McCausland praises continued success of Craigavon Graffiti Prevention Programme

Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has praised young people who participated in the ‘Spray is not the way’ graffiti prevention programme in Craigavon.
~ Wednesday, 18 January 2012

Funded with a grant of £25,000 from the Department’s Neighbourhood Renewal Investment Fund, the programme aims to remove offensive graffiti from areas within the three Craigavon Neighbourhood Renewal Areas. It also aims to dissuade local youths from becoming involved in the activity.

Nelson McCausland said: “This is an innovative programme which not only tackles the physical problem of graffiti but also deals with the social aspect by offering young people who may be involved in the practice alternative ways to express themselves."

The project which was developed by the Craigavon Community Safety Partnership in conjunction with Craigavon Borough Council and the Department also includes an outdoor marketing campaign, which will commence at the end of January, involving the provision of billboards and bus shelters advertisements featuring the ‘Spray is not the Way’ message.

Paying tribute to all those involved in developing the project the Minister continued: “This initiative is an excellent example of a number of statutory sector bodies working in partnership with local community organisations to deliver a project which has both immediate and long term benefits for the residents of the Neighbourhood Renewal Areas. I congratulate the 80 participants who took part in the programme and wish them all every success in the future.”

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. 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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