Calling all Rural Women

Two pots of funding amounting to millions of pounds will be distributed throughout Northern Ireland, through the Rural Development Programme and PEACE III funding.

Rural Development Programme

The Rural Development Programme running from 2007 – 2013 will be distributing approx 500 million pounds to rural development. This will be delivered through 4 themes one of which is improving the quality of life in rural areas and diversification of the rural economy.

There will be approx 80 million pounds distributed under this theme. Councils have been allocated into clusters, and have nominated a lead Council within the clusters to distribute the funding. Under the Rural Development Programme a Local Action Group (LAG) will be formed.

The Local Action Group will be made up of Councillors and Social Partners (50 -50). The LAG will be responsible for considering applications for funding. The council clusters for RDP are:

1. Antrim, Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus
2. Moyle, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine, Larne
3. Derry, Strabane, Omagh, Limavady
4. Fermanagh, Cookstown, Magherafelt, Dungannon
5. Banbridge, Ards, Down, North Down
6. Lisburn, Castlereagh, Belfast
7. Craigavon, Armagh, Newry and Mourne

PEACE III

For PEACE III again this will be running from 2007 – 2013 and funding will be distributed to work towards a peaceful and stable society and promoting reconciliation. Over the next 7 years under the PEACE III programme, funding will be made available to community and voluntary groups.

A key output under PEACE III will be sectarianism and racism. Under Peace III Sub Regional Partnerships will be formed, made up of a mix of Councillors, Statutory and Social Partners. The Sub Regional Partnerships for the Council cluster areas will consider applications for funding.

The council clusters for PEACE III are:

1. Antrim, Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus
2. Moyle, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine, Larne, Limavady
3. Derry, Strabane, Omagh,
4. Fermanagh, Cookstown, Magherafelt, Dungannon
5. Banbridge, Newry & Mourne, Craigavon, Armagh
6. Lisburn, Castlereagh,
7. Down, Ards, North Down
8. Belfast

Rural Development Programme Information/consultation events

• Magherafelt, Council Offices, Wednesday 27 February 2008 @ 7.30pm
• Cookstown, Loughry College, The Shannon Suite, Monday 3 March @ 7.00pm
• Dungannon, Dungannon and South Tyrone Council Offices, Tuesday 4 March @ 7.30pm
• Fermanagh, College of Agriculture, Food & Rural Enterprise, Wednesday 5 March @ 7.30pm
• Randalstown, ARCHES Association, 38-40 Main Street, Randalstown on Monday 25th February @ 7 pm
• Carrickfergus, The Town Hall, Antrim Street, Carrickfergus, Tuesday 26th February @ 7pm
• Ballyclare Town Hall, The Square, Ballyclare, Wednesday 27th February @ 7pm
• Ballymena, ECOS Centre, Wednesday 27 February @ 7.30pm
• Limavady, Training Room, Limavady Council Offices, Monday 3 March @ 7.30pm
• Moyle, Moyle Council Offices, Tuesday 4 March @ 7.00pm
• Larne, Larne Leisure Centre, Thursday 6 March @ 8.00pm

PEACE III Information/consultation events

• Cookstown, Loughry College Wednesday 27 February @ 7pm

Everyone with an interest in rural development is being encouraged to participate and make their views known.

Encourage women to attend

We would encourage as many rural women as possible to attend events to find out more information on the funding programmes and voice key concerns in their local area.

We would also like to ensure that there is a gender balance on LAGs and Sub Regional Partnerships. Therefore we would encourage rural women to consider to sitting on the Sub Regional Partnership or LAG. Women are currently underrepresented on decision making bodies, however play an important part in rural community development. This is your opportunity to have your say for your local area.

More information

For further information on PEACE III or RDP, please contact:

Nora Smith
Northern Ireland Rural Women's Network (NIRWN)
15 Molesworth Street
Cookstown
Co Tyrone BT80 8NX

t: 028 86769191
f: 028 86765644
e: nora@nirwn.org.uk