DSD invests in Bangor's next generation

First Friends Playgroup in Bangor’s Kilcooley Estate has received a funding boost of over £35,500 from the Department for Social Development.

The investment will support the playgroup to deliver high quality affordable education, play and care for up to 30 children per year, and employment for three full-time day-care staff. It will also provide work experience for childcare students and training and volunteering opportunities for local people.

The funding has been provided under Neighbourhood Renewal until 2009, after which the playgroup will become self sustainable. Neighbourhood Renewal aims to close the gap between the quality of life in the most deprived and the rest of society. Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA said: “The excellent facilities offered by this project will be a real advantage to local people in Kilcooley. It will provide children with a stepping stone into their primary education, while meaning their parents have the opportunity to take up employment, education or training, secure in the knowledge that their kids are being well cared for.

"Funding this project demonstrates not only my Department’s commitment to tackling deprivation in its present form, but is also an investment in tomorrow’s generation.”

Chairperson of First Friends Playgroup Heather Lupton said: “As Chairperson of the First Friends Playgroup, I welcome the funding from the Department for Social Development. It will support our aim to provide high quality care in a learning environment and ensure that the playgroup is accessible to children and parents from all sections of the local community.”

The project will deliver high quality affordable education and care for up to 30 children per year and employment for 3 full-time NVQ qualified day-care employees. It will also provide opportunities for work experience for childcare students and training and volunteering opportunities for the local community.

Notes to Editors:

1. The overall cost of the First Friends Playgroup project is around £109k. Most of the other costs are being met through childcare charges. To date DSD has funded projects to the value of £860k under Neighbourhood Renewal in the Kilcooley area.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Media enquiries to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9078/07818 035258. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.