christians |
55,402 |
82,199 |
|
Passage 2000 |
35,000 |
51,929 |
|
Pendle & District Irish Society |
2,000 |
2,967 |
|
Queen's Park Senior Citizens Group |
5,000 |
7,418 |
|
Rehab UK Teach na hÉireann Irish Elders Day Care Centre |
74,911 |
111,144 |
|
Return to Ireland |
96,000 |
142,433 |
|
Safe Start Foundation |
99,000 |
146,884 |
|
Sandwell Irish Society |
4,000 |
5,935 |
|
South London Irish Association |
3,000 |
4,451 |
|
South London Irish Welfare Society |
70,000 |
103,858 |
|
Southwark Irish Cultural & Arts Development Centre |
7,000 |
10,386 |
|
Southwark Irish Pensioners Project |
194,241 |
288,191 |
|
Southwark Irish Youth |
12,500 |
18,546 |
|
St. Ann's Senior Citizens Club |
3,000 |
4,451 |
|
St Michael's Irish Centre |
71,784 |
106,504 |
|
St. Mungo's Community Housing Association |
31,500 |
46,736 |
|
St Patrick's Festival Committee |
6,500 |
9,644 |
|
St Patrick's Senior Tuesday Lunch Club |
3,500 |
5,193 |
|
St Stephen's Irish Pensioners Project |
3,000 |
4,451 |
|
St Theresa's House |
29,495 |
43,761 |
|
Streetwork UK |
30,000 |
44,510 |
|
Tara Irish Pensioners |
3,000 |
4,451 |
|
The Connection at St Martin's |
20,000 |
29,674 |
|
The Emerald Centre |
40,525 |
60,126 |
|
The Emerald Social Club |
8,000 |
11,869 |
|
The Emerald Sports & Cultural Club |
7,500 |
11,128 |
|
The Fireside Charity |
38,669 |
57,372 |
|
The Halifax Irish Centre |
10,000 |
14,837 |
|
The Hibernian Society |
41,750 |
61,944 |
|
The Irish Arts Foundation |
68,008 |
100,902 |
|
The Irish Chaplaincy in Britain |
75,000 |
111,276 |
|
The London Irish Centre Charity |
482,974 |
716,579 |
|
The Marian Senior Citizens Club |
5,100 |
7,567 |
|
The Maya Centre |
22,666 |
33,629 |
|
The Peckham Settlement |
71,816 |
106,552 |
|
The Simon Community |
16,170 |
23,991 |
|
Thursday Over 60s Club |
1,000 |
1,484 |
|
Tyneside Irish Centre Ltd |
16,000 |
23,739 |
|
Tyneside Irish Cultural Society Ltd |
21,000 |
31,157 |
|
University of Central Lancaster |
5,483 |
8,135 |
|
Yorkshire Federation of IDL Clubs |
5,000 |
7,418 |
|
Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann - Provincial Council of Britain |
134,518 |
199,582 |
|
Safe Home Programme Ltd |
117,950 |
175,000 |
|
Provincial Council of Britain GAA |
250,000 |
370,920 |
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
6,671,323 |
9,898,105 |
End +++
Press
19/08/07
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