PEACEPLUS

What is it?

PEACEPLUS is a new European Union funding programme designed to support Peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the Border Counties of Ireland, building upon the previous PEACE and INTERREG programmes. The design reflects the importance of peace-building activity but also the importance of actions that will contribute positively to the economy, build prosperity, and adjust to the increasing challenges we face in society.

The PEACEPLUS Local Action Plan will be delivered under Theme 1 of the overall PEACEPLUS Programme 'Building Peaceful & Thriving Communities' as 1.1 Co-Designed Local Community Peace Action Plans. 

This will be one of 17 Local Action Plans - 11 in Northern Ireland delivered by local councils and 6 in Ireland delivered by the county councils.  

The Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council PEACEPLUS Partnership has an indictive fund of £3.8 million to deliver their local action plan.

The Local Action Plan

This aims to “…enable and empower local community partnerships, led by the local authorities, to select and deliver priority projects on a cross community basis, which will result in shared and inclusive local services, facilities and spaces; and make a significant and lasting contribution to peace and reconciliation.”

The Local Action Plan will be delivered along three thematic areas:

1.    Local Community regeneration & transformation.
2.    Thriving & Peaceful Communities.
3.    Building Respect for all cultural identities
 
The council commenced its consultation process in October 2022 which included meetings in each of the seven DEAs, online meetings and a comprehensive survey.  Follow up co-design meetings took place in March/April 2023.  The Co-Design Local Action Plan took into consideration the views, opinions and concerns of the local communities and these needs and priorities are included and reflected in the LCCC Local Action Plan.

A project supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).