McCausland announces funding for a Coalisland and Dungannon health project

Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has announced funding of over £94,500 for the appointment of a dedicated health coordinator for the Dungannon and Coalisland Neighbourhood Renewal areas.
~ Tuesday, 28 June 2011

This project is needed to address the continuing health inequalities which exist within Neighbourhood Renewal Areas. The health coordinator will be available to work with the communities and the health trust to develop a programme of activities which will have a maximum impact on the residents of the Neighbourhood Renewal Areas in Coalisland and Dungannon.

Minister McCausland said: “If we are to tackle the long term spiral of deprivation we must improve the life chances of those living in our most deprived communities. My Department’s Neighbourhood Renewal fund is dedicated to that aim. This programme is tailored towards improving the overall health and wellbeing of the Coalisland and Dungannon Communities. It is vital that people are given access to services that are suited to their community’s needs.”

The programme was developed in consultation with the Coalisland and Dungannon Neighbourhood Renewal Partnerships, who identified a need for this service in their action plans for their areas. Since the plan’s conception in September 2007, over £1.7million has been committed to the Dungannon area from the Neighbourhood Renewal Investment Fund, and over £1.8million has been committed to the Coalisland area.

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. Its objectives include four inter linking 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.
2. The projects which have or are being supported include a range of social, educational, physical and community capacity building projects.