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10/07/2003
Minister allocates nearly £3m to disadvantaged communities
The first areas to benefit from nearly £3 million of community funding has been announced by Social Development Minister John Spellar today.
Launched in February to boost disadvantaged communities, the Local Community Fund will distribute £2.7 million to local groups.
More than £1 million is to go to communities in Belfast and a further £780,000 will be directed to Londonderry and the North West. East Antrim is to receive £234,000 together with £166,000 for North Down and Ards and £150,000 for Ballycastle/Coleraine.
Commenting on the funding, the Minister said: “We want to give practical help to the most disadvantaged areas, the people who feel they have been left behind by the gains in peace and prosperity of recent years. The communities that have suffered the most are often weakest in terms of their organisation and feel disillusioned.
“The Local Community Fund is all about giving local people the means to create a better future. It can allow them to take small but important actions such as improvements to the look of their street or estate or to create better local activities for their community, both young and old."
The Minister added that the fund could also be used to train local people and encourage them to play a bigger part in their local communities. He said it will respond to the local priorities rather than dictating them.
Officials from the Department for Social Development will open early discussions with the District Councils and Partnership bodies in these areas to finalise provisions and get the Fund working for communities as quickly as possible.
Other areas to be targeted include Mid Ulster, South Down, Omagh, Newry and Mourne and Craigavon.
(MB)
Launched in February to boost disadvantaged communities, the Local Community Fund will distribute £2.7 million to local groups.
More than £1 million is to go to communities in Belfast and a further £780,000 will be directed to Londonderry and the North West. East Antrim is to receive £234,000 together with £166,000 for North Down and Ards and £150,000 for Ballycastle/Coleraine.
Commenting on the funding, the Minister said: “We want to give practical help to the most disadvantaged areas, the people who feel they have been left behind by the gains in peace and prosperity of recent years. The communities that have suffered the most are often weakest in terms of their organisation and feel disillusioned.
“The Local Community Fund is all about giving local people the means to create a better future. It can allow them to take small but important actions such as improvements to the look of their street or estate or to create better local activities for their community, both young and old."
The Minister added that the fund could also be used to train local people and encourage them to play a bigger part in their local communities. He said it will respond to the local priorities rather than dictating them.
Officials from the Department for Social Development will open early discussions with the District Councils and Partnership bodies in these areas to finalise provisions and get the Fund working for communities as quickly as possible.
Other areas to be targeted include Mid Ulster, South Down, Omagh, Newry and Mourne and Craigavon.
(MB)
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