The Minister said: “I congratulate the Belfast Model School for Girls’ in winning the Northern Ireland heat of this prestigious competition. They have raised a considerable amount of money through various fund-raising endeavours to be able to compete in Lincolnshire. I am happy to provide the remaining funds to enable their participation and I wish all 97 girls involved, and their teachers, every success.”
Rock Challenge is a world-wide anti-drugs competition for schools which provides pupils with the opportunity to perform in an eight minute production on stage. The aim of Rock Challenge is that the pupils gain a ‘high’ from performing arts.
Working towards the production has given the girls of the Model School in Belfast an opportunity to see the benefits of striving towards a healthier lifestyle through physical activity and through gaining an understanding of the dangers of illegal substance abuse.
Notes to Editors:
1. The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy “People and Places” 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.
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.
3. News media enquires call DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9468, Joe Livingston on mobile 07920 187938 or out of hours, please contact the Duty Press Office via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
