Minister supports lower Oldpark initiative

Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie, today expressed her support for an initiative organised by the young people of the Lower Oldpark area of north Belfast to promote a positive image of the area.

As part of the European Heritage Open Day weekend, the young people from the SPACE project have organised an open top bus tour of north Belfast to highlight many of its historical and architectural features and some of its more memorable characters. This will complement other events in North Belfast as part of the European Heritage weekend including the opening of the Crumlin Road Gaol from 8-9th September.

The Minister commented: “This open top bus tour of north Belfast has been organised by the local young people as part of a community project supported by the North Belfast Community Action Unit.

“I am delighted to see young people taking a positive interest in the history of their neighbourhood and involving themselves in the positive promotion of this part of the city.”

The Minister continued: “North Belfast is an area in need of regeneration. By working with local communities, I believe that the years of decline and deprivation can be replaced by social and economic development and opportunity.

“I commend the local young people involved and welcome their energy, enthusiasm and determination to play an active role in both the promotion of their area and its future redevelopment.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Space Project is funded by Department for Social Development through the North Belfast Community Action Unit. The project is delivered by the Upper North Community Empowerment Partnership as part of it community capacity building programme The SPACE Tour and film presentation is the result of the hard work undertaken by 16 young people from the Lower Oldpark and Tudor areas of Upper North Belfast. The overall objective of the programme is to develop young people's understanding of environmental change processes and to support young people to influence change in their area.

The project has involved research, discussion, drawing and design work which reflects a young person's perspective on the meaning of 'space'. The project encourages planners, developers and politicians to consider the needs of young people in the future redevelopment of available space. The tour is conducted by the young people themselves and it lends insight to what life is like for young people living in North Belfast.

The young people involved in the project have come up with some of their own ideas about what type of facilities they need to help them gain and develop skills, gain confidence and self-esteem, keep healthy, achieve and aspire - ideas around music, performance and sport.

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