Minister Ritchie announces funding for ‘Be Safe At Home’ project in Ballymena

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA today announced a funding package of £2,045 for a “Be Safe At Home” project in the Ballykeel Area.

The project falls within the Ballymena Neighbourhood Renewal Area and it proposes to train a team of community volunteers in the field of home safety. The project will aim to help reduce home accidents particularly among those most at risk.

This team of volunteers will then be able to create awareness and promote effective preventative measures among residents in order to reduce such accidents. All courses are accredited to City and Guilds, Home Safety Level 2 certificate.

Speaking about funding the initiative the Minister said: “Funding of the ‘Be Safe At Home’ Project will contribute to the effective delivery of the Neighbourhood Renewal Action Plan for the Ballykeel area.

This project will target the strategic objective of Social Renewal which aims to improve social conditions through better co-ordinated public services and the creation of safer environments. I am pleased to fund this worthwhile project which will create awareness and benefit the people of this area of Ballymena.”

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 co-ordinated public services and the creation of safer environments.

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