Contents
– What is PEACEPLUS?

– What is the PEACEPLUS Partnership?

– Commitment

– Partnership role in co-design process

– Nomination of a Deputy Representative

– Partnership replacements from open call process.

– Selection Process

– Apply

What is PEACEPLUS?

The PEACEPLUS Programme is a €1.4bn investment in the social, economic and environmental development of Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. It comprises six themes, which encompass 21 individual investment areas.

Local Authorities will be delivering their plans under Investment Area 1: Building Peaceful and Thriving Communities, specifically Theme 1.1 Co-designed Local Community PEACE Action Plans, with a provisional figure of €110m for the 17 participating local councils in Northern Ireland and the border counties.

Co-designed PEACEPLUS Action Plans will be produced for each of the 17 local authority areas across the Programme area. These will be designed to complement community planning structures and plans. A Co-designed approach enables groups which represent different communities of interest from defined areas, to collaboratively design projects tailored to meet the challenges and opportunities specific to that area The PEACEPLUS Action Plan will enable diverse partnerships to establish and invest in key actions for their local areas and collectively address these in a manner which will make a significant and lasting contribution to peace and reconciliation. The Plans will be comprised by priority projects and initiatives, which have been co-designed by communities at the local level. The co-design process itself should enable cross community engagement and collaboration.

The plan will be centred around three core themes:

1. Local community regeneration and transformation;

2. Thriving and peaceful communities; and

3. Building respect for all cultural identities.

The plan will enable and empower the partnership to self-determine and deliver priority projects on a cross community basis, which will result in improved, shared and inclusive local services, facilities and spaces, and make a significant and lasting contribution to peace and reconciliation.

What is the PEACEPLUS Partnership?

The PEACEPLUS Partnership functions as a voluntary body and will oversee and be responsible for the design, development and implementation of the Local Action Plan.

It will be representative of the community from across the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council area and comprises of 13 nominated Elected Members, 5 Social Partners representing Target Groups, 7 Social Partners representing each District Electoral Area (DEA) along with 6 nominated Statutory Body Representatives who will provide additional advice and expertise. Social Partners will be chosen through this open call selection process.

The diagram below shows the proposed structure the Partnership will adopt. The partnership must ensure a strong cross-community and Section 75 focus.

The PEACEPLUS Programme is to run to 2027 so membership is likely to last from April 2022 to 2027 (winding down). Circumstances can change for individuals, but those applying should have the intention of staying in post for the duration of the Partnership as far as is possible.

Commitment

This is a voluntary appointment with travel costs and minor expenses reimbursed. The time commitment will include monthly meetings (1-2 hours long). At particular stages of the PEACEPLUS process this may intensify. Partnership members may be asked to participate in relevant subgroups or assessment panels. They will also be asked on occasion to represent the Partnership at project launches or events. Members work in the public interest, not an individual or group interest.

Partnership role in co-design process

Members will play a significant role in the co-design process. PEACEPLUS will go beyond consulting with local communities about needs relevant to the programme. It will also be seeking and designing clear project ideas to meet those needs. Our bid for funding will have to detail the specifics of those projects. Partnership members will play a key part in the process of helping to select what projects best meet the reconciliation criteria of the funding stream, local demand and need, are meaningful, deliverable and cost effective.

Social Partner Specification

We are seeking enthusiastic and knowledgeable representatives, including volunteers, from constituted Community and Voluntary Sector organisations based within our council area. The individuals and organisations should represent local areas (DEA), expertise and/or identities (target groups) most relevant to the PEACEPLUS programme Theme 1.1.

The Social Partner open call is seeking a diverse skillset and representation for the Partnership under two pillars. The applicant must specify which pillar they are applying under and can only apply for ONE position:

Target Groups: 5 representatives
DEAs (District Electoral Areas): 7 representatives; one from each DEA

The applicant will meet one or more of the following:

1. Represent Community and Voluntary Sector organisations from one of the seven DEAs in LCCC – Lisburn North, Lisburn South, Killultagh, Downshire East, Downshire West, Castlereagh South, Castlereagh East
2. Represent a Section 75 group eg. Gender, Age, Disability, Race, Religious belief, LGBTQIA+
3. Work or volunteer (or a strong element of their work) is in the field of Good Relations / peace and reconciliation / dealing with the legacy of the past.
4. Represent a sector of specific relevance to the PEACEPLUS programme eg. Irish or Ulster-Scots language/ culture, Faith / Inter-faith based organisations, those most impacted by the legacy of the past (such as victims and survivors and those dealing with legacy issues such as ex-prisoners and former members of the security forces), organisations in other sectors who have a significant track record of delivering peace and reconciliation work through any field of expertise.
5. A resident within or work within the Lisburn and Castlereagh area.

Nomination of a Deputy Representative

The regular, sustained commitment involved in being on the PEACEPLUS Partnership can be significant. We are therefore asking that at the time of application, a deputy is also named. The deputy will go through the same induction process and will be entitled to stand in for the appointed person if that person is not available for a given meeting. This helps to keep our Partnership quorate and also means there is an alternative person to take your place if you need to leave the Partnership for any reason.

Partnership replacements from open call process.

In the instance of there being a vacancy amongst the Social Partner representation on the Partnership at any time in the lifespan of the programme, the Partnership will look back to the initial open call applications and invite the most relevant replacement to join it.

Selection Process

Social Partner places on the Partnership will be selected on the basis of information provided on the application form. Please assume no prior knowledge of yourself or the organisation you represent.

Wider Consultation

Please note that being a Partnership member is not the only way to be involved with PEACEPLUS Theme 1.1. There will be a much wider local consultation and open opportunities for engagement in the co-design process process during 2022. We would encourage as many people and organisations as possible to engage with that wider process.

Apply online