Attwood announces further funding boost for Coalisland youth

Social Development Minister Alex Attwood has provided a funding boost of over £10,000 for the Summer Scheme delivered by Ogras Youth Centre in Coalisland.

The funding was used to provide a social activity programme, which included a summer scheme, for young people in the Coalisland Neighbourhood Renewal Area. Activities included:

• workshops in arts and crafts, drama, music, and cooking;
• trips to the Tayto factory, Ulster American Folk Park, the Zoo and
• karting, golf, canoeing and archery.

Alex Attwood said: “This project provided a real and significant benefit to young people in the Coalisland area.

“Investing time, resources and money in our young people is the only way we can grow our communities. They are the lifeblood of our towns and cities and the young people in them need to be nurtured for the future. It is vital that all our children and young people, regardless of background, are given the opportunity to achieve their full potential.”

A four day summer camp was also held in August for young people who have volunteered in Ogras over the past year. The camp incorporated adventure learning, arts, citizenship and survival.

The programme was managed by Supporting Communities NI.

The total amount of money spent to date in Coalisland Neighbourhood Renewal Area amounts to £1,156,615.

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. The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy has four interlinking 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.
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