The Minister said: “The new building will provide excellent facilities for the pre-school playgroup and after-schools club which are run by the local community. I am pleased that by working with the local community, my Department has been able to make this project happen. I think it provides the clearest possible demonstration of the real benefits that our support for communities like Ballee can deliver.”
The childcare project cost £825,000 to build. £242,118 of this was provided by the Department for Social Development, with the remainder being provided by the Big Lottery Fund, Ballymena Borough Council and the local community.
The new building is named after Margaret McKeown, a resident of Ballee who has been at the forefront of work with children and young people in the community for over 30 years.
Mrs McKeown said: “Every child has the right to play and learn in a stimulating, safe and caring environment. This project started out as a vision to create a building for the children from the local area and now, five years later, the dream has come true. It is a heart-warming pleasure to see children enjoy this state of the art, modern complex and I feel honoured to have been part of this creation and legacy for the future. I am both delighted and honoured that my committee has decided to bestow such an honour on me as naming the Ballee Childcare Building after me.”
Speaking at the opening of the project, Maurice Mills, Mayor or Ballymena said: “I am delighted this project has come to such a fruitful conclusion. The childcare facilities now offered here in the Margaret McKeown Building are state of the art, and I know will be fully welcomed by the local community who have been looking forward to this facility for some time. Ballymena Borough Council is proud to have been able to support the project management of this development, and look forward to seeing it actively used by Ballymena’s next generation.”
Notes to Editors:
1. The Ballee Community Childcare project has been developed as part of a larger plan drawn up by the Ballymena South Partnership, an initiative lead by Ballymena Borough Council with the aim of developing a range of social and economic facilities for the Ballee and Harryville areas of Ballymena. The plan for a large scale development, which is known collectively as the ‘Ballymena South Project’, includes four elements:
- A childcare facility (part-funded by DSD and being opened on 27 August);
- An economic development project comprising new workspace units (funded by the International Fund for Ireland and DETI);
- Playing pitches and a multi-games area (to be developed by Ballymena Borough Council); and
- A community building and sports hall (to be developed by Ballymena Borough Council).
2. The Ballee Community Association is the lead partner in the project. The Association was established in 1977 to promote the development of the Ballee estate on the south side of Ballymena. The Association has a strong track record in managing childcare since it has successfully established a pre-school playgroup with 24 registered places and an after-schools club with 24 places.
3. The completed project will provide purpose built accommodation for the following services:
- A pre-school playgroup (both mornings and afternoons)
- An after-schools club (afternoons only)
- A summer scheme
- A parent and toddler group
- A multi-purpose room to be used for meetings and other events organised by community-based organisations in Ballee and Harryville.
4. The total cost of the community childcare project was £825,037. The funding has been provided by:
Big Lottery Fund £337,710
Ballymena Borough Council £236,724
DSD £242,118
Ballee Childcare Ltd £8,484
The Ballymena Borough Council funding was allocated towards the costs of a reception area and meeting rooms. DSD, the Big Lottery Fund and Ballee Childcare Ltd shared the costs of the other elements of the project.
5. Since January 2004, £1,157,000 has been spent or committed to projects in Ballee from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund. The most significant projects include:
- Improvements to the street lighting throughout the estate £254,525
- Improvements to the footpaths throughout the estate £585,862
- Funding for the after-school club in Ballee Community Centre £74,656
- Ballee Childcare Project £214,065
6 Media enquiries to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9496. Out of hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
