McCausland announces education boost for Coleraine Residents

Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland today announced funding of nearly £280,000 for a nurturing programme in the Coleraine Neighbourhood Renewal Area.
~ Wednesday, 22 June 2011

The programme will continue to seek raise educational attainment through targeted support, services and interventions from preschool through to adulthood. This is through the following services including:

• A children’s Nurturing programme in Ballysally Primary School to help build relationships between parents and the school;
• Homework clubs and senior citizens clubs in Ballysally Presbyterian Church and
• Accredited adult training, nurturing and parenting programmes through the Focus on Family Project in Ballysally.

The four agencies involved are Focus on Family, Surestart, Ballysally Presbyterian Church and Ballysally Primary School

The Minister said: “This is good news for people in the Millburn and Ballysally areas. The funding will provide significant benefits for local families who might be facing difficulties in these challenging times. It will help to strengthen the relationships between families and the various statutory agencies active in the Coleraine East area. This will help to improve the quality of life for young people, parents and families living in the area.

“I want to target resources in a way which has maximum impact and I want to work with communities to achieve that. This funding is targeted at the heart of the community and will offer invaluable services to local people.”

Notes to editors:

1. 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.
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 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.
3. 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.