£300,000 grant for peace charity

A £300,000 grant will enable a Warrington charity to continue its work with victims of violent conflict over the next two years.
The Big Lottery Fund grant goes to the Warrington-based Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace.
Tim and Johnathan died tragically in the 1993 IRA bombing in Warrington. The foundation was founded in 1995 to promote the understanding, management and non-violent resolution of conflict.
Foundation co-founder Colin Parry said: “This is a tremendous boost to the work of the foundation. Like all charities, we are operating in an increasingly difficult economic climate.”
He said the grant was valuable financially but also as a vote of confidence in the work the foundation does.
“This funding will help us continue the foundation’s unique approach to supporting victims and others affected by conflict to turn their challenging and painful experiences into positive opportunities for personal and community development.”
The foundation is the only UK organisation which supports victims and survivors of political violence, conflict and acts of terror through the provision of learning programmes.
Work includes conflict resolution, the development of leadership and advocacy skills, opportunities for constructive dialogue between potentially conflicting parties and the sharing of experiences within a safe, supportive environment.
This funding represents a continuation of the support which the lottery has given the foundation since 2008. During the past three years, the foundation’s programmes have helped nearly 300 people, survivors of the Northern Ireland Troubles, the bombings in London and Sharm-el-Sheik, 9/11 and worldwide conflicts including Iraq and Afghanistan.
Pictured: Colin Parry and his wife, Wendy, pictured at the Peace Centre

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