The Project located on a green field site at Norfolk Drive in the Rathenraw estate, Antrim will create 12 full-time and 4 part-time jobs. The new three story building, measuring approximately 13,700 square feet, will contain workspace and office units, an internet café and I.T. suite, crèche facilities and conference and meeting rooms. The Department for Social Development (DSD) provided funding of up to £656,945 towards the overall cost of the building through its Areas at Risk strategy. Other funders included the International Fund for Ireland, Community Relations Council, NIHE, Antrim Borough Council and the Community group itself.
Commenting on the exciting new development the Minister said: “This project has been created to help local people at the heart of this estate in Antrim. It will provide invaluable resources to the local community and serve as a community hub to work, learn and play. It is an excellent example of what can be achieved when statutory and funding organisations work in partnership with local communities on the ground to deliver services that provide real benefits for local people.
“I am also pleased that the Directors of Farranshane Community Trust have shown foresight in the planning of this new building, by providing for the sustainability of the facilities through the office and workspace units available within them.”
Speaking at the launch Denis Rooney, Chairman of the International Fund for Ireland which contributed £603,762 to the project said: “Farranshane Community Trust is to be congratulated for all the hard work the group has put in to bring these new facilities to the community. This project will bring new economic potential to the estate, allowing it to promote social and physical regeneration and will also strengthen and underpin community life in the long term.”
Jim Dennison, Director of Community Relations Council’s European Programme, said: “Farranshane Community Trust was awarded £82,000 in 2006 under the Capital build element, of the Peace II Extension Programme. We believe that this facility will provide opportunities for local people to come together to promote reconciliation and understanding through collaborative working and setting common goals. The Community Relations Council are very pleased to have been involved in funding what we believe will be a lasting and sustainable resource to enhance community life and relations in the Antrim area.”
Adrian Cochrane Watson, Mayor of Antrim said: “Antrim Borough Council is delighted to be a funding partner, in what is a multi-agency regeneration initiative for Rathenraw. This development is not only excellent news for Rathenraw but represents an outstanding example of what can be achieved through partnership and collaboration between the public and community sectors.”
Notes to Editors:
1. Rathenraw is a social housing estate built in the early 1970’s. The estate is isolated from the rest of Antrim town, both by its physical location and by the fact that its population has always been predominantly Catholic (70% of population of Rathenraw are Catholic). Over the years the estate has suffered from sectarian violence, crime, and drug abuse. By the late 1980’s the estate had become associated with wide scale dereliction and vandalism.
2. The Rathenraw Community Health Project (RCDHP) was established in 1997 to address the inequalities in health and well being on the estate. It is a community based initiative supported and progressed by means of partnership of key statutory, community and voluntary groups in the area. The group proactively pursued and gained the support of the business community in the area. This has resulted in the setting up of the Farranshane Community Trust in February 2007.
3. In October 2006 Minister Hanson approved funding towards a proposed mixed use resource and business centre on a green field site at Norfolk Drive in the Rathenraw estate on the outskirts of Antrim. The Rathenraw estate was included in the first Areas at Risk programme due to the interface area between the estate and the majority Protestant Stiles estate, where there are occasional sectarian clashes. It also scored in the worst 11% in 2001 and the worst 12% in 2005 under the Noble Multiple Deprivation Measures. The project promoter is the Farranshane Community Trust.
4. The project will involve the development of a mixed use resource and business centre on a green field site located at Norfolk Drive in the Rathenraw estate. The scheme incorporates the development of a three storey building of approximately 13,710 square feet (1,274 sq m) which will comprise of:
- 9 ground floor workspace units;
- 6 first floor offices;
- Internet café / IT suite
- Crèche facilities (which can be used as flexible space in the evenings);
- Conference suite;
- Meeting room; and
- A circulation space incorporating a reception area, toilet and lift facilities, a kitchen and storage space.
5. The project is funded as follows:
- Dept for Social Development £656,945
- International Fund for Ireland £603,762
- Community Relations Council £82,000
- Antrim Borough Council £40,000
- Farranshane Community Trust £2,445
6. The ‘Areas at Risk Pilot Programme’ (AaR) was launched in June 2006 to provide support to communities outside the Noble 10% indicators of most disadvantage but at risk of economic, social or environmental decline. The programme focuses on building social cohesion within the area; confidence in dealing with neighbouring communities and building a wider sense of belonging.
7. The pilot programme has a budget of £3 million over two years (2006/07 and 2007/08).
8. The 10 pilot Areas at Risk identified are:
- parts of Ligoniel and Sydenham (not previously covered by Neighbourhood Renewal)
- Taughmonagh in Belfast
- Ballynoshollag in Londonderry
- Enogh in Limavady (Greystone Road, Enogh Park, Scroggy Close)
- Dunclug in Ballymena
- West Portadown
- Rathenraw Estate in Antrim
- Dhu Varren/Glenmanus in Portrush
- Seacourt in Larne
9. For media enquiries contact DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9496 or mobile 07920 186 639. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
