Funding Issues

As a result of our initial Interface Forum, funding issues such as, long, drawn-out funding applications; funders’ focus on bureaucratic accounting procedures, rather than the work the interface groups are carrying out and, lack of response to local needs on the ground, were highlighted.

These issues became the focus of our second Interface Workshop, which took place on
13th January 2004.

Attendees:

• Chris O'Halloran - Belfast Interface Group
• Rab McCallum - Cliftonville Community Forum
• Gerard O'Reilly – Intercomm
• Danny Lavery - LINC Resource Centre
• Michael Acheson - LINC Resource Centre
• Roisin McGlone – SIDCP
• Felicity McCartney - Community Foundation NI
• Jim Dennison – CRC
• Emma Dargan - Belfast LSP
• Jan Wright - Community Fund
• Catherine Lynch - Cooperation Ireland
• Roisín O'Hagan – INCORE
• Billy Leonard - INCORE
  

Road-map:
One of the main points that came out of the workshop was the need for a 'road-map' for interface areas. It was agreed that there has been a lack of response and clarity as to which government departments are responsible for issues in the interface areas such as addressing parades and territoriality. It was decided that the voluntary and community unit was the key contact regarding policy initiatives/funding programmes.

Interface Champion:
There was also a consensus that there is a strong need for an Interface 'Champion' to address long-term needs, connect the 'unconnected cogs' and agree the future. Some of the innovative work is currently being marginalised: funders should try and promote innovation by apportioning larger amounts of money to innovative ideas or, create an 'innovation fund'.

Communication:
It was agreed that better communication between funders and community would help both sectors eg if community groups were made aware of funders' objectives, the obstacles they face and where the money comes from, this may increase support from the community.

Best Practice:
To help arrive at examples of best practice there was agreement on the need to document what has and hasn't worked. To help assess this people needed to identify both short and long term needs. For example, is a short term need the reduction of violence? Is addressing the bigger picture issues a long term need?
Some participants thought that funders could help with qualitative and quantitative indicators of success.

Ideas to take forward:

• Placements/mentoring system - provide opportunities to find out what each other is doing.
• Develop a model of 'good practice' - with flexibility to adapt to each area
• An exercise to include all interface groups from different geographical areas to utilise the 'good practice' that is already there. This could be achieved by a conference / event
• Interface Support Group - setting up of a work-group specifically for interface workers to help/support one another
• The formation of a network to include funders and interface groups which may then lead to a more 'unified front' to influence policy-makers and provide the opportunity to communicate to funders the 'solutions' that have worked.