26 January 2000

BEYOND THE CENTRE

Nigel Dodds, MLA, Minister for Social Development today launched ‘Beyond the Centre’, a major review of the Community Services Programme run by Northern Ireland’s 26 District Councils. The review proposes a more focused approach to the delivery of this £11m programme.

The Community Services Programme is a unique initiative between local government, central government and local communities, which has been in existence for almost 25 years. The Programme supports local communities throughout Northern Ireland, through the provision of community centres, local advice centres, resource centres, grants to community groups and the employment of staff in district councils.

Launching the consultation document Mr Dodds said: "This consultation process will lead to the development of a new Programme, with fresh aims and objectives, and a stronger emphasis on communities recognising their own strengths and identifying their own needs, especially in areas of social need."

District councils currently play an important role in supporting local community organisations through the Community Services Programme, and there is much potential to develop this role even further

The Minister continued: "I would like to pay warm tribute to district councils in Northern Ireland for their work in helping to build their local communities. This report acknowledges the importance of that work, particularly in disadvantaged areas."

‘Beyond the Centre’ is a consultation document that includes the results of a review of the current Programme. The document also invites views from relevant bodies and organisations on a number of proposals for a new Community Services Programme.

Over the next three months, the Department will consult widely on ‘Beyond the Centre’ to ensure that the Programme meets changing needs.

 

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The Minister for Social Development, Nigel Dodds, MLA will launch a consultation document on the District Councils’ Community Services Programme, in St Patrick’s Trian Armagh, at 11.15am on Wednesday 26th January.
2. Copies of ‘Beyond the Centre’ can be obtained from Community Development Branch, Voluntary Activity Unit, Department for Social Development, Castle Buildings, Stormont, Belfast BT4 3PP, telephone no:(028)9052 0510. It is also available on the Internet at http//www.dhssni.gov.uk.
3. Responses to the issues raised in the ‘Beyond the Centre’ should be sent by 21 April 2000 to Maeve Walls, Voluntary Activity Unit, Department for Social Development, Room C4.14, Castle Buildings, Stormont, Belfast BT4 3PP or by Email to maeve.walls@dhssni.gov.uk.
4. The Community Services Programme is a unique, complex and collaborative initiative involving the Department for Social Development (DSD), all 26 district councils in Northern Ireland, community and voluntary groups and local advice organisations. It has been in existence since 1975, and the scope of its influence is wide. In the 1996/97 year, the Community Services Programme accounted for an estimated total expenditure of £11.2 million.
5. The DSD provides ‘rate support grants’ to district councils to assist them in their community services provision. The grant accounts for approximately 19% of overall Programme expenditure with the remainder (81%) of expenditure being met through local rates. Although there is widespread variation among district councils, their average contribution equates to 4p on the rates. The leverage effect resulting from the Department’s grant is an important and distinguishing feature of the Programme.
6. Following an extensive period of consultation involving district councils, government departments, other statutory agencies and the voluntary and community sector, the Department is now bringing forward a range of proposals detailed in ‘Beyond the Centre’ for a new Community Services Programme which will involve:

- updating the rationale, aims, objectives, monitoring and evaluation arrangements to secure stronger impact and closer fit between the Programme and the changing context in which it now operates;

- agreeing a funding formula to ensure a fairer, more transparent and equitable allocations of the Department’s rate support grant, in keeping with New Targeting Social Need principles;

- connecting the Programme to the Best Value initiative currently underway in local government in Northern Ireland and to the Local Agenda 21 process;

- advancing an integrated community support planning model designed to identify community strengths, resources and needs, taking account of other areas of council activity and other agencies;

- placing a stronger emphasis on equality of opportunity in light of the new statutory duty to be conferred on public authorities, including district councils, to promote equality under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

- Renaming the Programme the ‘Community Support Programme’ to reflect this new emphasis.

7. Among the specific consultation points raised in the document, respondents are invited to comment on:

- whether district councils are the appropriate lead agencies in Northern Ireland to support local community infrastructure in the terms described;

- whether the analysis of Programme strengths and areas for improvement is complete;

- how the Department’s financial support to councils can be made more fairly, transparently and equitably;

- how existing resources can most effectively and strategically be deployed to meet the practical support needs of local community groups.