Agenda item

The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report

1.1       The purpose of this report is to present a request for funding for the L’Arche Federation Assembly which will take place in Belfast in June 2017.

2.0       Recommendations

            The Committee is asked to:

-       Note the contents of the report

-       Agree to provide financial assistance of £20,000 towards the cost of hosting the L’Arche International Federation Assembly event in Belfast in June 2017.

3.0       Main report

3.1       Key Issues

            Members will be aware that business tourism is an increasingly important sector in the City.  Following investment in the Belfast Waterfront, the sector is growing in significance.  Last year, over 70 major conferences took place in Belfast, generating an economic benefit of £45million to the City. 

3.2       L’Arche is a global network of residential homes built around the needs of people with learning disabilities.  There are 150 L’Arche communities in 37 countries across the world. L’Arche Belfast is based on Ormeau Road and the organisation operates a number of projects including supported living schemes for those with learning disabilities, Root Soup – a catering social enterprise and Green Buds – a community allotment scheme.

3.3       The International Conference for all L’Arche members – the Federation Assembly – takes place every five years.  The 2017 event will take place in Belfast on 20-27 June 2017.  It is expected that more than 500 members will attend from the 37 countries where L’Arche has a presence.

3.4       The Federation Assembly will focus on scoping out the work programme for the organisation in the coming five years.  It will look at how the organisation can serve more people, elect new inspirational leaders and celebrate the way in which people with learning disabilities are being championed and supported in many countries.  This will include focusing on some of the work that is taking place in Belfast and that can be replicated all across the world.

3.5       The event will take place at Queen’s University Belfast and delegates will travel to all parts of the City to visit relevant projects and to see how organisations in Belfast are supporting those with learning difficulties.  Delegates will stay at the Queen’s student accommodation (Queen’s Elms).  The overall cost of hosting the event is around £600,000.  More than two thirds of this budget is spent on local facilities and activities, meaning that the event is a significant income generator for local hospitality businesses such as accommodation, transport, and catering as well as AV equipment and printers.  In line with estimates from other conferences, the combined spend of delegates attending the event is likely to generate around £150,000 to the local economy.  This means that the total investment in Belfast from this event will be around £750,000. 

3.6       The majority of the income to cover the costs will come from delegate fees, fundraising and sponsorship as well as income from Charitable Trusts and support organisations.  However, the organisation has a deficit in its budget and has approached the Council to seek funding support of £20,000 towards the costs of hosting the event in Belfast in June 2017.

3.7       Financial & Resource Implications

            L’Arche has asked Belfast City Council to provide £20,000 support towards the costs associated with hosting the event in Belfast in June 2017.  This budget is available within the city development stream of the departmental budget that was approved by this Committee and by Council in February 2017.

3.8       Equality or Good Relations Implications

            This event supports the inclusion of those with learning disabilities.”

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.