Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - Council Minutes

26 February 2004

Minutes of the Community Initiatives Committee Meeting

26 February 2004

10.00 am, Community Relations Council, Belfast

Present: Dr David Stevens (Chair), Ms Cecilia Clegg, Ms Jane Leonard, Ms Maura Muldoon, Mr Barney Devine, Ms Libby Keys

In attendance: Dr Duncan Morrow (Chief Executive), Ms Jacqueline Irwin (Director of Operations), Ms Michaela Mackin (Director – Funding and Development), Mr Paul Jordan (Assistant Director – Funding and Development), Ms Alison Montgomery (Core Funding Officer), Ms Eileen Deacon

Apologies: Mr Michael Wardlow, Ms Karen Johnston

Declaration of Interests

Prior to commencing the meeting proper, all committee members were requested to complete a CRC Declaration of Interests form noting any existing or potential conflicts of interest. Such completed forms will be kept by the Director of Finance, Admin and Personnel and will be updated annually.

Conflicts of interest regarding applications to be considered:

Dr David Stevens Corrymeela

Ms Cecilia Clegg Irish School of Ecumenics

Ms Libby Keyes Rural Community Network

Workers Education Association

Democratic Dialogue

Groundwork NI

Mr Barney Devine St Columb's Park House

Dooneen Community Association

1. Minutes of the previous meeting and matters arising

Minutes of previous meeting were agreed

Matters Arising (not covered as separate agenda items)

Members were informed that talks with RCN were to be undertaken in the coming period

Members were informed that Mr Michael Wardlow has been nominated by Council to take over from Dr David Stevens as Chair of the Community Initiatives Committee. In the absence of Mr Wardlow absence from this meeting however, members agreed that Dr Stevens should chair the meeting.

2. Funding and Development Briefing Papers

Core Funding Officer's Report

(paper CIC26/02/04/001 refers)

Ms Montgomery spoke to this paper which addressed monitoring and review of core funded groups, external evaluation, programme spend and training and development.

No action points were noted.

Funding and Development Programme Report

(paper CIC26/02/04/002 refers)

Mr Jordan spoke to this paper which addressed programme activity and expenditure and the Research Awards programme.

No action points were noted.

3. Evaluation practice in the Core Funding Programme

(paper CIC26/02/04/003 refers)

Ms Montgomery spoke to this paper, outlining options for taking forward external evaluation of funded groups.

Members expressed their dissatisfaction generally with the current process and the standard of reports generated.

Extensive discussion followed on issues any evaluation process should address. Issues rasied included: the need to build capacity with groups to evaluate over time in a manner that is not onerous or bureaucratic, the fact that encouraging self evaluation will promote a crtical approach which will drive good practice, the possibility of using peer referees as part of the evaluation process, the possibility of using a coalition of suppliers; the need for a scoping study to identify expectations and outpus, the need for development of a meaningful framework.

Committee agreed to pursue Option 4 – Contract with a single supplier/consortium to develop a framework for and to carry out all external evaluations. Initally this would be on a one year pilot contract. Allcoated budget for 2004/2005 is £30,000

Action: CRC staff to have initial discussions and develop terms of reference for contracting consultant.

4. External Review of Core Funding Programme

(Paper CIC26/02/04/004 refers)

Ms Mackin spoke to this paper

Committee agreed that any review should include arguments for sustaining the CR infrastructure in Northern Ireland through the programme.

Committee also agreed that there is a need for the review to look ahead to the chaning environment and policy context of CR work

Terms of reference were agreed by committee

Potential funding sources were discussed and included: Joseph Rowntree Trust, Barrow Cadbury Trust and Atlantic Philanthropies.

Action: Programme Director and Core Funding Officer to pursue appropriate funding applications.

5. Strategic Planning

(Paper CIC26/02/04/005 refers)

Members discussed the strategic plan

No action points were noted

6.0 Decisions on Grant Applications

6.1 Continuation Funding (Existing Contracts)

(Papers CIC26/02/04006A and CIC26/02/04/006B refer)

04/0061 Ashton Community Trust

Committee considered the budget submitted for the year 2004/2005. Costs were agreed to be reasonable and committee agreed to provide support as requested.

Amount: £30,000

04/0062 Ballynafeigh Community Development Association

Committee considered the budget submitted for the year 2004/2005. Costs were agreed to be reasonable and committee agreed to provide support as requested.

Amount: £25,000

04/0063 Belfast Community Theatre

Committee considered the budget submitted for 2004/2005. Core funding support was previously for x2 Artistic Directors. With the departure of one Director the organisation has identified a need for adminisistrative support on a part time basis which it requested core funding support for the coming year. Committee agreed that costs should be support as requested.

Amount: £16,000

04/0064 Belfast Interface Project

Committee considered the budget submitted for the period 2004/2005. BIP has now recruited to all posts and has moved premises which should position it to full expend its award in 2004/2005. Committee agreed that costs as outlined were reasonable (shortfall is met through Peace II funding) and that they should be supported as requested.

Amount: £45,000

04/0065 Community Dialogue

Committee considered the budget submitted for the period 2004/2005 in which CD had reprofiled their core funding award away from administration focused costs to increase emphasis on the staff costs in the award. Costs provided were agreed to be reasonable and support as requested was approved.

Amount: £50,000

04/0066 Newtownabbey CR Forum

Committee were advised that NCRF's award is entering its 3rd year and both the circumstances of the group and core funding policy have changed in that time. c£6,000 of existing cost headings within the award are not eligible under current core funding policy. The group is now autonomous and there should be no need for a management charge. Petty cash has not been supported through core funding since the start of the current financial year. Costs such as hospitality, membership and publications are not core to the running of the organsiation. In light of the above considerations, funding was reduced to £26,655

Amount: £26,655

04/0067 Counteract

Committee considered the budget submitted for the period 2004/2005. Changes in staffing arrangements had led the organisation to reprofile its award with increased contribution to salary and administrative costs. Committee agreed to increase contribution to running costs to a maximum level of 75% as well as to increase funding of the Administrator post to 90% Overall funding of the organisation was reduced to £57,705.50.

Amount: £57,705.50

04/0068 Democratic Dialogue

Committee considered the budget submitted for the period 2004/2005. As photocopying is a cost area no longer eligible under core funding policy, funding for this heading was not approved. Funding reduced to £24,100.

Amount: £24,100

04/0069 ECONI

Committee considered the budget submitted for 2004/2005 in which ECONI had reprofiled their award to increase contribution towards a range or salaried posts. Costs were in line with programme guidelines and committee agreed to support as requested.

Amount: £44,000

04/0070 Forthspring

Committee considered the budget submitted for the year 2004/2005. Costs are in line with committee decision of 2003 and committee agreed to provide support as requested

Amount: £20,400

04/0071 Holywell Trust

Committee considered the budget for the period 2004/2005. Costs were agreed to be reasonable and committee agreed to support as outlined. Provision as per the figures provided by Holywell was agreed to allow for a reduction of core funding by £310.

Amount: £29,590

04/0072 Irish School of Ecumenics

Committee considered the budget submitted for the year 2004/2005. Costs are in line with committee decision of 2003 and committee agreed to provide support as requested

Amount: £45,000

04/0073 Mediation Northern Ireland

Committee were advised that since renewal of core funding in 2003 MNI has accessed significant resources through other funding - CRC Peace II (£63,481 for the current year), CRC Pathfinder (£69,334 for the current year) and IFI (£600k over 3 years). Whilst the proposed contributions from MNI are in line with those stipulated by CRC in agreement of the award in 2003, it was agreed that it will be necessary for staff to ensure that no duplication of funding occurs. Committee agreed that costs should be supported as requested, but revised should any overlap of funding become apparent.

Amount: £122,000

04/0074 NIMMA

Committee were advised that the award of £16,000 agreed in 2003 was made on the basis of application information which was not reflective of actual expenditure by the organisation. Taking this and policy considerations into account, Committee agreed that the award should be reduced to £15,360

Amount: £15,360

04/0075 Sole Purpose Productions

Committee considered the budget submitted for the period 2004/2005. In light of policy considerations which preclude funding of stationery, photocopying etc, committee agreed to a reduction in funding to £14,250

Amount: £14,250

04/0076 Beat Initiative

Committee considered the budget submitted for the year 2004/2005. Costs are in line with committee decision of 2003 and committee agreed to provide support as requested

Amount: £15,000

04/0077 The Ulster Society

Committee considered the budget submitted for the period 2004/2005. Costs were agreed to be in line with programme policy and committee agreed to continue funding at the current level.

Amount: £35,000

04/0078 Trademark

In the absence of a submitted budget, Committee agreed to continutaion of funding at the current level, and that cost areas should be outlined.

Amount: £33,000

04/0079 Womens' Information Group

Committee considered the budget submitted for the year 2004/2005. Costs are in line with committee decision of 2003 and committee agreed to provide support as requested

Amount: £7,200

Lower North Belfast Community Council

Dr Morrow advised that Mr Ritchie had agreed in principle that Lower North Belfast Community Council would be funded through the Pathfinder programme for the period April 2004 to March 2005 but would be expected to submit an application to the core funding programme in November for any future funding requirements.

6.2 Applications for renewal of funding

04/0003 PAKT (Lurgan)

Committee considered all application materials. In the light of progress demonstrated by the organisation in the previous funding period, it was agreed to renew funding for a further 3 year period. Award increased to account for inflation over the previous funding terms.

Amount: £23,565

04/0008 St Columb's Park House

Committee considered all application materials and the findings of the external evaluation. Members continue to be concerned about the beneficiary base of the organisation - primarily young people - which falls outwith the remit of the core funding programme. Members agreed to funding on a reducing basis over 2 years. £51,766 in year 1 reducing to £34,517.50 in year 2.

Amount: £51,766

04/0009 FULS

Committee considered all application materials and the findings of the external evaluation. Members voiced concern over the level of funding accorded the group in the light of budget pressures. It was agreed to continue to fund salary costs for a 3 year period, but that contribution to running costs would be phased out, contributing to 6 months rental costs only in year 1 with no further contribution towards running costs.

Amount: £45,000

04/0023 The Nerve Centre

Committee considered all application materials and the findings of the external evaluation. Some members voiced concern over the focus of funding and the appropriateness of funding a training officer post in the organisation. Some members expressed concern over the quality of training delivered and on these bases the application was declined.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0024 Corrymeela Community

Committee considered all application materials. There was considerable discussion as to the level of the award provided and members agreed that no one group supported by the programme should account for in excess of 10% of the programme budget. Taking this into consideration, committee agreed to continue to fund the organisation, but on a reducing basis over 3 years. £175,950 in year 1, reducing to £150,000 in year 2 and to £125,000 in year 3.

Amount: £175,950

04/0026 Springfield Inter Community Development Project

Committee considered all application materials and the findings of the external evaluation. Members agreed to continue to fund the organisation for a further 3 year period. Provision for salary costs was increased in the light of inflationary increases over previous award terms.

Amount: £54,922

04/0027 Intercomm

Committee considered all application materials. North Belfast was agreed to be an area of acute need in terms of CR provision and members agreed to renewal of funding for a 3 year period.

Amount: £23,418

04/0029 WAVE

Committee considered all application materials and the findings of the external evaluation. In the light of the availability of core funding specifically for Victims and Survivors groups, it was agreed that funding should be provided for a further year only and that the organisation should seek support for these posts from the appropriate funding body.

Amount: £35,000

04/0030 Peace & Reconciliation Group

Committee considered all application materials and the findings of the external evaluation. Members agreed to continue to fund the organisation for a further 3 year period. No provision is made for mobile phone costs and the organisation is to be advised to seek support for these costs from the CR/CD programme.

Amount: £84,170

04/0032 The Somme Association

Members were advised of the transfer of a £20,000 award from CRU which is now to be administered by CRC. It was recommended and committee agreed, that the timescales for any CRC core funding award should mirror those of the CRU award ie 2 years. Members also agreed to a reduction in the contribution to salary taking into consideration the audience base of the Somme Heritage Centre.

Amount: £23,665

04/0041 Dooneen Community Association

Committee considered all application materials and the findings of the external evaluation. Members shared the concerns of the core funding officer and the evaluator that the work carried out by Dooneen is not strategic CR work and as such agreed an exit strategy. Committee agreed to a reduced award being offered to employ a co-ordinator on a part time or full time basis for up to 12 months. The decision as to the term of the award to be at the discretion of the group's management committee.

Amount: £15,865

04/0048 Ulster-Scots Heritage Council

Committee considered all application materials and the findings of the external evaluation. In the light of the availability of funding from the Ulster Scots Agency, Committee agreed funding for a period of 6 months only.

Amount: £13,577.50

6.3 New Applications to the Core Funding Programme

04/0001 STEER Mental Health

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that the application did not meet the criteria of the core funding programme and as such could not be supported.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0002 SAVER/NAVER

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that the application did not meet the criteria of the core funding programme and as such could not be supported.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0004 Down Community Arts

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that the application did not meet the criteria of the core funding programme and as such could not be supported.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0005 Bloody Sunday Trust

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that the application did not meet the criteria of the core funding programme and as such could not be supported.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0006 Ulster Quaker Service

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that the application did not meet the criteria of the core funding programme to a sufficient extent for funding to be provided.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0007 Randalstown Community Association

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that the application did not meet the criteria of the core funding programme and as such could not be supported.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0010 Indian Community Centre

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that the application did not meet the criteria of the core funding programme and as such could not be supported.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0011 Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that whilst the proposal had merit, working within the education system - even when working with parents and teachers - falls within the remit of another funding department and as such cannot be funded through the core funding programme.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0012 Dennett Interchange

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that the application did not meet the criteria of the core funding programme to a sufficient extent for funding to be provided.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0013 An Gaelaras

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that the application did not meet the criteria of the core funding programme to a sufficient extent for funding to be provided.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0014 Crossgar Community Association

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that the application did not meet the criteria of the core funding programme and as such could not be supported.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0015 Loughgiel Community Association

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that the application did not meet the criteria of the core funding programme and as such could not be supported.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0016 Institute for Conflict Research

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that research activities did not fit with the criteria of the core funding programme and as such the proposal could not be supported

Amount: £ NIL

04/0017 Rural Community Network

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that the proposal both met programme criteria and was in line with the strategic direction of Council. As such funding was agreed for a period of up to 3 years.

Amount: £42,833

04/0018 Kilcranny House

Committee considered all application materials, and whilst the proposal met the critieria of the programme, budget pressures and other applications more in line with the strategic direction of Council precluded the programme from supporting the application.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0019 REACT (Reconciliation education & community training)

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that the application did not meet the criteria of the core funding programme to a sufficient extent for funding to be provided.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0020 Altnaveigh House

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that the application did not meet the criteria of the core funding programme to a sufficient extent for funding to be provided.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0021 The Junction

Amount: £ NIL

04/0022 Downtown Women's Group

Amount: £ NIL

04/0024 CR in Schools

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that whilst the proposal had merit, working within the education system - even when working with parents and teachers etc. - falls within the remit of another funding department and as such cannot be funded through the core funding programme.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0025 Spanner in the Works Theatre Co

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that the application did not meet the criteria of the core funding programme to a sufficient extent for funding to be provided.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0028 174 Trust

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that the application did not meet the criteria of the core funding programme to a sufficient extent for funding to be provided. Particular account was taken of the youth focus of the beneficiary base of the organisation which precludes funding from the core funding programme.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0031 Conflict Trauma Resource Centre

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that the application did not meet the criteria of the core funding programme to a sufficient extent for funding to be provided.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0033 Shankill Women's Centre

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that the application did not meet the criteria of the core funding programme and as such could not be supported.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0035 Groundwork NI

Amount: £27,434

04/0036 North Belfast Partnership

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that the application did not meet the criteria of the core funding programme to a sufficient extent for funding to be provided.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0037 Tar Isteach

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that the application did not meet the criteria of the core funding programme to a sufficient extent for funding to be provided.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0038 NI Interfaith Forum

Amount: £ NIL

04/0039 Training Trust

Amount: £ NIL

04/0040 Terry Enright Foundation

Amount: £ NIL

04/0043 WEA

Amount: £44,250

04/0044 The Share Centre

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that the application did not meet the criteria of the core funding programme and as such could not be supported.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0045 Burren Community Forum

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that the application did not meet the criteria of the core funding programme and as such could not be supported.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0046 Relatives for Justice

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that the application did not meet the criteria of the core funding programme and as such could not be supported.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0047 Waterside Development Trust

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that the application did not meet the criteria of the core funding programme to a sufficient extent for funding to be provided.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0049 Cornerstone Community

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that the application did not meet the criteria of the core funding programme and as such could not be supported.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0050 Belfast Islamic Centre

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that the application did not meet the criteria of the core funding programme and as such could not be supported.

Amount: £ NIL

04/0051 Greater Belfast Community network

Amount: £23,952

04/0052 Habitat For Humanity

Committee considered all application materials and were agreed that the application did not meet the criteria of the core funding programme and as such could not be supported.

Amount: £ NIL

7.0 AOB: None

8.0 Date of Next Meeting: 20 May 2004 at 12pm – Dungannon Office