Minister Ritchie praises work of Coleraine Riding Group

Alan Shannon, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Social Development, today paid tribute, on behalf of Margaret Ritchie, to the work of the Coleraine Riding For The Disabled Group.

Mr Shannon was attending the opening of the newly refurbished arena that will allow the Coleraine Riding Group to provide a greater range of services to people with disabilities. The Department contributed nearly £100,000 to the project through the Modernisation Fund.

Alan Shannon said: “The new arena will help riders with disabilities gain a great deal of satisfaction and sense of achievement from horse riding as well as extra skills and experiences. It is an enduring example of active citizenship and I am delighted that the Department has been able to support this important project.

“The Minister wants to see the Modernisation Fund providing the most modern facilities to make community based initiatives more effective. The fund is about providing support to organisations throughout Northern Ireland, enabling them to deliver better services to their local communities.”

Notes to Editors:

1. Funding for this project is being provided from the DSD Modernisation Fund.
2. DSD is contributing funding of £91,000 to the Coleraine Riding For The Disabled Group. Other funders and funding groups have helped finance the project including substantial public donation.
3. The objective of the Modernisation Fund is to support voluntary and community organisations to modernise, to allow them to become more sustainable and deliver new and better services in an era of change. The capital programme will encourage collaboration and resource sharing among voluntary and community groups and will be managed across the schemes making up the programme.
4. Media enquires to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9078. Out of office hours, please contact the Duty Press Office via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.