Mr. David Stanton, TD., Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality with special responsibility for Equality, Immigration & Integration, today announced funding of €526,000 for community integration projects to be carried out in 2019. 
 
The Communities Integration Fund will provide grant funding for local community projects that support the integration of migrants. Applications can now be made online to the Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration at the Department of Justice and Equality. 
 
Attending the launch of the Cork City of Sanctuary Movement Strategic Plan of Action 2018-2020 in Millennium Hall, City Hall Cork, the Minister said: 
 
"What happens at the local level is critical to successful integration. The Communities Integration Fund is about bringing people together. We are looking to community groups to tap into the rich diversity of their local area and create opportunities for people to get to know one another." 

This year’s fund includes a sum of €26,000 from the Office of Public Works for art-based integration projects.  This has been made possible by the "Per Cent for Art Scheme" under which 1% of capital works can be allocated to commissioning works of art.  This is a once off inclusion in the Communities Integration Fund. 
 
The Minister added : 
 
"Ireland’s National Migrant Integration Strategy recognises that culture and the arts can be a powerful means of promoting integration . I am particularly pleased that we are able to fund additional art-based integration projects this year with support from the Office of Public Works."
 
Applications must be submitted electronically using the “Communities Integration Fund 2019  Application” form so as to arrive before 21.00 on the 2nd of May, 2019. The online Application Form and other relevant documentation/information, including assessment criteria, can be accessed here
 
ENDS

Notes for Editors:
 
This call is open to local community based groups carrying out the following projects/activities: 
 

• Intercultural Awareness - Projects and events that bring host communities and migrant communities together to learn about and celebrate each other’s cultures and customs;
• Combating Racism and Xenophobia – Interventions aimed at preventing racism and xenophobia among local communities;
• Sport & Community Games- Projects that seek to facilitate local migrant integration and improve the mental and physical well-being of migrants by encouraging them to get involved in sport;
• Arts - Projects that encourage migrants and local host communities to interact with each other through arts and crafts, music, dance, theatre and literature;
• Other Community Events - Projects involving a more broad-based community event adapted to be more inclusive of migrants, e.g. a pre-existing Annual Fair to which migrant specific stalls, entertainment, etc., has been added;
• Capacity Building - Projects with a social inclusion focus that seek to help particularly vulnerable groups of migrants overcome specific difficulties (e.g. parenting classes for young migrant parents);
• Employment - Projects that offer advice on seeking employment and offer employment opportunities through training, sponsorship by local businesses and skills assessment;
• Integration Research - Projects that identify local knowledge gaps and carry out local needs assessments so that local community resources for migrant integration can be utilised to the maximum benefit;
• Food/Cuisine - Projects that promote interculturalism and integration through the sharing of different cuisines and cooking methods;  
• Education - Projects focused on the educational needs of migrants through provision of additional supports to help migrant children to maximise the benefit of their school attendance (e.g. homework clubs) and older migrants to develop their language skills and better orient themselves in Irish society;
• Transportation - Projects that target immobility and social isolation among the migrant population due to an inability to drive or difficulties accessing public and private transport.  

As this Fund is intended to support the integration of migrant and host communities, all applications must demonstrate how they will involve both migrant and host communities in the activities proposed. The maximum grant amount that can be applied for is €5,000 and the minimum grant is €1,000.