Minister Ritchie announces funding for project to tackle anti-social behaviour in Ballymena

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA today announced funding of £1,000 for a “Challenging Anti-Social Behaviour” project in the Ballykeel area of Ballymena.

The project proposes to train community volunteers in the understanding of what constitutes anti-social behaviour giving them the opportunity to evaluate the key issues relating to anti-social behaviour in the community.

Speaking about her announcement the Minister said: “Alongside making financial help available, I want to promote the values of self reliance and social responsibility. Funding of this Challenging Anti-Social Behaviour Project will enable the effective delivery of these objectives through the Neighbourhood Renewal Action Plan for the Ballykeel area.

"I want to target resources in a way which has maximum impact and I want to work with communities to achieve that. This project will target the strategic objective of the social renewal aspect of the action plan which aims to improve social conditions for the people who live in the area. It will help provide better coordinated public services and the creation of safer environments specifically targeting the key area of reducing crime and increasing community safety.”

The course will contribute to community empowerment and partnership work between the community and statutory agencies.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy “People and Places” which was published in June 2003 sets out governments proposals for closing 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 the areas;
• Economic Renewal – to develop economic activity in the most deprived neighbourhoods and connect them to the wider urban economy;
• Physical Renewal – to help create attractive, safe, and sustainable environments in the most deprived neighbourhoods; and
• Social Renewal – to improve social conditions for the people who live in the most deprived neighbourhoods through better coordinated public services and the creation of safer environments.

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