News Release Page Title

17 November 2006

DSD FUNDING FOR THE NORTH WEST TOPS £6MILLION

Neighbourhood Renewal funding for organisations in the North West has now topped £6 million.

The funding has been delivered by the Department for Social Development's North West Development Office. It includes a total of £960,000 awarded over the past two months to 27 local organisations providing key services to some of the most deprived communities.

Groups who have recently received or been offered funding include: Rosemount Resource Centre (£66,000), Waterside Area Partnership (£123,000), Creggan Country Park Enterprises (£32,000), Greater Shantallow Community Arts (£80,000), Strabane Ethnic Community Association (£28,000) and Roe Valley Women's Network (£21,000).

Social Development Minister David Hanson MP said: "The milestone of £6millon in Neighbourhood Renewal in the North West demonstrates the Government's commitment to make a difference to the lives of people living in the most deprived areas. It is a fine example of what can be achieved by people working together to tackle disadvantage in their communities."

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. Its objectives include:

    • 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.

  2. Rosemount Resource Centre has been awarded £66,000 for training, welfare rights, youth intervention programmes, a drop in facility for men over 40, and a playgroup and pre-school facility. This is in addition to £103,000 previously awarded.

  3. Waterside Area Partnership has received a further award of £123,000 to continue promoting economic, social, environmental and cultural regeneration. This brings its total funding to £254,000.

  4. A further £32,000 has been offered to Creggan Country Park Enterprises Limited and, on top of an original award of £73,000, this will allow continuing development of the park.

  5. Greater Shantallow Community Arts is being helped to continue its programme until June 2007 with a further £80,000, added to a previous award of £103,000.

  6. Strabane Ethnic Community Association has received £28,000 to help reduce the sense of social isolation felt by many ethnic migrants within the area.

  7. In Limavady over £21,000 has been provided to Roe Valley Women's Network to address health inequalities through promoting physical activity and providing information.

  8. Other recent beneficiaries from the fund include: Rainbow Child & Family Centre; North West Centre for Learning and Development; Centre of Creative Energy; Chapel Road Community Playgroup; Foyle Search & Rescue; St Joseph's Community Playgroup; Naiscoil na Rinne; West Bank Initiative; Clooney Estate Residents Association; Citizens Advice Bureau; WHSSB - Gingerbread; WHSSB - The Nexus Institute; WHSSB - New Horizons Partnership; WHSSB - Partnership Care West; Derry City Council; Caw and Nelson Drive Action Group.

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