16 March 2005
DSD LOCAL COMMUNITY FUND ‘CHANGES-IT’ FOR CREGGAN PUPILS
Teenage boys from St Peter’s High School in Derry’s Creggan Estate are developing their skills through an innovative Change-IT programme funded by the Department for Social Development through its Local Community Fund.
A funding package totalling £35,000 enabled the Creggan Neighbourhood Partnership to employ a full-time tutor and upgrade their computer suite to deliver a laptop tuition programme to mothers and their sons who attend St Peter’s. The course was developed to deliver IT training in group sessions in the partnership’s computer suite and through one-to-one training in the pupils’ homes.
John Spellar MP, the Minister for Social Development, who announced the Local Community Fund in 2003, commended the initiative of Creggan Neighbourhood Partnership.
He said: "The partnership has identified a really innovative programme of learning for young people and their parents which will have a lasting effect on their quality of life. This is very much in line with the ethos of the Local Community Fund which is all about giving local people in our most disadvantaged areas the means to create a better future. I wish the partnership and the participants every success in their future endeavours."
The Change-IT Programme was launched today by the Mayor, Councillor Gearoid O’hEara, at the Creggan Neighbourhood Partnership’s premises in Central Drive.
He said: "This project takes an innovative approach to learning and capacity building within the community. Both promoters and funders should be congratulated in their commitment to bringing additional resources and opportunity to this area. Creggan Neighbourhood Partnership has built up an excellent IT facility in the heart of the community which is vital for the economic and social well being of the area."
Tony O’Doherty, Chairperson Creggan Neighbourhood Partnership, said:
"The partnership welcomes the financial support from the Department for Social Development for the Change IT project. It targets the Foyle Hill area, which has suffered from years of neglect. Creggan itself is a byword for need and deprivation, but within the estate there are pockets like Foyle Hill where the need is greater than elsewhere and the infrastructure and community development are lacking.
"This support from the Local Community Fund will make a difference to the ongoing efforts to build the capacity of the local residents of the area while also addressing a key concern: the problem of young people leaving school without formal qualifications."
Angela Clarke, from the DSD’s Voluntary and Community Unit, congratulated all those involved in the programme. She said: "This is an excellent example of how the Local Community Fund’s objectives can be delivered. While the programme is primarily about benefiting the youth of the area, the wider community will also see real improvements in terms of building community capacity and leadership. The area will continue to benefit from funding in 2005/06 allowing the community to build on their successes of the past two years."
Mildred Garfield, Co–Chairperson of the Local Strategy Partnership for the Derry City Council area, said: "We are pleased to be working alongside the Creggan Neighbourhood Partnership in supporting the further expansion of their existing IT provision. This unique project has found a way to target young school leavers in an effort to raise the essential skills of those entering the workforce whilst improving life choices and self-esteem.
"Through the Local Community Fund a computer facility has been enhanced in the heart of the community which now presents even more opportunities for new skills development which will assist in building the infrastructure for community capacity building and therefore an improved quality of life for all local residents."
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 Foyle Hill/Creggan area was allocated £35,000 during 2003/04 and a further allocation of £35,000 was made available for 2004/05. Contact Tracey McCloskey 028 9082 9420.
Derry Local Strategy Partnership has administered and managed the Local Community Fund in the Derry City Council area since December 2004. Contact: Tina Gillespie 028 7130 8466.
For further information on the Change IT Project contact person Seamus Ward 028 7128 1900.
Click here to print this press release.
