Community and voluntary sector receives £6m funding package

A £6 million funding package which aims to continue financial support to the voluntary and community sector provided by the European Peace Programme has been announced by the Stormont Minister for Social Development Nigel Dodds.

Giving details of the funding package on Tuesday, January 8, the Minister said the voluntary and community sector is facing considerable change as European Funding Programmes, which have contributed so much to the voluntary and community sector, end in 2006.

Minister Dodds said: “There is more to be done and there are many communities who still feel excluded. A strong, vibrant and dynamic voluntary and community sector has an important role to play in addressing social exclusion.

“This funding will help the sector to develop better ways of working together. It can provide help where organisations are considering the development of partnerships, amalgamations and other new ways of working to become more efficient and cost effective. Advice agencies in particular will be helped to develop better ways of co-ordinating their services to provide more effective services.”

Applications can be made by accessing www.eugrants.org. Completed applications should be returned no later than Tuesday 19 February 2001.

Groups will find out by May who is set to benefit from the funding and according to a DSD spokeswoman the successful applicants will receive their allocation soon after. (AMcE)