€14,800 to promote integration in Westmeath

Three groups in Westmeath are among 111 projects across the country to benefit from funding aimed at supporting the integration of migrants and refugees into local communities.

The three Westmeath groups who will benefit from funding under the Communities Integration Fund 2021 are:

Midlands Polish Community International Children's Day: €5.000

Westmeath Athlone African Community Group Community Events, Food/Cuisine, Intercultural Awareness: €5,000 and

Westmeath New Horizons - Athlone Refugee & Asylum Seeker Support Group Teen Adventures: €4,800.

Three groups in Roscommon have also benefitted from funding under the Communities Integration Fund 2021, with one project in the south of the county, the Roscommon South Family Resource Centre Integration Project set to receive €4,472.

The fund, which is administered by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, is designed to support local community-based organisations across Ireland to play a greater role in welcoming and integrating migrants and refugees.

Action 51 of the Migrant Integration Strategy calls for funding to be made available to local communities throughout Ireland to promote the integration of migrants and refugees. Since its inception, the Communities Integration Fund has supported over 480 projects with grant funding totalling €2.26m.

Welcoming the latest announcement, Minister for Children, Roderic O’Gorman said:

“I am delighted to announce this funding which will support local communities nationwide to reconnect and to celebrate the rich cultural diversity in our society.

"Settling into a new environment can be a daunting experience for migrants and refugees. The COVID pandemic in particular has presented many challenges, among them an increased risk of social isolation. Local community-based initiatives, such as those awarded funding today, can play a vital role in supporting new arrivals through this transition period, providing them with the opportunity to connect with their new community and to realise their full potential.

"I would like to take this opportunity to commend the tireless commitment and dedication local community based organisations have shown in supporting new arrivals.”

The Communities Integration Fund 2021 open call for proposals ran from 15 June to July 2 last. €500,000 has been made available in 2021 to support local projects through small grant funding of €1,000 - €5,000 per successful project.

As in previous years, calls for proposals were grouped under ten themes aiming to promote inclusion and diversity:

1. Intercultural Awareness

2. Combating Racism and Xenophobia

3. Sport & Community Games

4. Arts

5. Food/Cuisine

6. Community Events

7. Capacity Building

8. Employment

9. Education

10. Integration Research.