Ritchie announces funding for community house in Omagh

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA today announced a funding boost of over £8,000 for the Gallows Hill Community House in Omagh.

The funding will help redecorate and provide new furniture for the facility, encouraging young and older residents from the area to make use of the community house.

Margaret Ritchie said: “This project will provide real and significant benefits to the residents of the Gallows Hill Area in the Omagh Neighbourhood Renewal Area. The improvements will mean there is a community base in the area for local residents.

"The Neighbourhood Renewal process aims to involve everyone in the area. Too frequently young and older people can be left out of the process. Work of this nature helps to stabilise communities and I am pleased that my Department is making a positive contribution to improve the prospects for people living in the Omagh area.”

The programme will be delivered by Gallows Hill Residents Association.

Notes to editors:

1. The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy ‘People and Place’ was published in June 2003 to close 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.

The Omagh Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership is one of those funded by DSD.

2. Media enquires to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9078. Out of office hours, please contact the Duty Press Office via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned