Attwood funds community sport project in Ballymena

Social Development Minister Alex Attwood MLA today announced funding of £26,826.81 for a community sport project in the Ballykeel and Ballee areas of Ballymena.

The project proposes to engage the residents of these communities and give them opportunities to participate in a range of sporting activities, improve community health and well being, develop relationships with local sports clubs and promote the benefits of a healthier lifestyle. This project will also offer Coach Education and Training to local community volunteers.

Alex Attwood said: "Funding of this community sport project will enable the residents of Ballykeel and Ballee to benefit from sporting and coach education opportunities. It will encourage social interaction while at the same time developing their skills and promoting the benefits of a healthy life style.”

"I want to target resources in a way which has maximum impact and I want to work with communities to achieve that. This project will target the strategic objectives of community, economic and social renewal improving the quality of life for people in some of our most deprived neighbourhoods. It will help to increase voluntary activity, contribute towards healthier lifestyles and improve communications in this area of Ballymena.”

The project will contribute to community empowerment and partnership work between the community and other Sporting Clubs and also maintain a dedicated base of coach educated community volunteers who will assist in the running of this project.

This funding award will bring the total resources dedicated to this project to a total of £145,848.01.

Notes to editors:

1. 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.
2. 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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