Ritchie announces major funding boost for Downpatrick

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA, today announced almost £100,000 of investment for projects in the Downpatrick Neighbourhood Renewal Area.

The funding for the ‘Downpatrick Neighbourhood Renewal Health Enhancement Programme’ is being used to boost three major health programmes which were announced by the Minister last year and are aimed at targeting mental health and problems that confront older people and families.

Announcing the funding, Margaret Ritchie said: “This is an exciting phase for Neighbourhood Renewal in Downpatrick. This funding will enhance the previous health programmes I announced in September. It will provide diverse services like Infant Massage and Baby Movement Training. It will help with the delivery of the Help the Aged Handy Van Scheme, the production of new ‘Concerned about Suicide’ leaflets and an activity group for 3-5 year olds.”

Jason White, South Eastern Trust's Assistant Director for Promoting Health and Wellbeing, warmly welcomed the additional funding and said: "This extra resource will be of real help to Trust staff in delivering the health and social care elements of the Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership."

He further added: “We are very pleased to have the means now to broaden and co-ordinate the projects and programmes that we have planned for Downpatrick. We will ensure that the projects are fully connected to the Trust's other responsibilities in the area and that the new projects will complement the services already being offered in the Downpatrick area."

The aim of the employment project is to provide introductory training/familiarisation with call centre sector work for 20-30 people within the Neighbourhood Renewal Area. Initial recruitment to appropriate introductory standard will help to break down personal barriers to taking employment within the Neighbourhood Renewal Area of Downpatrick, which will enable the participants to consider taking up employment in the call centre sector. The project is proceeding against a backdrop where Down District Council, who will co-ordinate and promote the training, is actively trying to encourage a call centre operator to locate in the area.

The Minister explained: “Call centres offer flexible working conditions which suit a wide range of people. This project will provide opportunities for unemployed people to access employment in this ever growing sector. I am pleased to announce that the tender to provide the training has been won by HCL an internationally acclaimed call centre operator. The fact that they are interested in providing this training in Downpatrick hopefully sends out a positive message as to their future intentions and I would urge all unemployed people in the Neighbourhood Renewal area to apply for places on the training course.”

The Chief Executive of Down District Council, John McGrillen welcomed the announcement. He said: "We see this Call Centre Skills training programme as a significant opportunity for local people, particularly those residents in the Neighbourhood Renewal Area in Downpatrick, who are interested in a working in the call centre sector.

“It is also an important element in our strategy to secure significant Call centre employment in the town, alongside our current discussions with relevant companies to secure investment.

“The Council is very grateful for the support of the Department for Social Development."

The Minister concluded: “These new funding packages will increase my Department's spending in the Downpatrick Neighbourhood Renewal Area to £674,702 and with matched funding from statutory bodies this brings the overall total to over £1million. This is a clear indication of my determination to tackle inequalities and improve the lifetime opportunities of those living in deprived 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.

2. 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.

3. To date DSD has spent approximately £674,702 on projects in the Downpatrick Neighbourhood Renewal Area.

4. Media enquiries to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9078. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.