Neighbourhood Renewal implementation continues in the North West - Ritchie

Minister for Social Development Margaret Ritchie today announced £4million for community projects in the North West’s most disadvantaged areas.

Following on from the Minister’s recent announcement on Neighbourhood Renewal funding for Belfast, groups delivering key services in disadvantaged areas of Derry, Strabane and Limavady are the latest to benefit.

The Minister said: “I am determined to ensure that this funding will make a difference to the lives of people in these areas. That is why I have refocused financial support towards the provision of services that tackle disadvantage. I intend to allocate £4million to projects in the North West this financial year and, despite the current economic downturn, I am determined to continue to invest funding at this level in the next two years.”

The Minister indicated that funding contracts for up to 50 projects in the North West would issue over the coming months. Ms Ritchie explained that this will ensure much needed financial security. She said: “Most organisations directly delivering on Neighbourhood Renewal priorities will be awarded contracts up to March 2011. This is great news for the groups involved who will for the first time be offered long term sustainability. Importantly the residents of some of the most deprived areas of Derry, Strabane and Limavady will benefit from the services provided.”

The Minister reminded people that Neighbourhood Renewal is an Executive Programme: She said: “In partnership with the rest of Government, my Department will work to improve services in areas such as health, education and training. But other Departments need to back the programme with both their commitment and their resources. Meaningful change will only take place with the support of all my colleagues in the Executive.”

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. Its objectives include:

• 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.

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