Ritchie visits Warrenpoint and Kilkeel Community projects

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie today visited two projects funded through the Department’s Local Community Fund in the Newry and Mourne area.

Speaking at the opening of a new extension to ‘JIMS’, a cross community drop in centre for young people in Kilkeel the Minister said:

“It is a great pleasure for me to be able to share in the official opening of such a successful project. In addition to funding from my own department, this project has also secured funding from the International Fund for Ireland and the Department for Rural Development. This money along with funding from the Local Community Fund has been able to support your efforts to improve your facilities and services.

“This particular project, like a number of our Local Community Fund projects spread all across the country, is a good example for other small community groups to follow. I would like to wish you further success for the future in your efforts to serve the needs of all of the young people in the Kilkeel area.”

The Minister also visited the Warrenpoint Community House, a project recently funded by the Local Community Fund, where she met with representatives of Warrenpoint Community Partnership. The Community House serves as a resource and focus for all community development activity in the local area. It provides technology and resources support for wider initiatives throughout the greater Warrenpoint area.

Notes to Editors:

1. Over 60 targeted areas in 18 Council areas across Northern Ireland will benefit from £2million from the Local Community Fund in 2007-2008. Fifteen Intermediary Funding Bodies (IFBs) comprising of Councils and Local Strategy Partnerships are responsible for facilitating local consultation to develop community ideas, identifying appropriate activities to be supported by the Fund and administering the funding process.
2. The establishment of the Fund provided local people with the opportunity and funding to become involved in identifying and addressing issues and priorities. which have the potential to make a noticeable difference in their local areas.
3. The target communities for the Fund are those Super Output Areas (SOAs) within the 11%-20% most deprived communities as defined by Noble 2005.
4. The Fund is administered in the area through Newry and Mourne Local Strategy Partnership which has been allocated total funding in 2007/08 of £262,000.
5. Jims Extension Project funded £24,415 from the Local Community Fund (LCF) 2006-2007 for fixtures and fittings at Kilkeel Parish Bridge Association Ltd including kitchen, carpets, flooring and computer equipment. This cross community project provides a range of activities for young people in the area.
6. Warrenpoint Community Partnership funded £6,955 from the Local Community Fund 2007-2008 for equipment and drama workshops provided by Warrenpoint Youth Choice; funding to Warrenpoint Friendship Club for their Reminiscence Project to publish a collection of personal, historical stories of local people; and to the Warrenpoint Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann’s Youth Capacity (Arts) Programme which supports awareness of cultural diversity and mutual understanding through its music, art, dance and folklore. Clonallon Community Partnership funded £27,682 from LCF 2006-2007 to establish community house and provide furnishings and play equipment.
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