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PEACEPLUS - A New Programme for 2021 to 2027
for Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland

Your opportunity to shape how PEACEPLUS can continue to support the early years sector

Early Years is the largest organisation in Northern Ireland working with and for young children. Early Years is a non-profit making organisation working since 1965 to promote high quality childcare for children aged 0 - 18 and their families. Early Years is a membership-based organisation, a registered charity, a company limited by guarantee and is governed by a Board of Directors.

Early Years have been involved in delivery of PEACE programmes for over 20 years helping deliver over €40million of funding to support children and their families since 1996. 

A new PEACEPLUS Programme is scheduled for release in 2021.  
 
The PEACE PLUS programme will contribute to a more peaceful, prosperous and stable society in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties of Ireland by funding:

  • Actions to improve community and social cohesion
  • Improving employment opportunities
  • Increasing access to quality education
  • Reducing marginalisation through improved housing and services
  • Increasing access to quality health care in the region
  • Other peace building activities.
 
THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SHAPE HOW THIS PROGRAMME CAN CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE EARLY YEARS SECTOR

Please note all information supplied will be held in strict confidence and Early Years will not disclose any identifiable information without consent.  All information submitted to the SEUPB will be anonymised. 

This survey is to ensure that the sector has a voice in the design of a new programme, to ensure that the needs of children and young people continue to be met in a new PEACEPLUS Programme 2021/2027.   
1.Are you responding on behalf of an organisation or as an individual? If you are responding as an individual please only complete individual details below (last three fields).
2.Are you currently engaged in PEACE IV activities?
3.Would you/your organisation be interested in engaging in the new PEACE PLUS Programme?
4.Below is a list of possible actions for achieving Peace and Reconciliation. Please rate the relevance of each type of action as a means to achieve Peace and Reconciliation.
Not at all relevant 1
2
3
4
5
6
Extremely relevant 7
I don't know
Actions to improve community and social cohesion.
Improving employment opportunities.
Increasing access to quality education.
Other peace building activities.
5.What are the main challenges and opportunities for greater Peace and Reconciliation (previously addressed under the PEACE programme)? [500 words limit]
6.Below is a list of potential activities that could support the achievement of Peace and Reconciliation. Please rate the relevance of each type of action:
Not at all relevant 1
2
3
4
5
6
Extremely relevant 7
I don't know
Continuation of Sharing from the Start*
Expansion of Sharing from the Start to include more pre-school settings in Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland and North England.
Increase participation of board of governors/management, parents, wider families to maximise the return on social cohesion.
A new All Island Shared Education Centre of Excellence to promote Peace and Reconciliation from early childhood through to 18. 
Support for shared spaces building improvements within childhood centres (as per Childhood Fund Peace I and II) to expand and extend services and enable innovation and developments.
Extend early childhood provision to include access for appropriate support for two year olds within pre-school and childcare settings.
Increased investment for workforce training and governance – Development of a workforce strategy to provide a framework to promote greater cohesion.
Increased usage of IT to support deeper and wider engagement and develop new delivery methodologies.
*Sharing from the Start is a project supported by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The project involves children in the early years sector throughout Northern Ireland and the border counties taking part in Shared Education programmes improving educational outcomes and good relations.
7.Please list any additional ideas/initiatives [500 words limit]
8.Any final comments/considerations regarding the new PEACEPLUS Programme [500 words limit]
Permissions:
9.Can we contact you to discuss content submitted (if yes please select checkbox)?
10.Can we contact you to explore your participation in PEACEPLUS (if yes please select checkbox)?
11.There may be an opportunity to expand the existing Sharing From the Start programme include more centres from June 2020.  If you are not already participating, would you like Early Years to contact you regarding this opportunity (if yes please select checkbox)?