RDC/IFI Integrating Communities scheme

This programme is designed to facilitate community organisations that wish to co operate on a cross border and/or cross community basis to work on issues of common interest. As well as training, support and mentoring, funding may be available to undertake joint projects. This programme is open to urban and rural groups operating both within Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland.

Who can apply?
Priority will be given to those groups that have not previously engaged with the Fund, however previous recipients of International Fund for Ireland funding will not be excluded.

The Integrating Communities programme can be accessed in two ways:

1. Support Phase - involves a focused programme of support targeting up to 30 community organisations from across Northern Ireland and the border counties. Organisations will be matched on a cross community and/or cross border basis, or existing partnerships can be considered. Successful applicants will be provided with training, mentoring and support to help them develop their partnership and subsequently deliver a small joint project.
2. Project Phase - provides project grant and implementation support for partnerships that either complete the Support Phase or are already at a stage where a full project application can be made.

The 'Integrating Communities' programme aims to: -

• Increase the capacity and confidence of unionist and nationalist communities to work together.
• Foster and develop relationships within and between communities.
• Encourage sustainable partnership working and promote continued reconciliation and peace building activities.
• Be a catalyst for groups to engage in partnerships and take decisive action toward new and innovative programmes/ projects, which will benefit their communities.

Support Phase
Groups accepted onto the support phase of the programme will be 'matched' with groups that offer opportunities for partnership working but that also encourage communities to challenge perceptions and to work with others they may not previously have engaged with. New groups are encouraged to apply but consideration will also be given to existing groups who may already have formed a partnership but require additional support in strengthening their partnership or integration linkages.

Successful applicants will be able to avail of the following menu of training, mentoring and support:

• Good Relations/ Diversity Awareness Training - this element will be compulsory and shall be delivered on partnered group basis initially, followed by workshops which will bring the other selected groups together to explore good relations.
• Networking Opportunities
• Study Visits
• Project Development
• Partnership agreements and arrangements for managing joint projects

What is on offer?
Small grants of up to a maximum of £10,000 will be available to joint partnered organisations to implement a small project which will benefit both their communities. The grant will be available subject to the satisfactory completion of the core training, mentoring and support elements (as outlined above) by all groups and also the submission of an acceptable project proposal which meets the agreed criteria.

Application forms are available in hardcopy or available for downloading from www.rdc.org.uk
Support Phase Application deadlines 4pm - 4th April 2008 and 4pm - 10th October 2008

Project Phase
Project phase is the part of the programme aimed at those community / voluntary organisations which already work on a cross community and/or cross border basis and have a joint project idea for which funding is required. Successful applicants will also have an opportunity to participate in elements of the training, mentoring and support outlined within the Support Phase. However, only those aspects which are deemed necessary by the RDC to strengthen their capacity to work together will be considered obligatory.

What is on offer?
Groups which fit this category can bring forward joint project funding applications for consideration by IFI. Project proposals must be community led and demonstrate the potential to contribute towards the Fund's strategy for 2006-2010 'Sharing this Space'. Proposals must include a strong, active and sustainable reconciliation aspect to the project.

Expressions of Interest forms for Project proposals will be accepted at any time, but
there are a number of key cut off dates:
4pm - 14th March 2008
4pm - 25th July 2008
4pm - 7th November 2008

For further information, an application pack or to submit your completed forms contact:

Northern Ireland Rural Development Council (RDC)
17 Loy Street
Cookstown BT80 8PZ
Tel: +4428 8676 6980
Fax: +4428 8676 6922
Email: info@rdc.org.uk
Web: www.rdc.org.uk