21 June 2002
DODDS PRAISES ‘STEPS’ TO COMMUNITY CONFIDENCE
An innovative personal development programme for people living in disadvantaged areas could help build community confidence in north Belfast, the Minister for Social Development, Nigel Dodds MP MLA, said today.
The Minister was speaking at the Spires Conference Centre in Belfast where he launched a report by Community Change on the Belfast Steps to Excellence Programme, which has already helped more than 1,000 people to gain self-confidence and become more involved in their communities.
A key element of the ‘STEPS’ approach, originally used for civil servants in the former Department of Environment before being applied in the community, is the use of locally based facilitators. The Belfast project has received funding of almost £280,000 from the Belfast Regeneration Office of the Department for Social Development since 1998.
The Minister continued:
"I have been particularly impressed by the survey, which has shown that more than 75pc of those who took part become more involved in their local community, 70pc took part in further training, 22pc obtained part-time work and 9pc gained full-time jobs.
"These are phenomenal results for a programme that, on face value, reads simply as personal development. Indeed, the recently published North Belfast Community Action Project Report has recommended the programme as a means of building individual and community self confidence.
"The STEPS Programme is an excellent example of a successful partnership approach between a regional community development organisation, local community groups, the private sector and government.
"The task facing all of us in the regeneration process against a background of deep-rooted division and sectarianism across the city of Belfast is onerous to say the least. But the way forward, at a human level, can only be made easier if people can gain confidence and positive thinking in programmes like STEPS."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- DSD, through the Belfast Regeneration Office has grant aided this project to a level of nearly £280,000
- Copies of the report can be obtained by contacting Alison Wightman, Director of Community Change on 028 9023 2587
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