Positive Pathways

PEACEPLUS is a unique cross-border structural funds programme aimed at reinforcing progress towards a peaceful, stable and prosperous society in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. It represents an investment of €1.44bn supported by the European Union, the UK Government, the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government and is managed by the Special European Union Programmes Body (SEUPB). More information on the programme can be found at www.seupb.eu

The overall objective of the PEACEPLUS Programme will be to build Peace and Prosperity and ensure that this Programme will leave a lasting and tangible legacy across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. The Programme’s strategy is to continue to take the opportunities and address the needs arising from the peace process in order to boost economic growth and stimulate social and economic regeneration and secondly, to promote social inclusion, particularly for those at the margins of economic and social life.

The programme will achieve this by funding peace and reconciliation activities, and by funding activities that contribute to North/South cross-border economic and territorial development of the region. The combination of the PEACE and INTERREG type activities in a single programme is reflected in the name of the programme where “PLUS” represents the inclusion of wider economic, social and environmental activities.

Local Authorities in Northern Ireland and the Border Region will deliver Co-designed Local Community PEACE Action Plans under the PEACEPLUS Theme 1 (Building Peaceful and Thriving Communities). The following three thematic strands will guide the design of the PEACEPLUS Action Plans namely:

(i)       Local community regeneration and transformation

(ii)      Thriving and peaceful communities

(iii)      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.

Projects supported by the PEACEPLUS Action Plans should;

• Result in increased levels of social inclusion and cross-community integration; and
• Incorporate the level of sustained contact between those from different community, cultural and political backgrounds, required to achieve significant attitudinal and behavioural change.
• Be designed to engage people from many different socio-economic and community backgrounds, with special consideration being given to under-represented groups.