Minister of State Colm Brophy announces almost £5.4 million in Emigrant Support Programme Funding
- Published on: 19 November 2020
- Last updated on: 11 April 2025
Minister of State Colm Brophy announces almost £5.4 million in Emigrant Support Programme Funding to the Irish Community in Britain
- Almost £5.4 million in grants provided to 105 organisations in Britain
- Grants focussed on providing frontline support for those most in need and promoting a vibrant Irish community in Britain as well as providing for immediate needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic
The Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and the Diaspora, Mr Colm Brophy, T.D., has announced details of almost £5.4 million in funding for the Irish community in Britain.
In 2020, grants have been made to 105 organisations in Britain in support of a range of projects through the Government’s Emigrant Support Programme (ESP), which is managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The Minister said:
“I am delighted to announce the Government’s contribution to the Emigrant Support Programme for over 100 organisations in Britain. In addition to this ongoing support, we established the Covid-19 Response Fund to help welfare and community organisations meet the immediate needs resulting from the pandemic.
"Since taking on the role of Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and the Diaspora in July 2020, I have had the opportunity to speak with a wide range of organisations in Britain. What has been clear from these conversations is that the response of the Irish community in responding to the challenges posed by COVID-19 has, and continues to be, remarkable. I know that many organisations came together on a regional basis and have been assisted by volunteers from the wider Irish community to deliver this vital support. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the Irish community for their efforts over the last few months in identifying and responding to the needs of our communities in Britain at such a critical time.”
ENDS
Press Office
17 November 2020
Note for Editors on the Emigrant Support Programme
Since 1984, the Irish Government has given financial support to voluntary agencies providing advice and welfare services to Irish emigrants overseas. The Department of Foreign Affairs working through Ireland’s embassy network coordinates the provision of support to communities abroad and administers the programme.
The main focus for funding under the Emigrant Support Programme remains the frontline welfare service providers that support elderly Irish emigrants and other vulnerable members of our communities worldwide. In more recent years the programme has also recognised the importance of strong and active Irish communities more generally, funding projects which foster a sense of community, promoting vibrant networks and a sense of Irishness among the Irish abroad. The Emigrant Support Programme funding year runs from 1 July – 30 June. Further details can be found on www.dfa.ie.
As the scale of the impact of the pandemic on our Diaspora communities became clear, the Irish Government established a dedicated Covid-19 Response Fund for Irish Communities Abroad to protect our elderly and mitigate the impact of social isolation; meet the needs of those made vulnerable by the crisis; provide mental health supports , as well as supporting innovative ways to provide services online.
To date, 35 organisations in Britain have currently received support under the COVID-19 Response Fund.
Over £30 million has been provided to organisations in Britain through the ESP over the past six years.
Please see a list of organisations awarded funding in the 2020-2021 Grant Round:
| Organisation Name | 2020 ESP Funding Awarded £ |
| Acton Homeless Concern Emmaus House and The Damien Centre | 25,000 |
| Aisling Return to Ireland Project | 107,000 |
| Ashford Place | 163,200 |
| Bell Farm Christian Centre | 7,000 |
| Benefit Advice Shop, The | 2,000 |
| Benevolent Society of St Patrick, The | 5,000 |
| Birmingham Irish Association | 231,120 |
| Bolton Irish Community Association Social Club Limited | 8,000 |
| Brent Centre for Young People (registered as Brent Adolescent Centre) | 19,500 |
| Brent Irish Advisory Service | 119,100 |
| Brian Boru Club | 11,687 |
| Causeway: Ireland Scotland Business Exchange | 15,000 |
| Ceann Creige Hurling and Camogie Club | 2,200 |
| Conradh na Gaeilge Glaschú | 42,650 |
| Conradh na Gaeilge i Londain | 4,500 |
| Corby Young at Heart Luncheon Club | 9,000 |
| Coventry Irish Society | 65,500 |
| Derby Saint Patrick's Day Celebration Committee | 2,600 |
| Edinburgh's Festival of Ireland | 1,500 |
| Emerald Centre, The | 52,000 |
| Emerald Circle Club | 4,000 |
| Emerald Senior Citizens Group | 4,000 |
| Feith an Cheoil School of Music | 7,500 |
| Fréa (formerly the Irish Northern Partnership) | 35,000 |
| Friends, Families and Travellers | 50,000 |
| Golden Shamrock Club | 8,500 |
| Green Curtain Theatre | 2,556 |
| Greenwich Irish Pensioners Association | 4,200 |
| Gypsies and Travellers Wales | 15,000 |
| Halifax & District Irish Society | 6,000 |
| Haslingden Davitt Irish Democratic League Club | 4,000 |
| HCYC | 10,000 |
| Huddersfield Irish Centre | 4,000 |
| Huddersfield St Patrick's Day Parade Association | 4,500 |
| IIBN - Irish International Business Network | 25,000 |
| Immigrant Counselling and Psychotherapy (ICAP) | 156,400 |
| Irish Chaplaincy | 247,000 |
| Irish Club Warrington | 6,348 |
| Irish Community Care | 292,740 |
| Irish Community Care Manchester | 158,500 |
| Irish Community Services in Greenwich, Bexley & Lewisham | 201,000 |
| Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith Ltd | 151,000 |
| Irish Democratic League of Great Britain | 3,700 |
| Irish Elderly Advice Network | 125,400 |
| Irish Film London | 30,000 |
| Irish Heritage Limited | 7,500 |
| Irish in Britain | 400,000 |
| Irish in the UK TV, The | 10,000 |
| Irish Literary Society | 4,300 |
| Irish Music and Dance in London (IMDL) | 21,000 |
| Irish Pensioners Choir | 5,000 |
| Irish Pensioners Forum of East London | 5,000 |
| Irish studies workshop | 3,000 |
| Irish Tuesday Club | 7,500 |
| Jersey Irish Society | 4,525 |
| Kilburn Irish Pensioners | 1,500 |
| Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange (GATE) | 45,600 |
| Leeds Irish Arts Foundation | 38,000 |
| Leeds Irish Centre | 10,000 |
| Leeds Irish Health and Homes | 186,000 |
| Leeds St Patrick's Day Parade | 10,000 |
| Leicester and Leicestershire Irish Forum | 25,000 |
| Leicestershire GATE | 25,000 |
| Lewisham Irish Community Centre | 79,550 |
| Little Ireland Arts Collective | 1,500 |
| Liverpool Irish Centre | 42,200 |
| Liverpool Irish Festival | 11,500 |
| LONDON GYPSIES AND TRAVELLERS | 81,000 |
| London Irish Centre | 465,000 |
| Luton Irish Forum | 125,500 |
| Manchester Irish Education Group | 1,200 |
| Manchester Irish Language Group | 640 |
| Mansfield & Dukeries Irish Association | 6,800 |
| Maya Centre, The | 22,735 |
| Milton Keynes Irish Centre | 11,250 |
| Monica's Place Limited | 20,000 |
| New Horizon Youth Centre | 30,360 |
| NOAH Enterprise | 50,000 |
| North Wales Irish Society | 3,500 |
| Northampton Irish Support Group | 45,000 |
| Nottingham St Patrick's Day Parade and Festival | 5,500 |
| Passage 2000 | 35,000 |
| Portsmouth Irish Society | 5,850 |
| Safe Start Foundation | 56,500 |
| Sandwell Irish Society | 34,500 |
| Sanktus | 25,000 |
| Sheffield Irish Association | 2,205 |
| SIFA Fireside | 14,500 |
| Solace Women's Aid | 35,000 |
| South London Irish Association | 20,000 |
| Southwark Irish Pensioners Project | 126,200 |
| Southwark Travellers Action Group (STAG) | 40,000 |
| St Mungo's | 10,000 |
| St Thomas More Roman Catholic Church | 700 |
| Strange Fish Theatre Company | 2,000 |
| Traveller Movement, The | 140,000 |
| Troubles, Tragedy & Trauma | 3,000 |
| Tyneside Irish Centre | 16,000 |
| Tyneside Irish Cultural Society | 31,775 |
| Wake The Beast | 2,500 |
| WEST HAMPSTEAD WOMEN'S CENTRE | 8,000 |
| Women’s Irish Network London | 7,600 |
| York Irish Association | 3,250 |
| Young@Heart | 580 |
| 1916 Rising Centenary Committee –Scotland | 1,500 |
| EMIGRANT SUPPORT PROGRAMME - COVID 19 RESPONSE FUND | 497,042 |
| TOTAL FUNDING AWARDED TO ORGANISATIONS IN BRITAIN | £5,380,763 |