PEACEPLUS programme

PEACEPLUS Local Action Plan Survey

Local residents and stakeholders can express their views and opinions on the PEACEPLUS Local Action Plan by filling in the online survey. 

There are around 20 questions and it should only take about 5 – 10 minutes to complete. 

The closing date for all responses is Monday 20 March 2023.

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PEACEPLUS Workshops

Through a series of workshops before Christmas we spoke to local residents and community organisations and other interested parties to begin the process of co-designing the PEACEPLUS Plan. These workshops have helped to identify what the focus of the plan should be. We are now moving into the next phase and you are invited to attend a further workshop to be part of designing the actions for inclusion in the plan.

Each workshop will focus on one of the core themes of the PEACEPLUS Programme:

The second set of workshops will take place on the following dates:

Local Community Regeneration and Transformation

...designed to empower local people to regenerate and transform their communities on a cross community basis. This can involve not only changing the physical appearance of a community but also how it functions.

• Monday 27 February 2023 at 7pm in Access Employment Limited (AEL) (Larne)
• Tuesday 28 February 2023 at 7pm in Bann Maine West (Cullybackey)

Thriving and Peaceful Communities

... people with high levels of wellbeing, with strong relationships and connections; and empowered to lead targeted and transformative programmes.

• Monday 6 March 2023 at 7pm in Ballygally Community Hall
• Monday 13 March 2023 at 6pm in Carrickfergus Library

Building Respect for All Cultural Identities

Cultural diversity has a broad definition which encompasses a range of differences including race, ethnicity, age, ability, language, nationality, economic status, gender, religion and sexual orientation. This theme will consider how to invest in programmes which increase an understanding of and respect for all cultural identities.

• Tuesday 7 March 2023 at 7pm in Ballymena North Business Centre
• Tuesday 14 March 2023 at 7.30pm in Greenisland FC

You can register for the workshops via our Eventbrite listing: Developing the MEA Peace Plus Action Plan - Phase Two.

If you have any queries please contact: peace@midandeastantrim.gov.uk

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PEACEPLUS Partnership

We have established a new PEACEPLUS Partnership. The partnership is made up as follows:

• 11 nominated Elected Members
• 5 nominated Statutory Representatives
• 7 Social Partners representing the different geographical parts of our area
• 4 Social Partners representing Section 75 interests or other PEACEPLUS target groups

The PEACEPLUS Partnership are tasked with overseeing the design and implementation of a co-designed Action Plan for the borough of Mid & East Antrim.

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What is PEACEPLUS?

PEACEPLUS is a new a €1.14bn European Union funding programme designed to support peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland, building upon the work of the previous PEACE and INTERREG Programmes. The design reflects the importance of peace-building activity, but also the importance of actions that will contribute positively to the economy, building prosperity and adjusting to the new environment and challenges we face. The PEACEPLUS Programme represents investment in the social, economic and environmental development of Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.

The PEACEPLUS programme comprises six themes, which include 21 individual investment areas and approved by the NI Executive, Irish Government and North South Ministerial Council.

Councils will develop and deliver PEACEPLUS co-designed Action Plans under Theme 1 – Building Peaceful and Thriving Communities – Investment Area 1.1 - Co-designed Local Community PEACE PLUS Action Plans against which €110m has been allocated across the 17 council areas in Northern Ireland and the six border counties.  

Co-designed PEACEPLUS Action Plans will be produced for each of the 17 local council areas across the Programme area. These will be devised to complement community planning structures and plans. A Co-designed approach enables groups which represent different communities of interest from defined areas, to collaboratively design projects tailored to meet the challenges and opportunities specific to that area. 

The PEACEPLUS Action Plan will enable diverse partnerships to establish and invest in key actions for their local areas and collectively address these in a manner which will result in improved, shared and inclusive local services, facilities and spaces, and make a significant and lasting contribution to peace and reconciliation. The co-design process itself should enable cross community engagement and collaboration.

The Thematic Strands within the PEACEPLUS Partnership Action Plan under Theme 1.1

Three thematic strands have been selected upon which to design the content of the PEACEPLUS Action Plans. These are:

1. Local community regeneration and transformation 
2. Thriving and peaceful communities
3. Celebrating cultures and diversity

These thematic strands provide scope to incorporate projects which span a range of different sectors and activities including health and wellbeing initiatives; children and young people; community regeneration including redevelopment and re-imaging of existing community facilities for shared usage; initiatives to build positive relations; social innovation; social enterprise; and education and skills and community education. All supported projects should be designed to address issues of racism and sectarianism, increase social inclusion, and promote civil leadership.

For more information contact: peace@midandeastantrim.gov.uk.

This project will be funded by the European Union’s PEACEPLUS Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body.