Attwood announces funding boost for Downpatrick schools

Social Development Minister Alex Attwood today announced a funding boost of over £15,000 for four schools in the Downpatrick area.

The funding was secured for the ‘Adopt a School’ project which creates links between business and education. The project will encourage schoolchildren from St Colmcille’s Primary School, St Patrick’s Boys Primary School, Convent of Mercy Primary School and De La Salle High School to become life long learners and socially responsible. They will also benefit from programmes including:

• ‘Time to Read’;
• employer visits;
• careers talks from professionals and
• work shadowing and job preparation training.

The project will be delivered by Business in the Community and funded by the Department for Social Development through the Neighbourhood Renewal Investment Fund.

Alex Attwood said: “This is good news for young people in the Downpatrick neighbourhood area. The Adopt a School project encourages schools to work with local companies and agencies to develop employees of the future, build professionalism and promote life-long learning with positive role models. This will help give pupils in the local area the opportunity to develop their qualifications and skills.”

The Minister acknowledged the work of the Downpatrick Neighbourhood Partnership, which identified the need for the project in its Action Plan for regenerating the area. He said: “The Adopt a School Project is a further step in the delivery of the Neighbourhood Renewal Action Plan for the Downpatrick area. It will improve skills, employability and educational outcomes, which are some of the key strategic objectives that must be delivered within communities like Downpatrick if we are to tackle inequalities and create positive long-term change within areas of disadvantage.”

Notes to editors:

1. The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy 'People and Place' which was published in June 2003, sets out government’s proposals for closing 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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