Ritchie announces £29,000 boost for Omagh residents

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie today announced a funding boost of £29,000 for Omagh residents to take part in a business training programme.

The ‘Exploring Enterprise Programme’ will train residents from the Omagh Neighbourhood Renewal areas in skills such as:

• CV preparation;
• interview skills; and
• developing business ideas.

Participants will be also given the opportunity to attain an accredited level 2 qualification.

Margaret Ritchie said: “This project will provide real and significant benefits to people in the local area. It will allow residents to participate in a specifically designed training programme to improve their employability.

“I want to tackle poverty, not just manage it. By contributing to this project my department is helping to equip the people living in the Omagh Neighbourhood Renewal Area with the skills to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of others living around them.”

The programme will be delivered and managed by Omagh Enterprise Centre. Funding has also been provided by Enterprise NI Centre giving the project a total value of over £75,000.

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.

2. Media enquires to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9496. Out of office hours, please contact the Duty Press Office via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.