£1 Million For Minority Groups In The North

Funding of £954,000 will be awarded to 23 different organisations here and a special event to celebrate the work of the various groups is being hosted this evening in Parliament Buildings by OFMDFM.

Announcing the funding package, the First Minister said: "I am delighted to announce this major new package of almost £1million. Since taking office, both the Deputy First Minister and I have consistently stated that we are committed to promoting racial equality and good race relations.

"This funding is solid evidence of that commitment. It sends a positive message to all members of minority ethnic communities that they are a valuable part of society here and that government is prepared to recognise that in a concrete way."

Also speaking today the Deputy First Minister said: " This investment represents a 33% increase on previous funding to minority ethnic groups here. It is a very tangible measure of the Executive's support for local minority ethnic communities and I am looking forward to meeting many of the groups involved later today in Parliament Buildings.

"The focus of this funding will be on the improvement of race relations and helping minority ethnic people to integrate into the wider community. We all have a responsibility to promote tolerance and to accept each other's cultural diversity.

"While we have funded several minority ethnic groups, I am pleased to say that we received a number of strong applications from indigenous organisations which have also been successful in securing funding."