14 June 2006
DSD GIVES HELPING HAND TO CAREERS 'N' KIDS CENTRE
A cross community childcare centre has received £30,000 from the Department for Social Development's Belfast Regeneration Office (BRO) for essential maintenance.
The Neighbourhood Renewal funding will enable the Career 'n' Kids Centre at Percy Street in West Belfast to continue offering a much needed service for working parents and those in education or training. It has been used to carry out essential maintenance to the roof, floors and outside safety surface alongside installing gas heating and a security system.
Social Development Minister David Hanson MP said: "This project meets the objectives of the Government's Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy. By providing affordable quality childcare the Career 'n' Kids Centre is helping local people to overcome a barrier to training and employment. The repairs to the premises have created a safer and healthier environment for staff and children.
Career 'n' Kids Manager, Loretta Maguire said: ''The parents, children and staff are all thrilled with the huge difference made to the Centre as a result of BRO funding. The repairs have made our surroundings much more pleasant, the new play equipment has helped us to meet the standards recommended by the Department of Education and the security system provides an enhanced level of protection to both the staff and the children. This money has been a life line for us, safeguarding jobs and enabling the Centre to remain open and continue to provide an important service to the community."
The total cost of the project is £30,355.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy 'People and Place' was published in June 2003 to close the gap between the quality of life for people in the most deprived neighbourhoods and the rest of society.
2. The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy has four interlinking strategic objectives:
3. For further information, contact the DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9078.
- Community Renewal - to develop confident communities that are able and committed to improving the quality of life in their areas.
- Economic Renewal - to develop economic activity in the most deprived neighbourhoods and connect them to the wider urban economy.
- Social Renewal - to improve social conditions for the people who live in the most deprived neighbourhoods through better co-ordinated public services and the creation of safer environments.
- Physical Renewal - to help create attractive, safe and sustainable environments in the most deprived neighbourhoods.
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