By Michele Canning
PROTESTANT communities in Omagh will be equipped with the 'know-how' to allow them an even playing field to apply for funding to better their areas.
Traditionally, groups perceived as Protestant have not been availing of European and other sources of grant-aid but that's all about to change.
£500,000 has been provided by the European Regional Fund (Peace III) to the Gateway to Protestant Participation project, which will target areas from Donegal to Omagh.
Omagh, Strabane and Donegal already have an officer on the ground to help deliver a strategy aimed at Protestant groups.
Maureen McNair will be responsible for the Omagh, Victoria Bridge, Newtownstewart and Castlederg areas.
More than 60 people attended the launch of 'Gateway to Protestant Participation' (GPP) in Lislimaghan Church of Ireland Hall on the Erganagh Road on Monday night.
Lead partner in the project is the Londonderry YMCA. Its General Secretary, Willie Lamrock, said it's now time to address the shortfall in funding to Protestant communities.
He told the UHethat many Protestant groups had been disenfranchised from the funding process because of lack of organisation.
The majority of Peace I and Peace II funding went to mainly nationalist groups, he said.
He added that the Protestant community needs to organise itself, pointing out that in the past many groups did not have the capacity to fill out funding applications. Other reasons were also to blame.
For instance, in Donegal some groups would not apply for lottery funding because of the ethos of the lottery - gambling.
"In Northern Ireland, it has to be said that there were some very good organisations on the Catholic side who submitted perfect funding applications and that's where the money went.
"Now we have to fix that, get up to standard and compete for funding. Groups have to be on an even playing field and engage in the process.
"We now are shaping the country we live in, and it has to be said we cannot do this in isolation."
He said funding for the Gateway Project had received support from across the political divide.
"We will now be identifying groups, perceived to be Protestant, which are low in capacity but if well developed could be a great group for those communities.
"The worker on the ground will identify the groups and start to drill down and see what support these groups need, whether its training needs, governance, finance or creating a strategic long-term view.
"Workers will also identify 12 emerging leaders from within the community, who will be put through a Diploma in Community Development."
The funding will also go to training on sustainability, social enterprise, and allowing 30 projects to apply for funding.
He said discussion forums will be ongoing with the Protestant community, community activists, educationalists, loyal orders and clergy among others.
"These will look at areas of research, isolation and marginalisation," he said.
The YMCA is supported by a steering group and has buy-in from all the councils in the areas.
"This is an issue we have to tackle in a very successful way in the next 15 to 18 months," added the YMCA Director.
