Resident

PEACEPLUS programme

a illustration depicting a group of people from various backgrounds and ages.

What is PEACEPLUS?

PEACEPLUS is a new 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.

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.


PEACEPLUS Workshops

Have your say on the new PEACEPLUS Local Action Plan

We are approaching the final stage in the design of the PEACEPLUS Local Action Plan for Mid and East Antrim which is due for submission in December.

Following on from engagement late last year which identified priorities for the  PEACEPLUS plan, and workshops earlier this year which identified potential actions to include in the plan, we are now at the stage of having an outline of how to proceed.  In order to finalise the plan we will be holding a number of round table events to discuss the proposed actions. 

The events are due to take place at a number of venues:

  • Tuesday 19 September 2023 - 2pm to 4.30pm in the Des Allen Room, Ballymena Showgrounds
  • Tuesday 19 September 2023 -  6pm to 8.30pm in the Market Yard, Larne
  • Wednesday 20 September 2023 - 2.30pm to 5pm in the Dobbs Room, Carrickfergus Townhall

This is your final opportunity to have a say on the PEACEPLUS Local Action Plan for Mid and East Antrim.

Registration is required and please note that capacity for these events is limited so we request that a maximum of two people attend from each organisation. 

To reserve a spot at the event of your choice, please visit our Eventbrite listing.

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


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.


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.