Ritchie announces funding boost for Newhill

The Newhill Youth and Community Association in west Belfast has been awarded nearly £30,000 from the Department for Social Development.

The £28,914 funding has been provided by the Department’s Belfast Regeneration Office through the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy. It will be used to purchase new equipment and to carry out minor repairs to the Association’s building in Upper Springfield Road.

Announcing the funding, Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie said: “This project should attract more young people to the centre which carries out an important role in the Upper Springfield/Whiterock areas.

“Our Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy is all about giving people in disadvantaged areas the support to enable them to improve their prospects. This project helps do just that – which is why I am pleased to fund it.”

The Association provides a range of services for young people living in the New Barnsley area of Upper Springfield in west Belfast including day care, a play group, after schools project, a youth club and a summer scheme.

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. For media enquiries contact DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9468. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.