The funding will help provide additional support in classrooms as well as activities and courses to improve knowledge and skills.
It will provide after schools activities including language clubs and summer activities for the young people in the area, a high proportion of who come from the migrant community. This will provide a number of safe places for these young people to interact and socialise together.
Activities will also be provided for teenage children including an anti social behaviour awareness programme and a programme for young women.
Margaret Ritchie said: “This project will provide real and significant benefits to people in the Dungannon Neighbourhood Renewal Area. The Neighbourhood Renewal process aims to involve everyone in the area. Too frequently young people and others can be left out of the process. Work of this nature helps to stabilise and integrate communities.
“By contributing to this project my department is demonstrating its commitment to improving the quality of life and social conditions for young people living in the Dungannon area.”
The programme will commence in May 2009 and will run until 31 March 2010.
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.
2. Media enquiries to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9078. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
