Spellar Considers Sandy Row Proposals

18 March 2005
SPELLAR CONSIDERS SANDY ROW PROPOSALS
Following his launch of the Task Force Report on Sandy Row on 25 January, the Minister for Social Development, John Spellar MP, has provided an update of progress which reflects the priority and urgency government has given to implementing the actions identified in the report.

The Sandy Row Report was produced by a team of civil servants working in the area. It contained 156 suggested actions for improvement, including many in relation to the delivery and effectiveness of public services.

In a letter to public representatives, Mr Spellar said: "One of the key issues raised by community groups in Sandy Row was the difficulty caused by short-term periods of funding. I can confirm that I have listened to the community and my officials are currently considering Neighbourhood Renewal funding for three key posts in the Sandy Row Community Forum. This will permit strategic planning and development within the local Community Forum which has been difficult to achieve in the past.

"In addition, the Department of Education has confirmed that, subject to evaluation of previous expenditure, it will provide Ł67,000 to cover salaries and tutor fees for the Play Development Project in Sandy Row for 2005/06. The evaluation is now at draft stage for consideration by the Belfast Education and Library Board."

The Project Team are also providing support and guidance to the local Groups in Sandy Row in order to take forward actions identified in the Report.

The progress report contains updates on the assessment of an application for a multi-sports centre in Sandy Row, the provision of adult literacy services in the area, work undertaken by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, including the provision of funding to finance a survey of residents with a view to researching the housing needs of the area, and details of a planned open day by the Local Jobs and Benefits Office

Mr Spellar added: "I am very keen to maintain the momentum generated by the Sandy Row experience. At present, all Government Departments and Agencies are examining the Sandy Row Report with a view to enhancing the delivery and effectiveness of their services to the community."

Longer term actions will be coordinated through the delivery of the Neighbourhood Renewal action plan for the area and work is underway to set up the Neighbourhood Partnership Board in South West Belfast which covers the Sandy Row area.

The Sandy Row experience will be incorporated as a model of good practice in the roll out of Neighbourhood Renewal across Northern Ireland

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The Taskforce, addressing the needs of working class Protestant communities was established in April 2004 by the Minister with responsibility for Social Development, John Spellar MP, and is made up of senior civil servants from Government Departments.

2. The Sandy Row and Village Project Team is a small team of civil servants seconded from Departments represented on the Taskforce and is based at the Malone Place Clinic.

3. The terms of reference for the Team are:

To examine the delivery and effectiveness of public services in the area and identify scope for improvement, both short and medium term;

To consider the need and focus for specific initiatives in relation to access to employment, skills training, adult literacy and youth interventions; and

To identify measures to promote community development and community cohesion, particularly leadership training.

4. The Team is currently working on a similar report on the Greater Village which will be published by late spring.

5. Neighbourhood Renewal, the Government's Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy, published in June 2003, targets the most acute deprivation by concentrating on the worst 10% urban wards and enumeration districts across Northern Ireland. Implementation of the Strategy will be led by DSD's Regeneration Offices. The Strategy will roll out over a 7-10 year period, allowing a longer term, more spatially targeted and integrated approach to be used to ensure that people living in the most deprived neighbourhoods have access to the best services and opportunities to make for a better quality of life and to improve their environment and image of their neighbourhoods.

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