15 March 2005
WALL PAINTINGS POINT TO BRIGHT FUTURE FOR RATHGILL
A project to transform two murals in Bangor’s Rathgill estate into community paintings expressing hopes for peace and reconciliation has been launched by the Rathgill Community Association, with the support of the Department for Social Development.
The painting of the new community murals is the first step in the creation of a community garden around the Rathgill Community Flat. An Open Day is planned for later this month, to celebrate the completed garden and the successful completion of several IT and Lifeskills programmes.
Dave Wall, Director of the Voluntary and Community Unit at the Department for Social Development, congratulated those involved in the initiative, which is part of a larger £30k Intergenerational Project funded by the Department’s Local Community Fund, which aims to develop greater community capacity and local leadership in areas of disadvantage.
He said: "The Department is delighted to support the efforts of the Rathgill Community Association. This project is an excellent example of the community identifying local issues and priorities and working in partnership with others to make a real difference to their area. The Rathgill area will also benefit from the Local Community Fund next year, which will allow them to build on their successes of the past two years."
Rathgill Community Association has already established a Learning Resource Centre, funded under Priority III of the EU programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Countries. This aims to assist individuals to break down the barriers that are preventing them in moving forward in society, whether these barriers are employment, social or health issues.
The North Down Neighbourhood Partnership Board will be launching a consultation in Rathgill during the Community Open Day. This will give residents an opportunity to express their views on their vision for the next ten years and will be the basis for action plans.
Karen Worrall, Community Development Officer for the Community Association, said: "Rathgill Community Association have worked extremely hard to get to this point and would like to thank North Down Local Strategy Partnership, Northern Ireland Housing Executive, the Department of Social Development’s Local Community Fund, North Down Community Network and North Down Borough Council for the support and funding that has made this work possible.
"The community are now in the position were their needs have been heard and programmes are now being drawn up to meet these needs.
"The Learning Resource Centre and the Intergenerational project are two prime examples of how European and DSD funding are benefiting the North Down Area. Rathgill Community Association would like to extend an invitation to anyone that wishes to visit the centre to see firsthand the work that is happening."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- The Local Community Fund was launched by the Department for Social Development in February 2003 aimed at improving the capacity and leadership in communities of weak infrastructure throughout Northern Ireland. The Rathgill area was allocated £32k during 2003/04 and a further allocation of £32k has been made available for 2004/05. Contact person: Tracey McCloskey (028) 9082 9420.
- The Intermediate Funding Body which administers and manages the Fund on behalf of the Department in North Down is North Down Local Strategy Partnership. Contact person: Jan Nixey (028) 9127 8028.
- Rathgill Community Association – Contact person: Karen Worrall (028) 9147 7602.
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