McCausland visits Ballysally Neighbourhood Renewal Projects

Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland praised the initiative and vision of Neighbourhood Renewal schemes in the Ballysally Estate, Coleraine.
~ Thursday, 23 June 2011

The Minister visited a series of projects in the Neighbourhood Renewal Scheme to see at first hand the positive difference it is making to the community in Coleraine East.

Visiting Ballysally Primary School the Minister saw the School’s involvement in the Ballysally Integrated Nurturing Project which is helping to raise educational attainment through a range of support services and interventions.

Minister McCausland said: “The Neighbourhood Renewal programme and projects are having a positive effect on the residents of the Millburn and Ballysally areas. The projects provide significant benefits for local people that strengthen the relationships between families and organisations active in the Coleraine East area.

“The Ballysally Integrated Nurturing Project encourages parents and carers to become actively involved in their children’s education, promoting a positive educational experience through encouragement and nurturing ability, projects such as this help to build vital links between schools and the wider community for the benefit of all.”

The Principal of Ballysally Primary School, Geoff Dunne commented: “We are delighted to welcome the new Minister to see first hand our award-winning nurture provision here in Ballysally Primary School.

“All the evidence clearly reinforces our belief that this carefully tailored nurturing programme which the school delivers has a profound effect on changing and enhancing the life chances of children. Indeed, it gives individuals the opportunity to develop positive relationships through skilled adult intervention and the explicit teaching of emotional literacy. Research shows without doubt that the nurturing programme spreads improvements to the rest of the school, to the family setting and to the local community.”

The Minister then visited Building Ballysally Together’s Healthy Eating Café, a DSD funded social enterprise scheme. Speaking at the café, Minister McCausland stated: “Unfortunately, ill health due to bad diet choices is common in deprived areas and it is cafés such as this that is helping to improve the health of the residents of the Ballysally estate. The staff are to be congratulated for delivering healthy meals and health education seminars to residents, which encourages healthy eating choices.”

Mayor of Coleraine, Alderman Maurice Bradley said: “The Neighbourhood Renewal Action Plan, funded by the Department for Social Development, places great emphasis on helping communities and organizations to work side by side with government departments to foster community led regeneration – this funding is making a real difference to people living and working in the area.

Ann Smyth, Chair of the Café commented: “The grant received through the DSD’s Neighbourhood Renewal funding has proved invaluable in maintaining our Healthy Eating Café. The café is now an integral part of the estate and is widely used by local residents”.

Notes to editors:

1. The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy ‘People and Place’ which was published in June 2003, sets out government’s 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
2. This Project heralds an innovative partnership between four groups in the Ballysally/Millburn area, namely Focus on Family, Ballysally Primary School, Ballysally Presbyterian Church and Coleraine SureStart Partnership. The Project seeks to raise educational attainment through targeted support, services and interventions from pre-school through to adulthood 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 Focus on Family in Ballysally.
3. Media enquiries to DSD Communications Team on 028 9082 9078 or email press.office@dsdni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440.
4. View photos of the visit on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/niexecutive/sets/72157626903928825/