More Than 2000 People Benefit From Tullycarnet Funding

2 August 2006
MORE THAN 2000 PEOPLE BENEFIT FROM TULLYCARNET FUNDING
A Tullycarnet project which promotes healthy lifestyles has been boosted by funding of Ł46,704 from the Department for Social Development (DSD).
The Tullycarnet Healthy Neighbourhood Project delivers activities such as sports coaching, health information sessions, school breakfast-club, games nights and tea dances, helping over 2000 people from across the community. A Health Day was also held in June, which brought a number of agencies and bodies including Community Drug Awareness, the Diabetes Association and CRUSE into the local community.
The funding is being provided by DSD's Belfast Regeneration Office through the Neighbourhood Renewal programme.
Minister for Social Development David Hanson MP said:"Disadvantage manifests itself in many different forms, and whilst the most obvious form is economic disadvantage, it is just as important to tackle health and social problems such as poor eating habits, unhealthy lifestyles and social isolation, which can lead to physical and emotional health difficulties.
"DSD has been targeting these areas through its Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy and has sought to make a real difference to peoples' lives by giving them a hand to change the physical appearance of their communities through new buildings and public spaces or indeed the social environment by providing support to development workers and vital programmes aimed at identifying and resolving the needs of local areas.
"Through this funding, the Tullycarnet Healthy Neighbourhood Project will continue to support a wide-ranging series of programmes. From playgroups to football coaching sessions, from cheerleading classes to tea dances - there is something on offer for everyone."
The Tullycarnet Healthy Neighbourhood Project is managed by a steering group consisting of statutory bodies and community representatives, and began in November 2002 with the aim of engaging residents of all ages in a range of health-related programmes and activities. The project has supported activities which have attracted over 2000 participants over the last three years.
Murray Watt from the Northern Ireland Tenants Association Project who chairs the steering group said: "The overall aim of the healthy Neighbourhood Project is to promote a healthy lifestyle through the engagement of local people in a range of health-related programmes and activities. Over a period of three years from its inception, the Project has delivered 43 different programmes and participants have benefited in a number of ways. The Project can demonstrate that there has been greater social inclusion across the generations, that families have received practical support, awareness of both physical and mental health issues has been raised and healthier lifestyles have been promoted as a direct impact of these activities.
"Participants themselves have remarked on the importance of the activities in their lives; one pensioner said, "We would be lost without the chance to get together each week. Sitting at home looking at four walls is no good for you. When you have been out you feel so much better." The Project has also encouraged greater positive changes in lifestyle; "I stopped smoking supported by the aromatherapist". It has also engaged people in volunteering; "I was brought up here and now I want to put something back into the area that I live in".
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:

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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