Joe O'Brien - Green Party Joe O'Brien - Green Party

Minister Joe O’Brien welcomes the opening of the Communities Integration Fund 2021

16th June, 2021

Minister Joe O’Brien (Green Party)

Dublin Fingal

16th June 2021

 

Minister Joe O’Brien welcomes the opening of the Communities Integration Fund 2021

 

  • €500,000 will be made available to local community-based projects nationwide to support the integration of migrants.

 

  • Grants of up to €5,000 will be allocated to successful organisations to support integration initiatives.

Minister Joe O’Brien, T.D., today welcomed the €500,000 in funding announced under the Communities Integration Fund 2021.

Now in its fifth year, the Communities Integration Fund celebrates the rich cultural diversity within local communities and enables local community-based organisations across Ireland to play a greater role in supporting the integration of migrants.  Eligible organisations can apply for grant funding of €1,000 – €5,000 to support local integration initiatives.

Welcoming the announcement Minister O’Brien said:

“I am delighted with the launch of the Communities Integration Fund 2021.

“The enhanced diversity in Fingal is very welcome with people choosing to live here from all over the world.  The benefits in terms of enriching our society with diverse culture, language, new ways of thinking cannot be over-stated.  We must ensure that migrants are supported to actively participate in Irish society without having to relinquish their own cultural identity. This funding will bolster the great work being done by local communities to promote migrant integration”

How to apply:

Organisations eligible to apply include local community groups, sports clubs, faith-based groups, arts groups, formal and informal schools and theatrical and cultural organisations. Applicant organisations must operate on a not-for-profit basis.

Applicants can access a detailed guidance document and complete an online application form by logging on to  https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/CommunitiesIntegrationFund2021

The closing date for receipt of applications is 6 pm on Friday 02 July 2021.

 

ENDS

Notes to editors

The Migrant Integration Strategy sets out the Government’s commitment to the promotion of migrant integration as a key part of Ireland’s renewal and as an underpinning principle of Irish society. The Strategy provides a framework for a range of actions to support migrants to participate fully in Irish life.

The Communities Integration Fund arises from Action 51 of the Migrant Integration Strategy, which calls for funding to be made available to local communities throughout Ireland to promote the integration of migrants and refugees. Since its inception in 2017, the Communities Integration Fund has supported over 480 projects with grant funding totalling €2.26m.

 Purpose of projects/activities

This call is open to local community-based groups and centres around 10 key themes to support migrant integration:

Intercultural Awareness;

Combating Racism and Xenophobia;

Sport & Community Games;

Arts;

Food/Cuisine;

Community Events;

Capacity Building;

Employment;

Education;

Integration Research.

 

As this Fund is intended to support the integration of migrant and host communities, all applications must demonstrate the ability to involve both migrant and host communities in the activities proposed. The maximum grant amount that can be applied for is €5,000 and the minimum grant is €1,000.

Types of projects previously funded under the Communities Integration Fund include:

Family resource/Support Centres

Sports Clubs

Local Community Network Groups

Midsummer Festivals

Youth Projects

Migrant Groups