Chinese community receives EU cash boost

Northern Ireland's Chinese community has received a welcome boost in the form of almost £200,000 in funding from the Community Relations Council (CRC).

The Chinese Welfare Association, which represents the members of Northern Ireland’s largest ethnic group, has welcomed funding from the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (Peace II) for two new project workers.

The Association received £183,000 from the CRC to employ two new staff to work in Belfast and Londonderry.

The scheme, which is the first ever award to an ethnic minority, focuses on helping the Chinese community to work together for positive social action and building links to other community groups. The purpose of both activities is to promote cross-community relations and improve understanding of different cultures leading to a more positive relationship between Chinese and other groups.

Welcoming the funding, Anna Lo, Chief Executive of the Chinese Welfare Association said: “We are very excited about this new initiative. It has been well evidenced by research in the last few years of the extent of racism in Northern Ireland. It’s well overdue that race relations are promoted. We are delighted by the financial support from the Peace Programme that will enable our vision of a shared society through improved race relations."

The project will run for three years during which time a booklet on Chinese culture will be produced. The group has already been in discussion with local community groups to improve perceptions and reduce the possibilities for misunderstandings that can result in attacks.

(MB)