New Ł5M Community Investment Fund Launched Today

26 April 2006
NEW Ł5M COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND LAUNCHED TODAY
A new fund to strengthen communities and support local publicly-funded services was launched today.
Social Development Minister David Hanson said that the Community Investment Fund would contribute to building a more stable society by providing Ł5m to cover the period until March 2009.
The Fund, established in 'Positive Steps', the Government's response to the Task Force report on Resourcing the Voluntary and Community Sector, aims to support longer term community development via funding towards essential staff salaries and key overhead costs. The initial allocation of the Fund will offer Ł5m towards core costs for community development organisations between April 2006 and March 2009.
The Minister said: "This initiative is about providing a stable basis for funding community development activity and will enable a strategic, longer-term approach to be taken to making local communities stronger.
"This represents a further significant commitment on the part of my Department to providing local people and community groups with the tools to help themselves and will bring about real benefits on the ground."
Applications are sought from groups operating at a sub-regional or multi-neighbourhood level, which support smaller local community groups in their efforts to tackle disadvantage and build better relationships within and between communities.
Application forms and Guidance Notes can be requested from DSD's Voluntary and Community Unit and must be returned by Thursday 8th June at 4.00pm.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. Requests for Guidance Notes and application forms should be made to Una Gilmore of DSD's Voluntary and Community Unit on 028 9082 9430 or una.gilmore@dsdni.gov.uk.

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