Ritchie opens new £500,000 cross community youth facility in Lurgan

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA today officially opened a new cross community youth facility in Lurgan.

The Emmanuel Christian Fellowship Links Ltd (ECF Links) facility will enable the Group to provide a wide range of youth services on a cross community basis, across the Lurgan Neighbourhood Renewal Area. The youth services will include:

daily ‘drop in’ sessions for young people;

drama and creative arts evenings; and

opportunities to use a state of the art audio system including video projection and computer network.

Speaking on a visit to the ECF Links, the Minister said: “The new facilities available in this centre will greatly enhance the opportunities for young people in Lurgan. It will help them develop and play an active part in society.

"This centre now provides a neutral venue where young people from all sections of the community can interact safely in an environment free from bullying, sectarianism and the influence of paramilitaries. It is an excellent example of the Department for Social Development working in partnership with a local community to bring forward a major project.”

The project, which was completed at a cost of over £530,000, was part funded through a grant of £435,000 from the Department for Social Development’s Neighbourhood Renewal Investment Fund. The work included the provision of purpose built meeting rooms, dedicated counselling rooms, office facilities and storage space.

The new facilities will also enable the Group to provide a wide range of youth awareness programmes including suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual health, cultural diversity and preparation for employment.

The Minister concluded: “Properly structured youth activity helps to create a positive outlet for young people. It reduces the potential for them to become involved in anti social behaviour and can help give a sense of community pride. Those involved in such activity are more inclined to be prepared to give up their time to be involved in volunteer activities. I am pleased to have been able to make the necessary funding available to bring this project to fruition. ”

The Minister also paid tribute to the Lurgan Neighbourhood Partnership who endorsed the project. She said: “One of the key factors in successfully tackling deprivation and assisting regeneration is through a partnership approach involving the public, private, community and voluntary sectors. I recognise the important role which community representatives have to play as an equal partner in this process. I am committed to ensuring that local people have the capacity to contribute to the decision making process.”

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    ECF Links was established by the Emmanuel Christian Fellowship Church in 2004 as a cross community youth and counselling service for the Lurgan area. The organisation is independent of the church and was established specifically to address deprivation and its impact on young people from both communities in the Lurgan 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

This is an automated distribution service - please do not reply to this email address.