The Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) provides funding to not-for-profit organisations and projects to support Irish communities overseas and to facilitate the development of more strategic links between Ireland and the global Irish. Funding is granted under the following categories: Capital, Heritage, Business Networks, Welfare and Welfare-Elderly. A key objective of the ESP is to support culturally sensitive projects and initiatives that address the needs of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable Irish emigrants.
The Traveller community in Britain is one of the target communities for ESP assistance. In 2013, ESP grants were provided to 17 projects in Britain focused on the Traveller community. These ranged from support for policy making, through the Traveller Movement, to advocacy and outreach services and specific youth projects. These grants totalled €599,404 and a list of the projects supported is provided in the following table. Total ESP funding to programmes in Britain focused on Travellers, over the 2011-2013 period, amounts to over €1.87m (2011 - €613,056 and 2012 - €657,860). Full details for all grants made under the Emigrant Support Programme are available on my Department's website. Grants applications for 2014 are currently being processed.
In terms of the design of projects and programmes, all applications are prepared by the organisations in question; they design their own projects and seek funding for them. The ESP provides funding but does not directly provide services. Funding applications from Britain based organisations are in the first instance assessed by the Emigrant Services Advisory Committee (ESAC). Apart from the Chairperson and Secretary, who are officers serving in the Embassy of Ireland in London, the Committee members have a background in the Irish community sector in Britain and serve in a voluntary capacity. The Chair and founding member of the Traveller Movement, who is also a former Project Manager of the Irish Chaplaincy in Britain's Traveller Project, currently serves as a member of this advisory committee.
Organisations that received ESP funding in 2013 towards projects focused on Travellers in Britain
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Organisation Name
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Project Name
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Bell Farm Christian Centre
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Doorway Advice Information and Care Service
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Bristol Playbus
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Family trees
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Forest Bus
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The Forest Bus Irish Traveller project
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Friends, Families and Travellers
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Irish Traveller Casework and Advocacy Project
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Irish Chaplaincy in Britain
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ICB Traveller Project
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Irish Community Care Manchester
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Traveller Education and Lifeskills Development Project
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Irish Community Care Merseyside
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Irish Traveller Service
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Traveller Movement
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Director
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Traveller Movement
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National Policy Campaigns & Research Officer
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Leeds GATE
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Traveller Youth Inclusion
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Leeds GATE
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Advocacy Development
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Lewisham Irish Community Centre
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Gypsy, Roma Traveller Outreach service
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London Gypsy and Traveller Unit
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Traveller Youth Project
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London Gypsy and Traveller Unit
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Traveller Accommodation Advocacy and Advice Service
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Solace Women's Aid
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Irish Domestic Violence Outreach and Resettlement Service
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Southwark Travellers Action Group
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Southwark Travellers' Action Group- (STAG)
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Tricycle Theatre
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Speaking Out!
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