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Ritchie announces £300,000 funding for Churches’ Community Work Alliance (Northern Ireland)

Tuesday, 31 March 2009

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA today announced a £300,000 funding boost for the Churches’ Community Work Alliance Northern Ireland (CCWA NI).

The Minister made the announcement as she launched the reconstituted CCWA (NI) at the East Belfast Mission on the Newtownards Road. The CCWA (NI) is now an independent Northern Ireland body.

The funding will enable the group to continue to deliver on key objectives including:

  • encouraging community development work in churches;
  • supporting church related community workers;
  • providing learning opportunities and support for volunteers through its volunteer development programme; and
  • acting as a link between faith-based community work and government.

Margaret Ritchie said: “This is great news for the Churches’ Community Work Alliance Northern Ireland. The funding will help deliver on key objectives that will equip and release more faith based volunteers to work in our most needy communities. At a time when public funding is under growing pressure, this is a measure of my belief in the importance of the work of CCWA NI.

"I recognise CCWA NI’s determination to work as a strong advocate for cross community partnership and its commitment to work towards a shared, peaceful and more prosperous future.”

CCWA has been working across the UK to engage churches in community development work since the start of the 1990s. It has been active in Northern Ireland since 1991. However, because of specific issues relating to our local communities, CCWA (NI) is being established as independent of the main UK body of the organisation. CCWA (NI) will be locally governed and will set a local agenda.

Notes to Editors:

  1. Churches Community Work Alliance (NI) receives DSD funding through the Voluntary & Community Unit’s Regional Infrastructure Programme.
  2. For media enquiries please contact the DSD Press Office tel. 028 9082 9496 or 07920 186 639. Out of office hours please contact the Executive Information Service Duty Press Officer on 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.