Attwood announces funding boost for Ballymena playcare service

Social Development Minister Alex Attwood today announced additional funding of over £56,000 for the Children’s High Intensity Play Services2 (CHIPS2) based in Ballykeel, Ballymena.

The funding for this Summer Scheme and After Schools Club will provide salaries for seven staff and provide places for up to 40 young people aged between five and 11 years.

Alex Attwood said: "This is great news for families in the Ballykeel area of Ballymena. The community based service will provide parents with additional child care support. This will enable them to increase their existing working hours and provide them with training, educational or working opportunities to improve their employability.

"This funding will help support a valuable service to the local community and provide employment for seven staff at a time of economic hardship."

This brings the total funding for the project to over £316,000.

Notes to editors:

1. DSD is contributing funding of £56,000 to CHIPS2 Playcare Services to cover salaries and running costs for a seven month period to 31 March 2011.
2. CHIPS2 Playcare Services have received funding from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund of £387,106.53 dating from 2005 to sustain this Children’s Playcare project in the Ballykeel Neighbourhood Renewal Area.
   
   The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy “People and Places” which was published in June 2003 sets out governments 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 the areas;
   - Economic Renewal – to develop economic activity in the most deprived neighbourhoods and connect them to the wider urban economy;
   - Physical Renewal – to help create attractive, safe, and sustainable environments in the most deprived neighbourhoods; and
   - 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.
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