Report Points To Better Future For The Greater Village

14 June 2005
REPORT POINTS TO BETTER FUTURE FOR THE GREATER VILLAGE
A report on how to improve public services for people living in the Greater Village area of Belfast was launched today.

It identifies the main difficulties experienced by local people across a wide range of areas including education, housing, employment, health, community relations, public transport, policing and economic development.

Speaking at the event at Donegall Road Primary School, the Minister for Social Development, Mr Hanson, said: "This research, which is based on detailed consultation with politicians, community representatives, businesses, statutory agencies and faith –based organisations, gives Government a better understanding of the difficulties facing people in this community.

"This is not about the need for new programmes or resources but is about better engagement and communication. The actions contained in the report should now be considered by the statutory, community and other sectors. A joined up approach is essential to improve the quality and accessibility of services and ultimately to regenerate this neighbourhood."

The Minister highlighted the particular problems faced by people in the Greater Village area in relation to training and employment.
"The issue is not about a lack of opportunities, of which there are many, but about the barriers many people have in terms of poor education achievement, low aspirations, physical and mental health problems and the apparent social acceptance of economy inactivity.

"Together we can work to change the mindset and confidence of people and raise the aspirations of young people in particular, so that they can see that education and work are attractive options for their future."

The Greater Village Report has been published following focused research by a small team of civil servants, based in the area. It is the second and final piece of work, under the terms of reference commissioned by the Taskforce, to address the needs of working class Protestant communities. The first report on the Sandy Row area was launched in January 2005.

Both reports have already provided a strong basis for engagement with the local community and statutory providers in agreeing respective responsibilities and ownership of actions to bring about the required improvements. Longer term actions from the Sandy Row and Greater Village Reports will be coordinated through the delivery of Neighbourhood Renewal in the area and the experience will be incorporated as a model of good practice in the rollout of Neighbourhood Renewal across Northern Ireland.

The work of the Taskforce is being undertaken within the overall policy context and principles of new targeting social need. Its aim is to tackle poverty, deprivation and social exclusion and to build communities.
NOTES TO EDITORS:

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

The Sandy Row & Village Project Team is composed of a small number of civil servants seconded from Departments to the Taskforce. It is based at the Malone Place Clinic.

The terms of reference for the Team were:

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.

The Greater Village area is situated in south Belfast within the Shaftesbury and Blackstaff wards in the Belfast Local Government District. The Shaftesbury ward has a population of 5,640 and includes Sandy Row, the Lower Ormeau, the Markets and Donegall Pass. The Blackstaff ward has a population of 4,657 and includes the Village, Donegall Road and Roden Street. Both wards fall within the 10% most deprived wards in the Noble Multiple Deprivation Measure. Shaftesbury is ranked 14^th and Blackstaff is ranked 32^nd.

The area of study for the purposes of this report is bounded by Windsor Park, Boucher Road, Glenmachan Street, Westlink and railway embankment, Donegall Road, Lisburn Road and includes the City Hospital area. The population is 4,397.

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. This will allow 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.

Media queries to: Dara Cosgrove, Press Office, Department for Social Development, Tel: 028 9082 9078 or Mob: 07787 156539.

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