Attwood announces funding boost for Coleraine Primary School

Minister for Social Development, Alex Attwood today announced funding of over £34,000 for a Nurture Group in Ballysally Primary School, Coleraine.

This brings the total Neighbourhood Renewal funds allocated to this project to £215,579.43.

DSD will provide over £34,000 from its Neighbourhood Renewal Fund for the nurture group, which will enable a focus on children’s emotional and social development through smaller groups than the traditional classroom setting allows.

The programme aims;
to allow maximum inclusion into mainstream education, through the intensive nurturing of pupils who may have social problems.

to develop a number of initiatives such as Breakfast Club, healthy breaks and the provision of play and learning resources.

to offer opportunities to improve social and interactive skills of parents through a Parent Support Group.

Alex Atwood said: “By supporting this project within the Ballysally Neighbourhood Renewal Area of Coleraine, my department hopes to give children and their parents the learning and support they need to improve their own life chances. The project will allow a programme of early intervention in an area of social and economic disadvantage. The first few years of a child’s life has a profound effect on their future development. This project will help ensure that the children attending Ballysally Primary School are given every chance to achieve their full potential.”

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.

2. Media enquiries to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9078 or 07970 976894. Out of office please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699715440 and your call will be returned.