Nadine Osman
Belfast City councillors have approved a £600,000 funding plan aimed at preventing a repeat of last summer’s violent anti-immigrant and Islamophobic attacks. The city is the only one outside England to receive support from London’s Community Recovery Fund, a government initiative focused on promoting integration and tackling racism.
The urgency of this funding stems from the events of last August when tensions erupted between an anti-immigration group and a larger anti-racist counter-protest outside City Hall. As the protests dispersed, some individuals from the anti-immigration group moved into south Belfast, where Muslim businesses and individuals were targeted in violent attacks. The unrest followed a mass stabbing in Southport, England, where three children were killed, further fuelling division and hostility.
During the disturbances, police were able to block far-right aggressors from reaching the Belfast Islamic Centre on University Road. However, many still made their way to Botanic Avenue, Ormeau Road, and the Holyland area, where racist and Islamophobic chanting, property damage, and violence unfolded. The scale of the attacks underscored the need for urgent action to prevent such scenes from recurring.
At a meeting of Belfast City Council’s Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, officials outlined a detailed plan for allocating the £600,000 fund. The largest portion, £330,000, will go towards community initiatives designed to combat anti-Muslim hate and promote integration, orientation, and inclusion.
Of this, £160,000 will be allocated to community organisations in key areas, including Sandy Row/Donegal Road, Woodvale, Connswater, and Greater Falls. The remaining £170,000 will be open to applications from constituted community groups across the city, with grants of up to £20,000 available for projects focused on fostering inclusion and supporting the migrant population.
In addition, £35,000 will be dedicated to educational programs aimed at teachers, youth workers, and community leaders, equipping them with tools to counteract the spread of harmful ideologies that fuel division and intolerance. Another £30,000 will be used to support council-owned and independent community centres in establishing “Centres of Sanctuary,” providing safe spaces for asylum seekers, refugees, and members of the BAME community.
To further address misinformation and public understanding around immigration, £35,000 will go towards creating accessible resources that clearly present facts on migration and the immigration process. A further £20,000 will support the existing “Schools of Sanctuary” program, which works to foster inclusivity within Belfast’s education system.
Recognising the physical and economic toll of last summer’s violence, £20,000 has been set aside for restoring damaged areas to their pre-riot condition. Additionally, £20,000 will be used to establish drop-in clinics in communities where businesses were affected by racist attacks, providing support and guidance to those impacted. The final £40,000 will be directed towards a Wider University and Lower Ormeau Support Programme, specifically designed to assist migrants in these areas.
Photo: Last summer Newtownards Islamic Cultural Centre on Greenwell Street, Belfast was vandalized with a Celtic cross following an unsuccessful petrol bombing. (Credit: Newtownards Islamic Cultural Centre)
