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Minister Joe O’Brien announces 8 projects in Fingal to be funded under the Communities Integration Fund 2023

9th May, 2023

Minister Joe O’Brien announces 8 projects in Fingal to be funded under the Communities Integration Fund 2023

  • Grants of up to €5,000 will be allocated to successful organisations to support integration initiatives.
  • Grants will be made available to local community-based projects across Fingal to support the integration of migrants.

The Minister of State for Community Development, Integration and Charities, Joe O’Brien, today announced Fingal-based local community projects set to receive funding under the Communities Integration Fund 2023. Funding will be made available to support 8 local community-based organisations across Fingal to play a greater role in welcoming and integrating migrants and refugees.

Some of the projects receiving funding in Fingal include:

  • The Irish Institute of Music and Song will host a series of Afro-Irish cultural heritage events to promote the shared culture and heritage of all communities in Balbriggan.
  • Donabate Portrane Community Center will receive funding to continue to support support Fáilte Isteach English classes for Ukrainians and members of other nationalities to help them fully integrate into their new community.
  • Balbriggan Integration Forum will organise a series of college visits for students from ethnic minority backgrounds to promote access to third level education.
  • Foróige Balbriggan will deliver a live, interactive, educational, and entertaining podcast on the theme Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion in front of an invited audience of young people and their parents from the Balbriggan community.

Announcing the funding, Minister O’Brien said:

“Over the years the Communities Integration Fund has been a critical source of small grant funding for many local community groups across Ireland working to successfully integrate migrants and thereby help develop vibrant and diverse communities. I am delighted to be able to award this funding to the successful applicants for this important scheme as I regularly visit community groups up and down the country and see first-hand how small grants such as this can kick-start small but vital local projects which in turn make a massive difference in people’s lives.

“I am particularly pleased to see the Fund supporting such innovative and valuable projects in our local area this year. The Fund will support organisations like Foróige Balbriggan, the Irish Institute of Music and Song, and Donabate Portrane Community with their integration projects. I know how valuable the work being done in our communities is, and it’s very positive to see the fund support them in this.”

Welcoming the announcement of funding for the Balbriggan Integration Forum, the Irish Institute of Music and Song, and Foróige Balbriggan, Cllr Karen Power said:

“The funding offers these fantastic groups the opportunity to commence projects that will help migrants further integrate into their communities in Balbriggan. I have seen first-hand the work that these communities do in helping integrate people who have moved into the area, and I am delighted to see that it will continue.”

Welcoming funding for Donabate Portrane Community Centre, Local Area Representative Suzanne Young said:

“I’m delighted to see Donabate Portrane Community Centre receive this funding as part of the integration fund. The centre has offered a welcome space to local immigrants and refugees providing language classes and opportunities to meet and integrate with local community groups. Staff at the centre and in the library have been incredible going out of their way to help and support anyway they can.  Well done to all involved.”

ENDS

Organisations in Fingal Receiving Funding:

Organisation: Project Name:
Balbriggan Integration Forum Balbriggan Youth Forum (college visits)
Donabate Portrane Community Centre Fáilte Isteach
Foróige Balbriggan Youth Diversity & Inclusion Committee – project celebrating Diversity and Inclusion
Irish Institute of Music and Song Afro-Irish Cultural Heritage
Baldoyle Family Resource Service CLG Ukrainian Adolescent & Young Adult Support programme
Empower Three Social Sports
Ongar Community Centre Ongar Community Development Programme
Cultures Meet Ireland Fingal Network Against Racism

 

Further information:

The Communities Integration Fund 2023 open call for proposals ran from 15 February – 15 March 2023. Just over €500,000 has been made available in 2023 to support local projects through grant funding of €1,000 – €5,000 per successful project.

As in previous years, calls for proposals were grouped under ten themes aiming to promote inclusion and diversity:

  • Intercultural Awareness
  • Combating Racism and Xenophobia
  • Sport and Community Games
  • Arts
  • Food/Cuisine
  • Community Events
  • Capacity Building
  • Employment
  • School-Aged Projects
  • Migrant Women

As this Fund is intended to support the integration of migrant and host communities, all successful applicants have demonstrated the ability to involve both migrant and host communities in the activities proposed. The maximum grant available is €5,000 and the minimum grant is €1,000.