Diane Dodds MEP Non-attached Member of the European Parliament
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Funding

Current EU Funding Opportunities

Millions of pounds of Peace Funding has been poured into Northern Ireland. However many communities still find it difficult to access this funding because of bureaucracy and lack of expertise in completing the forms. Having spent many years working alongside community groups Diane has always recognised the challenges in seeking to retain core funding and expand services. She has appointed a staff member, Trevor Cummings, to work alongside communities - whether they are engaged in social enterprise, in church based activities, the loyal orders or working with the victims of terrorism - in order to seek out funding opportunities and so maintain valuable services within our communities.



European Rural Development Programme


The European Union has an active rural development policy that is designed to help our countryside and the people who live and work there. The current policy and its funding stream are focused on three themes (known as "thematic axis") and these are:


  • improving the competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sector;
  • improving the environment and the countryside;
  • Improving the quality of life in rural areas and encouraging diversification of the rural economy.

To help ensure a balanced approach to policy, Northern Ireland is obliged to spread their rural development funding between all three of these thematic axis. Local councils have come together in clusters to facilitate the delivery of the Programme and there are seven clusters working with Local Action Groups ensuring a bottom-up delivery with local people responsible for local decisions.


Presently three of those clusters are open for new applications and are listed below:



Area Programme Themes Contact Details Dates
Antrim, Carrickfergus & Newtownabbey Axis 3 & 4 Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme
  • Farm Diversification
  • Business Creation & Development
  • Rural Tourism
GROW South Antrim

Antrim Civic Centre, 50 Stiles Way, Antrim, BT41 2UB

Tel: 02894 481311
Email: info@growsouthantrim.com
Web: www.growsouthantrim.com

17th May - 14th June
Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine, Larne & Moyle Axis 3 & 4 Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme
  • Farm Diversification into Non-Agricultural Activities
  • Business Creation and Development
  • Rural Tourism Activities
  • Basic Services for the Economy and Rural Population
  • Conservation and Upgrading the Rural Heritage
North East Region
Ecos Centre
Kernohan’s Lane
Ballymena, BT43 7QA

Tel./Fax: 028 2563 8263

Email: northeast.rdp@ballymena.gov.uk

Web: www.northeastrdp.com

22nd February - 14th May
Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine, Larne & Moyle Axis 3 & 4 Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme
  • Village Renewal and Development
As above 12th April 2010 18th June
Cookstown, Dungannon, Fermanagh & Magherafelt Axis 3 & 4 Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme
  • Farm Diversification
  • Business Creation & Development
South West Action for Rural Development
94 Church Street
Cookstown, BT80 8HX
Tel 028 86764714

Email: sward@cookstown.gov.uk

Web: www.sward.org.uk

Open Now
Cookstown, Dungannon, Fermanagh & Magherafelt Axis 3 & 4 Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme
  • Rural Tourism Activities
  • Basic Services for the Economy and Rural Population
  • Conservation and Upgrading the Rural Heritage
South West Action for Rural Development
94 Church Street
Cookstown, BT80 8HX
Tel 028 86764714

Email: sward@cookstown.gov.uk

Web: www.sward.org.uk

Opening in May 2010


European Peace III Programme


Under Priority 1.1 of the Peace III Programme, Building Positive relations at a local level, councils still continue to work within self-defined clusters on the development of peace and reconciliation action plans. Their focus is to reinforce progress towards a peaceful and stable society and to promote reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the border region, by supporting projects that bring communities together.


The Managing Authority for PEACE III is the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) but the council clusters have responsibility for the delivery of the programme at a local level and invite applications at different times in the year.


For further information on the current availability of grants ranging from £500 - £10k in your area, contact the respective lead Council Offices.



Area Lead Council
Antrim, Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey PEACE III Programme Co-ordinator

Newtownabbey Borough Council

Mossley Mill, Newtownabbey, BT36 5QA

Tel: 028 9034 0212

Cookstown, Dungannon & South Tyrone, Fermanagh, Magherafelt PEACE III Project Officer

Fermanagh District Council

Townhall Street, Enniskillen, BT74 6HR

Tel: 028 6632 5050

Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine, Larne, Moyle, Limavady North East PEACE III Partnership
Coleraine Borough Council
Cloonavin, 66 Portstewart Road
Coleraine, BT 52 1EY
Tel: 028 7034 7034
Londonderry, Omagh, Strabane North West Peace III Cluster

Derry City Council Offices
98 Strand Road
Londonderry, BT48 7NN

Tel: (028) 7130 8466

Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Newry & Mourne The Southern Councils Peace III Partnership

The Bridge Partnership
Civic Building, Downshire Road
Banbridge, BT32 3JY

Tel: 028 3031 3074

North Down Borough, Ards Borough and Down District Councils Peace 3 Partnership

North Down Borough Council
Town Hall, The Castle
Bangor, BT20 4BT
Tel: 028 91 2780 28

Lisburn City and Castlereagh Borough Council Peace III Partnership

Director of Leisure Services,

Lisburn City Council.

Island Civic Centre, The Island,

Lisburn. BT27 4RL

Tel: 028 9250 9250

Belfast City Council Peace III Programme

Good Relations Unit
Chief Executive's Department
Belfast City Hall
Belfast BT1 5GS

Tel: 028 9027 0663

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