‘Small pockets’ of deprived areas get £640,000 funding boost - Ritchie

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie today announced a significant boost to some of Northern Ireland’s most deprived communities.

Around £640,000 is being made available for 17 communities across Northern Ireland in the coming year. The scheme is targeted to help small pockets of deprivation in otherwise relatively well off areas. Spending will include:

• running costs for community centres; and
• environmental improvements for estates.

Margaret Ritchie said: “I am aiming to make a real difference to our most deprived communities by working with local people and targeting resources where they are most needed.

“These small pockets of deprivation have problems which need to be tackled and they deserve help as much as the larger areas currently funded through my department’s Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy. I want to close the gap between those who live in disadvantaged areas and those who do not and I am pleased therefore, to be able to continue providing that help by allocating additional funding up to 31 March 2010.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The funding is provided from the Neighbourhood Renewal Investment Fund. ‘People and Place’, the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy for Northern Ireland, can be obtained from the DSD website
2. The areas which will benefit from the funding are available to view at www.dsdni.gov.uk/small-pockets-table.
3. Media enquiries to Simon Stuart at Press Office, Department for Social Development; telephone 028 9082 9496/07920 186639 or e-mail simon.stuart@dsdni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699715440 and your call will be returned.