- Over £4.7 million in grants under the Department’s Emigrant Support Programme provided to 108 organisations in Britain;
- Demonstration of the Government’s strong commitment to supporting our emigrants, particularly the most vulnerable, and the wider Irish diaspora community across Britain
The Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Mr Joe McHugh T.D., has today announced details of over £4.7million in funding for the Irish community in Britain. Grants have been provided to 108 organisations in support of a range of projects for which applications have been received through the Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) operated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
“I am delighted and privileged to announce the Government’s contribution to the great work being done all across Britain in support of our emigrants and the wider Irish community. My colleagues in Government and I are committed to supporting our emigrants and these grants of over £4.7 million under the Department’s Emigrant Support Programme is a clear demonstration of this strong commitment. The organisations we support offer invaluable assistance to our emigrants, especially the most vulnerable, through advice and welfare programmes. This funding is also important for supporting a vibrant and active Irish community Britain, the value of which has only been heightened as we face into challenging and uncertain times.
I warmly welcome the decision in Budget 2017 to maintain the level of funding for emigrant support worldwide at 2016 levels. This is a recognition of the great work Irish community organisations do and the Government’s wish to support this important work to the benefit of our emigrants living and working in Britain.”
Minister of State McHugh went on to especially mention those who volunteer across Britain, saying:
“I have already benefited from meeting many of the incredible volunteers who work tirelessly to support Irish communities throughout Britain and have seen first-hand the enormous contribution they are making in a spirit of warmth and care for others, such as those I met in the London Irish centre who provide such great solidarity for the elderly in their community.
The range of activities carried out across Britain by organisations is vast. I am thinking also of the great work done by ICAP (Immigrant Counselling and Psychotherapy) which I have been familiar with for many years. They work directly with many vulnerable members of the Irish community providing an invaluable service. In Glasgow I met with Conradh Na Gaeilge to see first-hand their great work to protect and promote the Irish language. Is léir go bhfuil dualgais orainn uilig an teanga a choimhéad agus a spreagadh.
I am looking forward to meeting many more of you in the coming months. You are an inspiration to us all.”
The Minister also spoke about the upcoming second Global Irish Civic Forum in February 2017 and reiterated his invitation to those working on the range of Irish Diaspora issues to attend, noting that discussions on topics such as the evolving needs of our communities, the potential of new technologies to facilitate a vibrant and networked Irish diaspora and Ireland’s place in a challenging and changing world promise to make for an interesting and productive two days for all involved.
ENDS
Press Office
26 October 2016
Note for Editors:
Emigrant Support Programme: Since 1984, the Irish Government has given financial support to voluntary agencies providing advice and welfare services to Irish emigrants overseas. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade working through Ireland’s Embassy Network coordinates the provision of support to communities abroad and administers the programme.
The main focus for funding under the Emigrant Support Programme remains the frontline welfare service providers that support the elderly, and other vulnerable Irish emigrants. In more recent years the programme has also recognised the importance of strong and active Irish communities more generally, funding projects which foster a sense of community, promoting vibrant networks and a sense of Irishness among the Irish abroad. The Emigrant Support Programme funding year runs from 1 July – 30 June. Further details can be found on www.dfa.ie
Approximately three-quarters of grants provided to Irish organisations in Britain are for amounts under £50,000.
Please see a list of organisations awarded 2016-17 funding:
Organisation ESP Funding for 2016
Acton Homeless Concern Emmaus House and The Damien Centre £30,000
Age UK Hillingdon £12,500
Aisling Project £95,000
Ashford Place (formerly CHC) £143,000
Basingstoke Irish Society £2,000
Bell Farm Christian Centre £6,000
Benefits Advice Shop £2,500
Birmingham Irish Association £197,000
Birmingham Tradfest Ltd £3,000
Bolton Irish Community Association £5,000
Brent Centre for Young People £18,000
Brent Irish Advisory Service (BIAS) £112,500
Brian Boru Club £19,000
Celtic & Irish Cultural Society £13,600
Connection at St. Martins, The £16,000
Conradh na Gaeilge, Glaschú £36,400
Corby Irish Centre £300
Corby Young At Heart Luncheon Group £6,000
Coventry Irish Society £60,500
Derby St. Patrick's Day Celebration £2,000
Edinburgh's Festival of Ireland £2,000
Emerald Centre, The £57,000
Emerald Circle Club £3,000
Emerald Senior Citizens Group £3,600
Feith an Cheoil School of Irish Traditional Music £4,500
Felling Irish Association £500
Friends, Families and Travellers £25,000
Golden Shamrock Club, The £8,500
Greenwich Irish Pensioners Association £3,500
Halifax and District Irish Society £4,500
Haringey Cultural and Community Centre £128,000
Haslingden IDL Club £4,000
Hibernian Society, The £15,000
Huddersfield Irish Centre £3,500
Huddersfield St. Patrick's Day Parade Association £4,000
IIBN Ltd (Irish International Business Network) £40,000
Immigrant Counselling and Psychotherapy (ICAP) £143,000
Innisfree Housing Association £5,000
Irish Arts Foundation £40,000
Irish Chaplaincy in Britain £220,000
Irish Club Warrington £8,250
Irish Community Care Manchester £125,338
Irish Community Care Merseyside £232,000
Irish Community Services £209,000
Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith £120,000
Irish Diaspora Foundation £59,000
Irish Elderly Advice Network £100,000
Irish Film London £10,000
Irish Heritage £6,500
Irish Heritage Foundation, Glasgow £44,000
Irish in Britain £398,000
Irish Literary Society £2,500
Irish Music and Dance in London £12,500
Irish Pensioners Choir £2,000
Irish Pensioners Forum of East London £5,000
Irish Repertory Theatre and Film Company £8,000
Irish Tuesday Club, Liverpool £7,500
Irish Women's Survivors Support Network £50,000
Jersey Irish Society £3,500
Kilburn Irish Pensioners £2,000
Lancashire Federation of IDL Clubs £2,500
Leeds Gypsy & Traveller Exchange £45,000
Leeds Irish Health & Homes £121,000
Leeds Horseshoe Throwers £1,000
Leeds St. Patrick's Day Parade & Celebrations £6,500
Leicester & Leicestershire Irish Forum £25,500
Lewisham Irish Community Centre £51,000
Lewisham Irish Pensioners Group £4,000
Liverpool Irish Festival £10,000
London Gypsy and Traveller Unit £79,500
London Irish Amateur Rugby Club £6,500
London Irish Centre £400,000
London Irish LGBT Network £3,000
Luton Irish Forum £106,500
Manchester Irish Education Group £1,000
Manchester Irish Language Group £500
Mansfield & Dukeries Irish Association £6,000
Maya Centre £15,000
Milton Keynes Irish Centre £10,200
Mind Yourself £50,000
Monica's Place £58,600
New Horizon Youth Centre £35,000
NOAH Enterprise £65,000
North Wales Irish Society £4,000
Northampton Irish Support Group £48,000
Nottingham St. Patrick's Day Parade £5,000
Oxford Irish Society £3,000
Passage, The £35,000
Portsmouth Irish Society £3,000
Safe Start Foundation £75,000
Sandwell Irish Society £34,500
SanKTus £24,000
Sheffield Irish Association £2,250
SIFA Fireside £15,000
Solace Women's Aid (Camden Women's Aid) £35,000
South London Irish Association, The £3,500
Southwark Irish Pensioners £127,500
Southwark Travellers Action Group £53,500
St. Michael's Irish Centre £45,500
St. Patrick's Festival Ltd. Birmingham £8,000
St. Patrick's Tuesday Luncheon Club £3,000
Streetwork UK £20,000
Teeside Irish Society £1,000
Traveller Movement, The (formerly ITMB) £120,000
Tyneside Irish Centre £14,000
Tyneside Irish Cultural Society £31,500
West Hampstead Women's Centre £5,000
York Irish Association £3,000