28 September 2005

NEW PLAY AREA OPENS IN LISNAFIN

Strabane's Lisnafin estate has a new state of the art play area thanks to a £40,000 grant from the Department for Social Development.

The money, from the Local Community Fund, has transformed the former green area adjacent to the local community centre, into a play park for young children.

Officially opening the play centre, Alan Shannon, Permanent Secretary, (DSD) said "Since it was established in 2003 the Local Community Fund has helped local people to participate in decisions about what happens in their community, it has encouraged the development of new skills and has helped to build greater confidence in neighbourhoods across Northern Ireland.

"The Lisnafin/Ardenlee/Trust Cross Community Development Association has demonstrated leadership to the residents of this area. They have shown that local people, given the leadership and resources, can make a difference."

Lisnafin was allocated £59,000 from the Local Community Fund in May 2005 and has already benefited from just over £100,000 since 2003 for a variety of projects including provision of a computer suite, refurbishment of a football pitch, purchase of sports equipment and the recruitment of a project co-ordinator.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. Alan Shannon will officially open the play park.

2. The £3million per annum Local Community Fund was launched by the Department for Social Development in February 2003. Its aim is to improve capacity and leadership in 48 disadvantaged communities throughout Northern Ireland.

3. It is administered in Strabane by Strabane Local Strategy Partnership.

4. Further information on the Local Community Fund is available from Tracey McCloskey

Voluntary and Community Unit
Department for Social Development
Level 3
Lighthouse Building
Gasworks Business Park
Ormeau Road
Belfast
BT7 2JB.

Telephone 028 9082 9420. 5. For media enquiries please contact Dara Cosgrove on 028 9082 9078.

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