More than €46m of PEACEPLUS funding awarded to support social, economic and environmental projects to help create healthy communities in rural areas

A combined total of €46,190,355 of PEACEPLUS funding has been awarded to seven projects that will help create healthy communities in rural areas in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.

The funding announcement on the Rural Regeneration and Social Inclusion Investment Area, through the PEACEPLUS Healthy and Inclusive Communities theme, will address the lack of dedicated coordination capacity within the rural community sector.

Projects will focus on key areas including family support hubs, social enterprise, green infrastructure and social farming, resulting in 25,000 participants accessing new rural facilities, enterprises and community services.

PEACEPLUS is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and represents a funding partnership between the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Executive.

Seven projects will be delivered as a result of the latest PEACEPLUS funding awards:

• The Healthy Active Rural Communities (HARC) project (€7,601,993). Led by Rural Area Partnership in Derry/Londonderry, HARC will focus on strengthening rural communities across the three counties of Derry/Londonderry, Tyrone, and Donegal by focusing on several key areas. It aims to improve the health and wellbeing of rural residents while also utilising and preserving natural rural assets for the delivery of family health and wellbeing services.
• The Rebuilding Together – Building Healthy Communitiesproject (€5,722,677). Led by Erne East Community Partnership, the project aims to provide vital facilities and services currently lacking in the rural area of Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh. The project aims to improve health and wellbeing and develop capacity to support regeneration and sustainability of the rural border area. The project will see the development of facilities and services for the delivery of health and wellbeing, social enterprise, and social inclusion programmes on a cross-community and cross-border basis.
• The Rural Economic & Social Transformation And Resilience Together (RESTART) project (€8,412,327). Led by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, RESTART’s objective is to improve the quality of life of people living and working in the cross-border areas of Newtownbutler in County Fermanagh, Clones in County Monaghan and Belturbet in County Cavan, and improve the social and economic characteristics of the region. This will be achieved through a comprehensive and targeted programme that will address significant social and economic inequalities experienced by this peripheral border location.
• The Unlocking the Potential of Rural Innovation and Social Enterprise (RiSE) project(€3,971,440). Led by Rural Action, RiSE aims to support, develop and raise awareness of social enterprise (SE) activities within rural areas in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. Through networking, events and activities it will encourage and facilitate collaboration between rural communities on a cross-border and cross-community basis. Participating SEs will share knowledge and receive training support on how to maximise income generation, improve sustainability and increase the amount of people accessing community services. Part of the project is focused on inspiring the next generation of SEs by offering a programme of training and collaboration to schools and youth groups, aimed at young people between 14 to 25.
• The Growing Together: Social Farming for Peace and Inclusion (SoPI) project (€6,223,914.72). Led by Leitrim Integrated Development Company CLG, SoPI aims to enhance and increase the use of social farms to deliver a peace dividend in three key areas: individual inclusion and integration in communities, cross-community and cross-tradition understanding, and cross-border integration and activities. This will be achieved through social farming placements, community events, and education and training, whilst developing champion farms and a research and innovation framework.
• The Three Villages – One Community project (€6,721,047). Led by Ederney Community Development Trust, the project has been designed to deliver health, wellbeing, and social enterprise focused infrastructure in Ederney and Kesh in North Fermanagh, and Pettigo in South Donegal. The project focuses on building cohesive, peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous cross-community & cross-border relations between neighbouring rural communities with a history of conflict and segregation and aims to contribute to long-term systemic change, peace, and prosperity.
• The Walking for All (WFA) project (€7,536,957.08). Led by Outscape, WFA is the result of research and discussions among project partners, focusing on challenges of rural regeneration and the need for greater social inclusion. The partnership analysed past successes and failures in Northern Ireland and Ireland, while also drawing inspiration from best practices in Scotland and beyond. The project highlights the benefits of led walking in improving health and fostering community connections.

Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir MLA said: “I am delighted to have reached this important milestone with funding being awarded to support rural communities in Northern Ireland and the Border Regions. The breadth of projects funded shows the commitment of local Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise groups, local authorities and academics to work collaboratively to address a range of pressing issues, whilst building the capacity of rural communities. The seven funded projects will provide a real boost to rural areas and help to support more thriving, sustainable and resilient rural communities.”

Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary TD said: “I am delighted that a further €46 million in funding is approved for projects under the PEACEPLUS Programme. These projects will be supported under the Rural Regeneration and Social Inclusion Investment Area, and will create a more cohesive society through an increased provision of shared space and services in rural areas. The actions supported under this investment area are far-reaching, from health and well-being projects, to agricultural diversification and social enterprise support.

“I am very pleased that my Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht will be partnering with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland and the Special EU Programmes Body in providing this much needed funding for these fantastic projects.

“I extend my best wishes to all successful applicants as they embark on their projects, which aim to benefit rural communities. These initiatives will facilitate the development of centralised facilities that provide essential family support services and promote green infrastructure, thereby encouraging active lifestyles and bolstering enterprise and tourism in rural areas, including those that span across borders.”

SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre said: “Significant developments have been made in the provision of collaborative cross-border services in recent years, providing equality of access for citizens in rural areas. The EU INTERREG programme enabled much of this work and PEACEPLUS funding now builds – and further expands – these collaborative initiatives into areas of increasing wellbeing and reducing social isolation in rural areas.

“The seven funded projects in the Rural Regeneration and Social Inclusion Investment Area will support collaborative community development initiatives and services.

“Among the many welcome initiatives will be the deployment of resources to support agricultural diversification programmes and development of social farms for social and economic benefit, alongside the development and delivery of rural-specific programmes to support 65 social enterprises – including those focused on increasing health and wellbeing.”