24 April 2006
HANSON MEETS SHANKILL RESIDENTS
The Social Development Minister today met Brown Square and Lower Shankill residents to hear their plans to revitalise the area.
David Hanson's visit to the Shankill was his first to a Protestant working class area since the Government's launch of "Renewing Communities", a cross departmental Action Plan valued at over £33million.
It included measures for the Shankill area such as:
- a new teacher placement scheme to offer support to schools under pressure, supernumerary support teachers for children with special needs operating during and after school and a pilot initiative providing specialist training in autism, dyslexia and behavioural issues
- initiatives to engage disaffected young people and divert them from anti-social behaviour
- actions to raise awareness of and support the development of entrepreneurial skills and the establishment and growth of new local businesses
- community service by further and higher education students and a role models and mentoring initiative to encourage young people to aim high
- a project to examine how music, film and culture can be used to lead to reconciliation and to develop skills and capabilities for future employment.
At the invitation of Diane Dodds MLA, the Minister met representatives of the Brown Square Residents Association and the Lower Shankill Community Network.
Mr Hanson said: "These communities have shown that with the right support they have got what it takes to develop and articulate plans to tackle the wide-ranging problems that they face. Through Neighbourhood Renewal and the Renewing Communities Action Plan, I am confident that Government will also rise to the challenge of closing the gap between the most disadvantaged areas and the rest of society."
The Minister emphasised that action is needed across a number of issues, among them the need to improve educational achievement, enhance employment prospects and strengthen social cohesion. Speaking of the need for strong leadership in civic society, Mr Hanson said: "It is encouraging to meet the leaders of this community who have taken on the difficult task of consulting their neighbours, prioritising the key issues and putting together plans for the future. Work of this kind deserves the support of Government."
In the last year, through the Neighbourhood Renewal initiative, DSD's Belfast Regeneration Office has provided over £1.2 million to 16 projects in the Greater Shankill Area. This money supports the delivery of a range of local services through the community and voluntary sector including education and training, health programmes, childcare, counselling and advice.
NOTES TO EDITORS
- The Neighbourhood Renewal strategy "People and Place" and the "Renewing Communities" Action Plan are available on the DSD website www.dsdni.gov.uk.
- For media enquiries please contact the information Office on 028 9082 9497.
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