Belfast City Council has announced the appointment of several more organisations to deliver key projects as part of its PEACEPLUS programme, which aims to build peace and reconciliation across the city.

The Council's Belfast PEACEPLUS Local Community Action Plan is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). This latest announcement follows the appointment of initial partners in March for the £15.1 million initiative.

The newly appointed partners and their respective projects are:

• Giga Training and Active Communities Network: Jointly delivering the 'Youth Empowerment - Inspiring Future Belfast' project, targeting young people aged 9-12 and 12-15 respectively. The project will foster friendships, promote understanding of diversity, and educate on peace and conflict resolution, aiming to develop participants as "ambassadors for peace".

• MayWe: Delivering the 'Arts Across The Genres' project, which will encourage participation in various art forms to develop skills, explore diversity, and build positive relationships between different communities.

• Ashton: Delivering the 'Health and Wellbeing' project, focused on supporting individuals who have experienced trauma through engagement in cross-community programmes and activities, as well as building resilience.

• The Rainbow Project: Delivering the LGBTQIA+ Community Engagement Programme, which will provide support and education to enhance local services and establish an outreach programme to increase collaboration and understanding of the LGBTQIA+ community. • The Corrymeela Community and community partners: Delivering the 'Interfaith and Belief' project, which aims to increase knowledge and awareness of the diverse faiths and beliefs present in the city.

Councillor Ian McLaughlin, Deputy Chair of Belfast City Council's Shared City Partnership, welcomed the new appointments. "We welcome the appointments of further partners who will be delivering key PEACEPLUS projects that will continue to build on peace and reconciliation in Belfast. Our PEACEPLUS projects will engage over 17,000 people reflecting on our city's commitment to strengthening good relations."

SEUPB Chief Executive, Gina McIntyre, highlighted the significance of the local approach. "Belfast City Council's Co-Designed Local Community PEACEPLUS Action Plan will have a transformative impact by addressing specific needs in Belfast. All local authorities within Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland have been allocated a PEACEPLUS budget to undertake a programme of local investment to address local challenges within their areas, working in conjunction with residents and organisations. This approach ensures that plans are targeted at local level, addressing a range of issues including regeneration, promoting positive relations, and championing diversity."

For more information on the Belfast PEACEPLUS programme, visit www.seupb.eu/peaceplus. Details about the wider PEACEPLUS programme can be found on the SEUPB website at www.belfastcity.gov.uk/peaceplus .