'Active Citizens' are rewarded at Derry ceremony

An award ceremony was held today to celebrate the achievements of those participating in Derry City Council’s Active Citizenship Programme.

The Active Citizenship Programme, supported by DSD, aims to encourage local community representatives, coaches and exercise professionals to undertake accredited training on health and exercise related courses. This enables them to set up programmes in their local areas, helping to increase the number of people taking part in structured physical activity.

The programme costs are funded under the Department for Social Development’s Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy.

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA said: “I would like to congratulate Derry City Council on their development of the Active Citizenship Programme and their efforts to develop confidence and improve the quality of life in deprived areas in the city. This project is a good example of partnership working between Derry City Council and my Department and demonstrates how Neighbourhood Renewal can make a real difference in local communities.”

The Mayor of Derry, Alderman Drew Thompson, welcomed the programme and said he supported any project that encouraged physical exercise and a healthy lifestyle. He said:

“Sport undoubtedly has the ability to deliver a wide range of benefits to local citizens, being able to build upon the current strengths of our city and can help to tackle many of its problems. I am confident this project will offer impetus to the efforts of the Council’s highly successful sports development team as they endeavour to promote the role that sport and physical activity can play in the health and well-being of all our citizens.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy ‘People and Place’ was published in June 2003 to close the gap between the quality of life for people in the most deprived neighbourhoods and the rest of society. Its objectives include:

• 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 Active Citizenship Programme received £67k from the Neighbourhood Renewal Investment Fund in 2007/08.

3. For further information, contact the DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9078. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Office via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.