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Status
Received: on time
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Income
£228.2K
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Spending
£270.4K
Public benefits
Benefits flowing from the 1st purpose are: Belfast Interface Project (BIP) empowers residents and interface communities in general with the skills, knowledge, ability and capacity to make informed decisions regarding their future. We develop and support interface communities through a process of advocacy, reconciliation and conflict transformation.
We provide the skills and knowledge for interface residents to be able to lobby for positive change in their communities. We help rebuild confidence and capacity within interface communities to enable the cultivation of personal relationships and community development. This is informed by our membership needs survey. We provide a range of intervention and diversionary activities targeted at age 16+ ‘hard to reach’ young people ‘at risk’ or engaged in inter-community violence. In recent years this has included delivery of programs for Belfast City Council and SEUPB Peace funding to re-engage these young people back into society through recreation e.g. (Ulster Rugby partnership), one-to-one mentoring, training and accredited skills based on anti-sectarianism and anti-racist education programs (e.g. Intercultural Diaries) and signposting to additional opportunities (Leonardo program). Benefits flowing from the 2nd purpose are: BIP core staff work in partnership with our broad membership of community and voluntary groups and statutory partners to develop initiatives that encourage residents in interface communities to become more involved. Activities have included community big lunch days, community relations week, interface residents meetings, volunteering opportunities and the development of an interface network. BIP has also supported local groups in developing the services they deliver in order to maximise cross-community engagement. We also represent interface communities on a range of groups lobbying for the improvement of conditions in Belfast’s conflict areas (e.g. Tension Monitoring Ministerial sub-group and Inter Agency Group). As board members we also advise and support several social economy projects (e.g. SKAINOS and Cromac Regeneration Initiative). In demonstrating the benefits Belfast Interface Project would consult with our membership of 45 community organisations across interface areas in Belfast. To ensure our initiatives are fit for purpose and working we would compile reports and evaluations of specific programs and an independent evaluation of BIP. We collect attendance sheets for those availing of workshops, collate evaluation reports from our facilitators and consider feedback from participants regarding our work and how it can be improved. It is difficult to quantify the numbers impacted or effected by our interventions and support. But when you consider the number of interface areas across the city of Belfast, depending on the project, the figures can range from many hundreds to many thousands of residents. We also consider statistics compiled from various statutory and public bodies such as social services, PSNI and Belfast City Council to evaluate were our intercessions has positively impacted. The benefits of BIP’s services are primarily for those living and working in Belfast’s interface areas and in proximity to ‘peacewalls and security barriers’. The benefits of BIP’s services are for a range of stakeholders but particularly to assist people in disadvantaged interface communities who require support and who experience multiple barriers in their lives. Accordingly some of the key beneficiaries are: Men; women; lone parents; young people; disabled people; black and other ethnic minority groups including recent immigrants; ex-prisoners; the long term unemployed; economically inactive people of working age; people who are benefit dependant but would like to become employed and people who experience labour market disadvantage. There is no identified potential harm flowing from either purpose. There is no private benefit flowing from either purpose.
... [more] [less]What your organisation does
Belfast Interface Project is an organisation with a city wide (Belfast) network of community groups delivering excellent and necessary services to interface residents and communities. These services, programs, capacity building, mediation and facilitation are designed to enhance the quality of life in these marginalised communities suffering from
multiple deprivation. We will also enable residents to avail of and have access to services and opportunities in the wider city addressing issues of segregation, mobility and sectarianism. Belfast Interface Project provides resources, safe space, programs, governance and financial management expertise which is not always available to grassroot groups. Our organisation provides a voice for members informed by education, learning and capacity, seeking sustainability, resources, opportunity and potential social economy growth. Our research support and development programs will have a positive impact on individuals, communities and organistions and their ability to lobby for change and peacebuilding.
... [more] [less]The charity’s classifications
- The advancement of citizenship or community development
- The advancement of human rights, conflict resolution or reconciliation or the promotion of religious or racial harmony or equality and diversity
- The relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage
Who the charity helps
- Community safety/crime prevention
- General public
- Interface communities
- Men
- Older people
- Specific areas of deprivation
- Victim support
- Voluntary and community sector
- Women
How the charity works
- Advice/advocacy/information
- Community development
- Counselling/support
- Cross-border/cross-community
- Cultural
- Human rights/equality
- Research/evaluation
