Grant Funding Policy

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S75 Equality And Good Relations Screening Form

General Information:

Policy/ Procedure

Is this an existing, revised or a new function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?

Existing & Revised

Operational Area:

Funding Unit

Title:

Grant Funding Policy

Brief Summary:

The purpose of this policy is to outline the Council’s agreed approach to Grant Funding in relation to resourcing external bodies to assist in the delivery of Council’s strategic objectives and priorities. The policy was written for Councillors and the Council's officers and any who enquire about our policy and procedures.

What is it trying to achieve? (intended aims and outcomes)

The overall aim of the policy is:

‘To ensure Council has a consistent, customer focused process with relevant assessment and evaluation procedures with appropriate appeal and monitoring systems in place.’
The Grant Funding Policy is built on a set of agreed principles and an understanding that:

Grant funding awards are at the sole discretion of council but will be dependent on the Council’s available and agreed level of funding which is determined in the annual budget.
Activities grant funded must be fully consistent with strategic aims and priorities of the strategies to be addressed.
Due regard will be given to equality considerations in accordance with section 75 and any other statutory duty.
All funding applications will be determined on their objective merits. No organisation is entitled to funding because it may have been granted funding in the past or for any other reason.
A consistent, customer focused process is required in relation to grant applications with relevant assessment and evaluation procedures with appropriate appeal and monitoring systems in place.
Council must ensure proper, prudent and effective use of Public Money.
Contracted services must be tendered in adherence to the Council’s Procurement Process.

Who owns and who implements each element of the function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, the Policy is overseen by the Funding Unit.

Other policies etc. which have a bearing on this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?

All guidance notes for individual grant programmes are aligned to and emanate from this policy.

Available Evidence

Evidence to help inform the screening process may take many forms. Public authorities should ensure that their screening decision is informed by relevant data.
What evidence/information (both qualitative and quantitative have you gathered to inform this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance? Specify details for relevant Section 75 categories.

Section 75 Category Details of Evidence/Information:

Religious Beliefs

The 2011 Census outlined:

Religion / religion brought up in:
Census 2021 CC&G Borough Council Northern Ireland
Roman Catholic 40.21% 45.14%
Protestant & Other Christian
(including Christian related) 54.79% 48.36%
Other Religions 0.65% 0.92%
None/Not stated 4.35% 5.58%

In terms of religion, or religion brought up in, the 2011 Census indicates that our resident’s religious beliefs are comparable to those in Northern Ireland in that there are 2 predominant groupings i.e., Roman Catholic and Protestant. However, we also have several individuals (4.35%) who do not practice a specific religion or who do not wish to be grouped into a specific religion. In addition, we have a small number of individuals who practice other religions (0.65%). No issues regarding religious beliefs were raised to date with current stakeholders who have various religious beliefs and multiple identities and adopt the policy.

In conclusion, this policy should not impact on this Section 75 group. Causeway Coast and Glens Council’s Grant Funding Policy explicitly states it is fully committed to meeting its obligations in relation to Equality and Good Relations under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act.

Political Opinion

The Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey (2020) provides the following information on the political parties people in Northern Ireland feel closest to (this information is not available at Council area level):

%
DUP/Democratic Unionist Party 23%
Sinn Féin 11%
Ulster Unionist Party 11%
Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) 14%
Alliance Party 28%
Green Party 4%
Other Party 2%
None of these 3%
Don't know 3%

No issues regarding political opinion were raised to date with current stakeholders who have various religious beliefs and multiple identities and adopt the policy.

Racial Group

On Census Day 27th March 2011, 1.00% were from an ethnic minority population and the remaining 99.00% were white (including Irish Traveller) – as outlined below.:

Census 2021 CC&G Borough Council Northern Ireland
White 98.97% 98.21%
Irish Traveller 0.03% 0.07%
Mixed 0.25% 0.33%
Indian 0.16% 0.34%
Pakistani 0.03% 0.06%
Bangladeshi 0.01% 0.03%
Other Asian 0.15% 0.28%
Black Caribbean 0.01% 0.02%
Black African 0.01% 0.13%
Other Black 0.01% 0.05%
Chinese 0.24% 0.35%
Other ethnic group 0.09% 0.13%

No issues regarding racial groups were raised to date with current stakeholders who adopt the policy, and the policy will have no impact on any racial group.

Age

(Mid-Year 2020) (NISRA statistics)
Source : Northern Ireland Statistics website: www.nisra.gov.uk
2019 Mid Year Population Estimates for Northern Ireland | Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (nisra.gov.uk) Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO.

CC&G Borough Council Northern Ireland
Under 15 28,600 (19.74%) 395,800 (20.88%)
16 - 64 89,200 (61.56%) 1,179,700 (62.24%)
65 - 84 23,900 (16.49%) 280,600 (14.80%)
85 and over 3,200 (2.21%) 39,400 (2.08%)
TOTAL Population 144,900 1,895,500

Mid-Year population estimates 2020 - NISRA
By Council Area

Council 0-15 16-64 65-84 85 and over TOTAL
Antrim & Newtownabbey 29800 89400 21500 3000 143700
Ards & North Down 30000 97000 31000 4100 162100
Armagh City, Banbridge
& Craigavon 48900 134200 30200 4000 217300
Belfast 68200 223100 43800 7400 342500

Causeway Coast
& Glens 28600 89200 23900 3200 144900
Derry City & Strabane 32700 94900 21100 2400 151100
Fermanagh & Omagh 25400 71400 18000 2500 117300
Lisburn & Castlereagh 29600 91000 22600 3300 146500
Mid & East Antrim 26800 85700 23600 3300 139400
Mid Ulster 34800 92200 19300 2700 149000
Newry, Mourne & Down 41000 111600 25600 3500 181700
1895500

No issues regarding age concerns were raised to date with current stakeholders, who range from all ages, and adopt the policy.

All information will be promoted in line with industry best practices and will ensure it is easy to read and understand. This may result in large print material, pictorial formats, electronic and hard copy material when appropriate. The information will also be available on council’s webpage and therefore may be accessed using a screen-reader for individuals whose sight may be affected by age. Assistance is available by Funding Unit staff, if required.

Marital Status

Marital status by former legacy Council area (most recent figures available from Census 2011):

Census 2011 Ballymoney BC Coleraine BC   Limavady BC Moyle DC
Single 32.68% 34.78% 36.64% 34.96%
Married 52.52% 48.88% 48.94% 49.03%
Civil Partnership 0.07% 0.06% 0.08% 0.08%
Separated 3.13% 3.15% 3.58% 3.66%
Divorced/Civil
Partnership Dissolved 5.23% 6.13% 4.99%   5.11%
Widowed/Surviving
Civil Partner 6.39%   7.00% 5.78% 7.15%

No issues regarding material status were raised to date with current stakeholders, who range from various backgrounds and adopt the policy.

Sexual Orientation

There are no specific figures available on how many people may be Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual or Trans-gender or Trans-sexual (LGBT) specific to the Council area.
The Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey (2019) – Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey (NILT), Queen’s University Belfast and the Ulster University NI Life and Times Survey - 2019: ORIENT2 (ark.ac.uk) provides the following information on the sexual orientation of people in Northern Ireland (this information is not available at local government level):

%
I am ‘gay’ or ‘lesbian’ (homosexual) 3
I am heterosexual or ‘straight’ 94
I am bi-sexual 2
Other 1

The NI Rainbow Project estimates between 6-10% of any given population could be considered as LGBT.

The consultation process for this project raised no impactful issues with regards to Sexual Orientation. In conclusion, there is no evidence to assess the project’s impact on this Section 75 group and will be assumed as neutral impact.

Men and Women Generally Gender:

On Census Day 27th March 2011, 49.46% of the usually resident population were male and 50.54% were female.

Gender: (Mid-Year 2020 Population Estimates)

CC&G Borough Council Northern Ireland

Male 71,839 (49.6%) 934,155 (49.3%)

Female 73,104 (50.4%) 961,355 (50.7%)

Causeway Coast and Glens Council’s Grant Funding Policy explicitly states it is fully committed to meeting its obligations in relation to Equality and Good Relations under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act.

Dependants

On Census Day 27th March 2011, 10.73% of people stated that they provided unpaid care to family, friends, neighbours or others.

The Census information in 2011 showed: People With or Without Dependents:

Census 2011 CC&G Borough Council Northern Ireland

Number of households 54,970 721,860

Households with
dependent children 15,597 (28.37%) 261,251 (36.19%)

No issues regarding dependants were raised to date with current stakeholders, who range from various backgrounds and adopt the policy.

Disability

Disability
People with a Disability/People Without:
The General Household Survey reports that around 19% of the NI population has some form of disability.
People with a long term condition/illness by former legacy Council area (most recent figures available from Census 2011):

Census 2011 Ballymoney BC Coleraine BC Limavady BC Moyle DC
People with a long
term condition/illness 30.6% 31.31% 31.05% 31.68%
People Without 69.4% 68.69% 68.95% 68.32%

____

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Long Term Condition:

Mobility or dexterity 19%
Long term pain or discomfort 17%
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing 14%
A chronic illness 11%
Deafness or partial hearing loss 9%
An emotional, psychological or mental health condition 9%
Other condition 9%
A learning, intellectual or social behaviour difficulty 3%
Frequent periods of confusion or memory loss 3%
Blindness or partial sight 3%
Communication difficulty 3%

Source: NINIS, Census 2011, KS302NI
Notes:

1. ‘Communication difficulty’ means a difficulty with speaking or making yourself understood.
2. ‘A mobility or dexterity difficulty’ means a condition that substantially limits one or more basic physical activities such as walking, climbing stairs, lifting or carrying.
3. ‘An emotional, psychological or mental health condition’ includes conditions such as depression or schizophrenia.
4. ‘Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing’ includes conditions such as asthma.
5. ‘A chronic illness’ includes illnesses such as cancer, HIV, diabetes, heart disease or epilepsy.
6. ‘Long-term’ refers to a condition which has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months.

No issues regarding disabilities were raised to date with current stakeholders, who represent people from a variety of backgrounds, and who adopt the policy.
Causeway Coast and Glens Council’s Grant Funding Policy explicitly states it is fully committed to meeting its obligations in relation to Equality and Good Relations under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act.

Screening Questions

1. What is the likely impact on equality of opportunity for those affected by this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?

Section 75 Category - Positive impact (it could benefit) Neutral Negative impact (it could disadvantage)

Gender
Women     Neutral impact
Men Neutral impact
Transgender men/women Neutral impact
Other please specify Neutral impact

Reason: It is not envisaged that the policy will have an adverse impact with regard to any sections 75 group. As application of the grant programmes are open and accessible to all section 75 groupings it is determined that the policy is neutral for this category

Race
The categories used in the Race section are those used in the 2011 census. Consideration should be given to the needs of specific communities within the broad categories.

Asian    Neutral impact
Black Neutral impact
Chinese Neutral impact
Mixed race Neutral impact
Other please specify Neutral impact

Disability
Long term health impairment could include mental health problems, asthma, heart conditions, chronic fatigue etc.

Neutral impact

Reason: It is not envisaged that the policy will have an adverse impact with regard to any sections 75 group. As application of the grant programmes are open and accessible to all section 75 groupings it is determined that the policy is neutral for this category

Sexual orientation

Heterosexual, lesbian, gay men, bisexual, others

Age

Older People Neutral impact
Younger people and children Neutral impact

Political Opinion

Religious Belief

Martial Status

Neutral impact

Dependants

Neutral impact

Screening Questions

2. Are there opportunities to better promote equality of opportunity for people within any of the Section 75 categories?

Gender

(Women, Men, Transgender men/women , Other please specify)

Yes. Funding road shows are provided by the Funding Unit covering an overview of the Grants policy and upcoming grant opportunities. Service areas also provide additional support on a number of their grants to provide support for all section 75 equality groupings. Additional support is also available for any potential applicant who wished to avail of it.

Race

The categories used in the Race section are those used in the 2011 census. Consideration should be given to the needs of specific communities within the broad categories.
(Asian, Black, Chinese, Mixed race, White, Other please specify)

Disability

Long term health impairment could include mental health problems, asthma, heart conditions, chronic fatigue etc.

Sexual orientation

Heterosexual, lesbian, gay men, bisexual, others

Age

Older People, Younger people and children

Political Opinion

Religious Belief

Marital Status

Dependants

Screening Questions

3. To what extent is the policy likely to impact on good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group?

Section 75 Category: Religious Belief
Level of impact: None. The policy understands the need for good relations between section 75 equality categories, in order to receive grant funding, successful applicants must sign a ‘Promoting Equality and Good Relations Statement’ declaring the group will recognise and undertake to not act in any way which would contravene Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s statutory Duty with regards the Section 75 equality categories.

Section 75 Category: Political Opinion
Level of impact: None. The policy understands the need for good relations between section 75 equality categories, in order to receive grant funding, successful applicants must sign a ‘Promoting Equality and Good Relations Statement’ declaring the group will recognise and undertake to not act in any way which would contravene Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s statutory Duty with regards the Section 75 equality categories.

Section 75 Category: Racial Group
Level of impact: None. The policy understands the need for good relations between section 75 equality categories, in order to receive grant funding, successful applicants must sign a ‘Promoting Equality and Good Relations Statement’ declaring the group will recognise and undertake to not act in any way which would contravene Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s statutory Duty with regards the Section 75 equality categories.

Screening Questions

4. Are there opportunities to better promote good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group?

Religious Belief: Yes. The policy understands the need for good relations between section 75 equality categories, in order to receive grant funding, successful applicants must sign a ‘Promoting Equality and Good Relations Statement’ declaring the group will recognise and undertake to not act in any way which would contravene Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s statutory Duty

Political Opinion: Yes. The policy understands the need for good relations between section 75 equality categories, in order to receive grant funding, successful applicants must sign a ‘Promoting Equality and Good Relations Statement’ declaring the group will recognise and undertake to not act in any way which would contravene Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s statutory Duty

Racial Group: Yes. The policy understands the need for good relations between section 75 equality categories, in order to receive grant funding, successful applicants must sign a ‘Promoting Equality and Good Relations Statement’ declaring the group will recognise and undertake to not act in any way which would contravene Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s statutory Duty

Additional Considerations

Generally speaking people can fall into more than one Section 75 category. Taking this into consideration, are there any potential impacts of the function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance on people with multiple identities? (For example: disabled minority ethnic people, disabled women, young Protestant men, young lesbians, gay and bisexual people.)

No, potential impact of this policy on people with multiple identities.

Provide details of data on the impact of the function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance on people with multiple identities. Specify the relevant Section 75 categories concerned.

N/A

Disability Considerations

Is there an opportunity to better promote positive attitudes towards disabled people by altering this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?

Is there an opportunity to encourage participation by disabled people in public life by altering this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?

Please give further information and examples:

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council currently administer grants which specifically target participation by disabled people, equality monitoring forms is issued with grants and terms of equality is outlined in the Letter of Contract.

Screening Decision

Likely Impact None

If the decision is to subject the policy to an equality impact assessment (i.e. likely impact – Major), please provide details of the reasons for this:
N/A

If the decision is not to conduct an equality impact assessment (i.e. likely impact = Minor) the Council should consider if the policy should be mitigated or an alternative policy be introduced:
N/A

If the decision is not to conduct an equality impact assessment (i.e. likely impact = None), please provide details of the reasons for this:

It is not envisaged that the policy will have an adverse impact with regard any section 75 equality category as the application of the grant programmes are open and accessible to all section 75 equality categories.

Mitigation

When the Council concludes that the likely impact is ‘Minor’ and an equality impact assessment is not to be conducted, the Council may consider mitigation to lessen the severity of any equality impact, or the introduction of an alternative policy to better promote equality of opportunity or good relations.
Can the policy/decision be amended or changed or an alternative policy introduced to better promote equality of opportunity and/or good relations?

If YES, give the reasons to support your decision, together with the proposed changes/amendments or alternative policy:

N/A

Timetabling And Prioritising
If the policy/decision has been ‘screened in’ for equality impact assessment, then please answer the following questions to determine its priority for timetabling the equality impact assessment.
On a scale of 1 to 3, with 1 being the lowest priority and 3 the highest, assess the policy in terms of its priority for equality impact assessment.

Priority Criterion
Rating (1 to 3)
Effect on equality of opportunity and good relations  N/A
Social Need  N/A
Effect on people’s daily lives  N/A
Relevance to the Council’s functions  N/A

Monitoring
Please outline proposals for future monitoring of the policy/decision:

Reviewed Annually

Grant Funding Policy

S75 Equality And Good Relations Screening Form

General Information:

Is this an existing, revised or a new function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?

Operational Area:

Title:

Brief Summary:

What is it trying to achieve? (intended aims and outcomes)

Who owns and who implements each element of the function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?

Other policies etc. which have a bearing on this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?

Available Evidence

Section 75 Category Details of Evidence/Information:

Political Opinion

Racial Group

Age

Marital Status

Sexual Orientation

Men and Women Generally Gender:

Dependants

Disability

Screening Questions

1. What is the likely impact on equality of opportunity for those affected by this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?

Screening Questions

Screening Questions

3. To what extent is the policy likely to impact on good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group?

Screening Questions

4. Are there opportunities to better promote good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group?

Additional Considerations

Provide details of data on the impact of the function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance on people with multiple identities. Specify the relevant Section 75 categories concerned.

Disability Considerations

Is there an opportunity to better promote positive attitudes towards disabled people by altering this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?

Is there an opportunity to encourage participation by disabled people in public life by altering this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?

Please give further information and examples:

Screening Decision

Mitigation

Monitoring
Please outline proposals for future monitoring of the policy/decision:

Approval And Authorisation

Screened By: Funding Development Officer 19-05-2023

Approved By: Funding Unit Manager 19-05-2023

Grant Funding Policy

S75 Equality And Good Relations Screening Form

General Information:

Is this an existing, revised or a new function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?

Operational Area:

Title:

Brief Summary:

What is it trying to achieve? (intended aims and outcomes)

Who owns and who implements each element of the function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?

Other policies etc. which have a bearing on this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?

Available Evidence

Section 75 Category Details of Evidence/Information:

Political Opinion

Racial Group

Age

Marital Status

Sexual Orientation

Men and Women Generally Gender:

Dependants

Disability

Screening Questions

1. What is the likely impact on equality of opportunity for those affected by this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?

Screening Questions

Screening Questions

3. To what extent is the policy likely to impact on good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group?

Screening Questions

4. Are there opportunities to better promote good relations between people of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group?

Additional Considerations

Provide details of data on the impact of the function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance on people with multiple identities. Specify the relevant Section 75 categories concerned.

Disability Considerations Is there an opportunity to better promote positive attitudes towards disabled people by altering this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?

Is there an opportunity to encourage participation by disabled people in public life by altering this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?

Please give further information and examples:

Screening Decision

Mitigation

Monitoring Please outline proposals for future monitoring of the policy/decision:

Approval And Authorisation

Screened By: Funding Development Officer 19-05-2023

Approved By: Funding Unit Manager 19-05-2023

Disability Considerations

Is there an opportunity to better promote positive attitudes towards disabled people by altering this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?

Monitoring
Please outline proposals for future monitoring of the policy/decision: