New programme launched to support the Traveller community in the city

Date: 03 Jun 2021

Category: Supporting communities

A new support programme has been launched today to assist the Traveller community in the city, as part of Council’s EU PEACE IV-funded work.

A ‘One-Stop-Shop’ hub is to be set up providing a point of contact for the ethnic minority group to access support services for early years/school, welfare, housing, training and employment.

The Traveller Support Programme will include heritage and cultural workshops offering Travellers and the wider Belfast community the chance to explore, celebrate and get involved in discovering shared cultural identities. As a result of these workshops, participants will get to develop their own Traveller Storytelling Exhibitions, which will be showcased around the city.

There will also be an opportunity to attend Traveller Intercultural community events showcasing the culture with the project feeding in to some larger-scale city cultural festivals.

Councillor John Kyle, Chair of the Council’s Shared City Partnership, said: “I’m delighted to launch the new Traveller Support Programme today, part of the wider Supporting Communities initiative – a key element under the Building Positive Relations theme of our PEACE IV Action Plan.

“The Supporting Communities initiative also includes BME and Roma-targeted projects, linking in with key communities across the city, whether longstanding or newer arrivals, that are crucial to the rich fabric of Belfast.

“Our aim through the programme is to foster an understanding and respect of minority communities in the city, to encourage integration and reduce discrimination, building a shared stake in the prosperity and vibrancy of our city.”

The PEACE IV programme supports peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the border region and is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) with match-funding support from The Executive Office and the Department of Rural and Community Development.

The primary objective of the programme is to promote positive relations characterised by respect, where cultural diversity is celebrated and people can live, learn and socialise together, free from prejudice, hate and intolerance.

For further information on Belfast PEACE IV and the Traveller Support Programme, visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/PEACEIV 

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