OFMDFM MINORITY ETHNIC
DEVELOPMENT FUND
Briefing
February 2013
What does the MEDF aim to do?
 Increase equality of opportunity and equal protection for
people of different ethnic backgrounds in Northern Ireland;
 Increase awareness of and respect for Northern Ireland’s
ethnic diversity;
 Ensure the full participation of people from minority ethnic
backgrounds in public, economic, social and cultural life;
 Increase good relations, mutual understanding and respect
between people of different ethnic backgrounds including the
majority community; and
 Ensure that members of minority ethnic communities enjoy
equal opportunity and equal treatment in accessing and
benefiting from public services.
Key features of the MEDF
 Assist with delivery of the Vision and Shared Aims of the
Racial Equality Strategy (2005 – 2010) and the new – still
being developed - Racial Equality Strategy; and
 Support for voluntary and community organisations working
with minority ethnic people/groups.
Key features of the MEDF
 Three “tiers” of funding
Tier 1 – Entry level MEDF - £100-£15,000
Deadline – 2pm on 31 December 2014
Tier 2 – Standard MEDF - £15,000 - £45,000
Deadline - 2pm on 11 March 2013
Tier 3 – High level MEDF - £45,000 - £75,000
Deadline - 2pm on 11 March 2013
Selection Criteria
The MEDF Selection Committee will evaluate
 Extent to which proposal contributes to one or more of the MEDF
aims;
 Extent to which the proposal meets a specific need(s) and the extent
to which it is targeted on people, groups or areas of greatest social
need;
 Extent to which the proposal aims, objectives and outputs are SMART
i.e. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound and
assessment methods are demonstrated;
 Availability of match funding and the sustainability of the proposal;
and
 Extent of promotion of volunteering and use of volunteers.
Selection Criteria
They will also consider:
 Receipt of funding from other sources such as Government
Departments, European Programmes or the International
Fund for Ireland or other charitable sources;
 How the funding sought from OFMDFM will complement
funding from other sources; and
 Geographical spread of funding and the extent to which it
covers Northern Ireland.
Application – the fundamentals
 Application process – the how and when and where;
 Application form – it’s not that bad;
 Assessment – what we do with your form; and
 Award of grant – getting going!!!
Application process
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Closing date for tier 2 and 3 is 2pm on 11 March 2013;
Closing date for tier 1 is 2pm on 31 December 2014;
Application available on-line or in hardcopy;
Electronic and hardcopy completed forms accepted;
We will issue an acknowledgement and a reference number;
and
 Racial Equality Unit happy to help.
Application form – your organisation
A.2 Please provide a short profile of your organisation as it
relates to this application
You should include the aims and objectives of the organisation and indicate how these align with
the aims of the funding scheme at paragraph 2.1 of the guidance notes.
Remember this is one of the
things that the MEDF
selection committee will
consider
Application form – your proposal
B.1 Tell us about your proposal
Detail what you will do and how you will do it. If you will work in partnership with any other groups
please include details here.
Remember what the MEDF
Selection Committee are
interested in and try to
demonstrate what they are
looking for.
Application form – your proposal
B.2 Outline which of the aims of the funding scheme (paragraph 2.1 of the
guidance notes) your proposal contributes to and how it contributes
Look carefully at the 5 stated
aims of the MEDF and take
the time to fully explain how
your proposal helps achieve
1 or more of them
Application form – your proposal
B.3 Outline the specific need or needs that will be addressed by the
proposal
Please see paragraph 5.1b in the guidance notes for the selection criteria
Look carefully at what has
been said about targeting
the areas of greatest social
need.
Application – your proposal
B.4 Detail what will be achieved by your proposal
Objectives should be SMART i.e. specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and
include timescales
You must spell out exactly
what SMART aims,
objectives and outputs you
are planning. You must also
show how you plan to
measure success.
Application – your proposal
B.5 Outline the main activities that will be undertaken to meet the
objectives of your proposal, the outcome each of these activities will
achieve and how you intend to measure progress in meeting these
outcomes. (These outcomes will form the basis of the letter of offer should the department
approve your application for funding and will be used to inform monitoring and evaluation of the
project)
Activity
Timescale
Outcome
Measurement
Do not confuse outcomes and
outputs. Outputs are how many
people have attended an English
course. Outcomes are 5% of the
migrant population are fluent
English speakers after my project.
Application – your proposal
B.6 Outline how your proposal will be sustained, if necessary, beyond the
period to be funded. Also outline the likely sustainable benefits which
will be realised as a result of the proposals.
Remember this is something
that the MEDF Selection
Panel will look for
specifically.
Application – your proposal
B.7 Please detail the extent to which your organisation uses volunteers or
promotes volunteering
How many volunteers are involved? How often are they involved? In what areas do they help?
Remember this is something
that the MEDF Selection
Panel will want to see. We
see volunteering as
important as it builds
capacity in your sector.
Application – signing
Section D Declaration
At least one of those signing must be an office bearer.
On behalf of the organisation, we confirm that the information on this form is correct and that, if this
application is successful, we will comply with OFMDFM requirements.
We also confirm that our organisation is properly constituted, that there are robust and appropriate
governance procedures in place and that our organisation has not previously had funding refused or
breached a letter of offer from any funder.
Signed:
Signed:
Name:
Name:
We need an office bearer so
we know that the
application has been agreed
by the organisation.
Assessment
We will do the following with your application : Cross-check with the Eligibility Criteria in Section 4,
MEDF Guidance Notes;
 So please read these carefully as we will reject your
application accordingly! and
 The MEDF Selection Committee will mark and rank
projects according to the Selection Criteria in Section 5,
MEDF Guidance Notes.
Award of grant
 If you are successful we will get in touch as soon as possible –
our aim is to let you know before 1 April!
 If you are unsuccessful you have the right to appeal against
the decision.
Where to get help
Racial Equality Unit can advise on the process
ONLY
Philip Devlin 02890528560
Aideen Donnelly 02890523157
Ken Fraser 02890522615
Summary
 Read the MEDF Guidance Notes thoroughly;
 Ensure all eligibility criteria are met (Section 4, MEDF
Guidance Notes);
 Ensure language used is non-technical;
 Check your sums;
 Consider the selection criteria (Section 5, MEDF Guidance
Notes);
 Ensure application is signed; and
 Remember the deadlines!