PEACE PLUS - Change Makers Fund
The PEACE PLUS programme will contribute to a more prosperous and stable society in Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland and will leave a lasting legacy.
The PEACE PLUS programme will contribute to a more prosperous and stable society in Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland and will leave a lasting legacy. The programme will achieve this by funding activities that promote peace and reconciliation and contribute to the cross-border economic and territorial development of the programme area. It will build upon previous PEACE and INTERREG Programmes. Provision has been made for an indicative budget of approximately €1bn, including proposals from the EU budget, the Government of Ireland, the Northern Ireland Executive and the UK Government.
The PEACE Plus Programme will run from 2021-2027 and represents an excellent opportunity for Local Authorities and key stakeholders within the East Border Region to access funding for cross border projects which will make a positive contribution to the economic, social and environmental development of the Region.
East Border Region are involved in a number of project submission to the PEACE PLUS Programme and hope to be announcing their success in the coming weeks. One project that we are delighted to announce our recent success in is the exciting new PEACE PLUS funded Change Makers Project.
About the PEACEPLUS Change Makers Funds
The Change Makers Funds – due to open for applications in early 2025 – will distribute €40M over the next three years to support ‘People to People’ projects on a cross community and/or cross-border basis, delivering awards of up to €100,000 directly into communities.
This is an important element of the PEACEPLUS Programme as it will allow communities and organisations to avail of investment in a more simplified form but will still result in significant impact. These funds will be distributed in tranches over three years from early 2025 to 2027 and will be delivered on behalf of the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) by Pobal.
These grants are provided under PEACEPLUS themes 1: Building Peaceful and Thriving Communities and theme 6: Building and Embedding Partnerships and Collaboration.
QUICK LINKS
The Change Makers Small Grants Programme will support the delivery of ‘People to People’ projects that empower people and organisations at a grass roots level, to make a direct contribution to peace and reconciliation within communities.
SUPPORT FOR APPLICANTS
Rural Action is delighted to be working as one of the Support Partners for the Change Makers Programme.
The Partnership is made up of 3 organisations, it is led by Cooperation Ireland and includes East Border Region and Rural Action. The Support Partners will work with SEUPB and Pobal to assist organisations access the programme and to support the application process.
Once your registration is received you will then have access to the full suite of supports available. The Support Partners will keep you informed of how to access the support and be there to guide you through the process.
The supports available to applicants following registration will include:
- Regular programme updates i.e., about the Change Makers Small Grants Programme and Funding Calls.
- Access to upcoming events and workshops – invitations to information support events and application support workshops.
- Partner matching – support to search for a suitable project partner i.e. a cross- community or a cross-border project partner.
- Project idea development – guidance to develop your project ideas.
- Application guidance – guidance on completing the funding Application Form.
- Helpline support – ongoing access to email and phone support.
- Application readiness checks – checks before you submit your grant funding application i.e. that your application is ready for submission.
REGISTER FOR SUPPORT
To register for support please follow the link below to complete and submit the simple online form. Once received, the Support Partners will be in touch about how to access the supports available relevant to your organisation’s needs.
Further Information
The Change Makers Funds are part of PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body. PEACEPLUS is co-funded by the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Executive.
Further information about the Change Makers Small Grants Programme is also accessible via the Special EU Programmes Body website.