2015 Emigrant Support Programme Funding announced

The Minister of State for the Diaspora, Mr. Jimmy Deenihan T.D., has today announced details of €6.73 million in funding for the Irish community in Britain. Grants have been made to 110 organisations in support of a range of projects for which applications have been received through the Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) operated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Speaking at the Irish Embassy in London at a special event for the organisations who are recipients of the ESP funding this year, Minister of State Deenihan said:

“Since being appointed the Irish Government’s first ever Minister for the Diaspora, I have had the pleasure of visiting many of the organisations represented here today. It has been a great privilege to see first-hand the tremendous work that is being done and the profound impact that your services have on our emigrants in Britain.”

Minister of State Deenihan went on to thank Irish community organisations in Britain for their contributions to the formulation of Ireland’s new Diaspora Policy and for their participation in the first ever Global Irish Civic Forum held in Dublin last June.

The Minister also paid tribute to the volunteers who are at the heart of Irish community organisations across Britain:

“Without exception, I’m told by every organisation I meet that volunteers are the backbone of the work they do. Whether it’s organising a tea-dance, visiting people in their homes or creating new databases and social media strategies, thousands of volunteers across Britain put an extraordinary amount of time and dedication into supporting their fellow Irish.

“This is a true reflection of the Irish meitheal tradition where a community comes together to help one another.”

ENDS

Press Office

12 November

Note for Editors:

• While in London Minister of State Deenihan will also address an Irish International Business Network (IIBN) reception in the Embassy of Ireland, London in advance of the Network’s annual global conference on Friday (13 November).

• Emigrant Support Programme: Since 1984, the Irish Government has given financial support through its Emigrant Support Programme to voluntary agencies providing advice and welfare services to Irish emigrants overseas. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade working through Ireland’s Embassy Network coordinates the provision of support to communities abroad and administers the programme.

• The main focus for funding under the Emigrant Support Programme remains the frontline welfare service providers that support the elderly, and other vulnerable Irish emigrants. In more recent years the programme has also recognised the importance of strong and active Irish communities more generally, funding projects which foster a sense of community, promoting vibrant networks and a sense of Irishness among the Irish abroad. The Emigrant Support Programme funding year runs from 1 July – 30 June. Further details can be found on our website: https://www.dfa.ie/our-role-policies/the-irish-abroad/emigrant-support-programme/

• Approximately three-quarters of grants made are for amounts under £50,000.

• Please see a list of the organisations’ funding in 2015:

Organisation Name ESP funding 2015
Acton Homeless Concern Emmaus House and The Damien Centre £30,000
Age UK Hillingdon £12,500
The Aisling Project £95,000
Ashford Place £142,000
Bell Farm Christian Centre £10,500
Benefit Advice Shop £3,500
Birmingham Irish Association £197,000
Blackfriars Advice Centre £10,000
Bolton Irish Community Association £5,000
Brent Adolescent Centre £18,000
Brent Irish Advisory Service £115,500
Brian Boru Club £19,000
Causeway Irish Housing Association £15,000
Celtic and Irish Cultural Society £13,500
The Connection at St Martin-in-the-Fields £15,000
Conradh na Gaeilge Glaschú £36,150
Console Suicide Prevention Ltd £30,000
Coventry Irish Society £60,500
Edinburgh's Festival of Ireland £2,000
The Emerald Centre £53,000
Emerald Circle Club - Harrow £3,000
Emerald Senior Citizens Group £5,000
Feith an Cheoil £4,500
Friends, Families and Travellers £25,000
The Golden Shamrock £8,500
The Greenwich Irish Pensioners Association £3,500
Halifax and District Irish Society £7,500
Halifax Irish Centre £1,000
Haringey Irish Centre £135,500
Haslingden Davitt IDL Club £4,000
Hibernian Society, The £22,000
Huddersfield Irish Centre £3,500
The Huddersfield St Patrick's Day Parade Assoc. £4,300
IIBN Ltd £26,000
Immigrant Counselling and Psychotherapy £142,000
Innisfree Housing Association £15,000
Irish Arts Foundation £63,000
Irish Network Scotland £1,000
Irish Chaplaincy £220,000
Irish Club Warrington £4,600
Irish Community Care Manchester £120,918
Irish Community Care Merseyside £232,300
Irish Community Services £211,000
Irish Cultural Centre £126,500
Irish Diaspora Foundation £59,000
Irish Elderly Advice Network £94,000
Irish Film London £5,000
Irish Heritage Foundation £50,000
Irish Heritage Limited £6,500
Irish in Britain £405,000
Irish Literary Society £1,800
Irish Music and Dance in London (IMDL) £9,500
Irish Network Stevenage £990
Irish Pensioners Choir £2,000
Irish Pensioners Forum of East London £4,000
Irish Repertory Theatre Co UK £8,000
Irish Tuesday Club £8,000
Kilburn Irish Pensioners Club £2,000
Lancashire Federation of Irish Democratic League £1,000
Leeds GATE £43,000
Leeds Horseshoe Throwers £900
Leeds Irish Health & Homes £121,000
Leeds St Patrick's Day Parade & Celebrations £9,000
Leicester & Leicestershire Irish Forum £25,000
Lewisham Irish Community Centre £52,000
Lewisham Irish Pensioners Association £4,000
Liverpool Irish Festival £10,000
London Gypsy and Traveller Unit £89,500
London Irish Amateur Rugby Football Club £6,500
London Irish Centre £429,000
London Irish LGBT Network £3,000
Luton Irish Forum £94,500
Manchester Irish Education Group £1,000
Manchester Irish Language Group £500
Mansfield & Dukeries Irish Association £6,000
Maya Centre, The £15,000
Milton Keynes Irish Centre £11,000
Mind Yourself £50,000
Momentum Care £30,000
Monica's Place £58,600
New Horizon Youth Centre £35,000
NOAH Enterprise £65,000
North Wales Irish Society £4,000
Northampton Irish Support Group £48,000
Nottingham St Patrick's Day Festival and Parade £5,000
Oxford Irish Society £3,000
Passage, The £35,000
Queens Park Senior Citizens Group £4,000
Safe Start Foundation £80,000
Sandwell Irish Society £30,500
SanKTus £24,000
Sheffield Irish Association £2,000
SIFA Fireside £15,000
Solace Women's Aid £35,000
South London Irish Association £3,000
Southwark Irish Pensioners Project £127,500
Southwark Travellers' Action Group £53,500
St Michael's Irish Centre £45,500
St Patrick's Festival Birmingham £8,000
St. Finbarr's Sports and Social Club £5,000
Streetwork UK £22,000
Traveller Movement, The £120,000
Tricycle Theatre Company Limited £1,000
Trip to Birmingham Tradfest Ltd. £3,000
Tuesday Club - Leeds Irish Centre £3,000
Tyneside Irish Centre LTD £14,000
Tyneside Irish Cultural Society Ltd £32,000
West Hampstead Women's Centre £6,000
York Irish Association £3,000
Young at Hearts Luncheon Club £6,000
TOTAL £4,827,058

*Payment of grants is contingent on compliance by recipient organisations with all ESP administrative requirements.