Ritchie funds Mature Adults Interactive Luncheon Club in Ballymena

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA today announced funding of £17,000 for a 'Mature Adults Interactive Luncheon Club', project in the Ballykeel area of Ballymena.

The project proposes to bring together 120 mature adults from the Ballykeel Ward to participate in a multi-element programme to develop new skills and learning such as arts and crafts. Professionals from various fields will be on hand to support different strands of the project.

Margaret Ritchie said: “Funding of this 'Mature Adults Interactive Luncheon Club', will enable the mature residents of Ballykeel to benefit from a unique service. It will encourage social interaction while at the same time, developing their skills through new and exciting courses with professional help on hand.

"I want to target resources in a way which has maximum impact and I want to work with communities to achieve that. This project will target the strategic objective of Community Renewal improving the quality of life for people in some of our most deprived neighbourhoods. It will help to increase voluntary activity and improve communications in this area of Ballymena. I welcome my Department's support of such a worthy project.”

A meal will be provided as well as transport to and from the venue, which will assist in addressing social exclusion. The project will contribute to community empowerment and partnership work between the community and voluntary agencies and it will also maintain eleven community volunteers who will plan and assist in the running of this project.

Notes to editors:

1. The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy 'People and Places', which was published in June 2003 sets out government's proposals for closing 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 the areas;
   · Economic Renewal – to develop economic activity in the most deprived neighbourhoods and connect them to the wider urban economy;
   · Physical Renewal – to help create attractive, safe, and sustainable environments in the most deprived neighbourhoods; and
   · 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.
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