SEVEN community groups in Magherafelt have secured funding of more than £180,000, it was revealed yesterday.
The money is to be handed out through the European Union’s new PEACE III Programme which is delivered through the council areas of Magherafelt, Cookstown, Dungannon and South Tyrone and Fermanagh.
The cluster has a budget of over £3.4million to fund local projects that help address the legacy of the conflict and build a more cohesive and stable society.
The PEACE III Programme Manager, Chris McCarney said he was delighted with the funding.
He said: “We are delighted with the quality of applications and it is very encouraging to see the commitment of people from all sections of the community in Magherafelt to building a more inclusive and peaceful future.”
Seven groups in Magherafelt were successful in securing over £180,176 in EU funding for the district.
Local councillors Jim Campbell is a member of the PEACE III Partnership and congratulated the groups involved.
He said: “It was a very tough and rigorous assessment process and the successful projects in Magherafelt and Cookstown were of a very high standard and included some very innovative ideas.”

The successful groups were as follows:

The Young People’s Partnership plans to help community and voluntary organisations from all sides of the community develop young leaders to take up management positions in their organisations. The programme will provide a wide range of development opportunities to 16 young people from across the district.

Curragh Hall Development Association has developed a cross border link with the Border Minorities Group in Monaghan to investigate more positive and inclusive ways of expressing Ulster Scots culture. The group hosted a Highland games event at Curragh Hall outside Maghera during the summer.

Killilagh and St John’s Community Association recognise that in segregated rural areas of Mid-Ulster it is quite difficult to meet your neighbours from the”other community” The Association proposes to organise a fun event in Swatragh this summer to give the opportunity for parents and children from Upperlands and Swatragh to build new cross community relationships.

The Rural College are organising workshops in local communities to train local people in the skills and techniques of story telling. This is a traditional pastime and a powerful tool for healing and building relationships between divided communities.

Mid Ulster Women’s Network has built a strong collaborative relationship with Inishowen Women’s Information Network in Donegal. This group have used story-telling skills to bring into the open difficult experiences of many women from all sides of the conflict.

New Meadows Community Association organised a successful trip to the Somme in Belgium for members of the nationalist and unionist communities in Magherafelt town and the village of Desertmartin.

Maghera Parish Caring Association will invest in development of young people from both communities in Maghera to ensure that both communities begin to build a common vision for Maghera.